The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-20
CENSUS CLERKS PROTEST.
Hard and Efficient Work Declared
to Count for Nothing.
Alleged Tavoritism in Making Pro-
motions - Discrimination Charged
by Employees Who Handle Punch
ing Mnchincs-Nen Paid Higher
Than Women for Like Service.

1t is current report that a great num-
Der of women and girls at the Census Of
| flee who are employed on the punching
machines are dissatisfied, because due
! recognition has not been given them for
their efficiency and honest work. They
have been considering the matter in 4
quiet way among themselves for some time
and it is stated that about September l,
they will send memorial to Director Mer
! riam setting forth their grievances and
! ask him 10 remedy them. One OF the en-
ployes OF the Census Office who works on
I a punching machine is authority for the
above statements, and the employe refer
red to also intimated that in case Mr..
Merriam did not deem it necessary to in
yestigate and rectify the alleged griev-
ances, large number of those who feel
that they are not being justly treated will
resign their positions.
The greatest cause of complaint Is that
the women and girls who operate the
punching machines are not being given
proper recognition for the work they do,
while others, who. it is claimed. do not
do near so much work each day, have been
given an increase of salary
About month OF six weeks ago. one of
the employees said. all those at work on
the punching machines were notified that
if they punched q certain number of cards,
correctly. each day during the week, their
wages would be increased n proportion
10 the work done. AT that time the wages
OF those employed at work on the punching
machines was $50 per month, and for this
amount it was expected that no one would
punch less than 600 cards per day The
employees work six and one-half nouTs each
day so, at this rate, they punched little
less than one hundred cards per hour.
After the punchers became familiar with
the machines ard could manage them
pretty well, rs an inducement TO tnem TO
exert themselves and at the same time
hasten the work OF the census, :hey were
notified, so IL is said, that those vino would
punch on an average. 7S0 cards a day,
120 per hour. would have their salaries in
creased to $50 per month and that the
salary of those who would punch 80 cards
per day, or 40 per hour, would be in
creased to $40 per month. After this Doti-
flea ion, it is said. the rapIdity with which
cards were punched was su:p-isiag. Those
who had only been punching the required ]
number of 800 each Gay suddenly found
that they could punch double that number,
and when feeling exceptionally well would |
often turn out 400, 1900. or 500 day. |
1t is said that some OF the very diligent |
punchers have made record of l SOC in
single day.
This. however, has nothing to do with |
the complain which some of the employees !
make who declare that they are being dis
eliminated against. They claim that they I
do the amount OF work required, and eytn
more. and that it is accepted as salts /
factory, but their proficiency is not recog- /
nzed by the head of the bureau. Another
cause of complaint is that all the loss OF
time and waste of physical energy falls to
the lot Of the poor puncher. For instance.
il is said If a mistake Is made IN any OF
the returns of the enumerators, the time !
necessary for its correction is loss to
the puneher who last handled the card. /
In such cases il is said the card is re- |
turned to the puncher to make the re-
qured correction, which of necessity I
causes loss OF time. In cases of that kind
it is contended by the punchers that IL
the returns Of the enumerators were
properly edited they would not be obliged
to punch card twice, when the error was
not really theirs.
Some of those employed at work on the
punching machines also find fault with
the amount OF wages they receive, for the
reason, they claim, that the male en-
ployes who are engaged at the same work. /
and ;t!io cannot and do not do as much !
as the girls and women, are paid SO more
per month. In other words, while women
and girls are paid $50 the men are allowed
$50 per month for similar work
Many Of the female employees. it Is said.
have endangered their health in trying
to do more than was required OF th5m. (.
in order that they might have their
salaries increased. as they hsd every reason
TO believe they would be. A large num-
Der of these, IL is said, have succeeded in
keeping their work far above the averages
stipulated, which. 1t is believed. would
guarantee their wages being increased to
$40 per month. Only in a few instances. /
however 1t is said, have the punchers
been rewarded with an increase in their
salaries because OF proficiency and dill /;
gence.
1t was stated last week. however, that
il had been whispered about that Director
Merriam intended promoting number of
punchers during the present week. Who
the lucky ones will be. however, no one
knows.