Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-07-24
IN THE DEPARTMENTS
DISCUSSION OF THE SATURDAY
HALF-HoLIDAY QUESTION.
The Loss Of Time, IL Carried Out-Loss
May Be Apparent Instead
Of Real.


in The Star Of the application of the code
amendment making Saturday a half holi-
day for all purposes and its probable APP
plication to the departments" said an old
official this morning. land 1t raises a oues-
ton or two as regards the departments
which will prove OF interest to those who
work therein.
Even though the District Commissioners
decide to abide by the decision OF the corpo-
ration counsel and declare Saturday half
holiday, it does not follow that the whole
sale and the retail stores Of the city will
observe 1t. except as suits the volition OF
the proprietors, and 1t Is unlikely that they
will do SO except In summer. With banks
and transa ctions in business OF a legal ma
ture it will be observed, though the banks
already close at noon on Saturday. The
District offices will of course close, as Will
come to an end all local official and judicial
business.
Combining my remarks to departmental
matters. however. If the ttorney General
decides that the half day Is legal holiday
| 1t will be observed without doubt in the de-
partments, as the government does not do
business upon holidays. From one point of
view the release on Saturday will come
very acceptably to the clerks and officials,
as there will be a respite from clerical duty
for four hours each Saturday instead of
one hour week for four months during
the summer.
lie loSS OI lOuT HOuTS d week dHOuIlS
to 20S hours in year, and, taking the Off
cial working day at seven hours, there Will
be a total loss to the government of twen-
ty-nine and fraction days in each year on
account of the Saturday half holiday, or
nearly a month out of each year. This loss
| will be found to be considerable when con-
| sidered in this light, and the question which
Will present itself to the heads of the de-
| partments will be what effect. If any. this
| loss Of time will have upon the dispatch Of
work which the clerks have to do.
Apparent or Real Loss.
1.-THE result of any opinions and mathe
| mates on this point will be largely a mat
| ter Of individual judgment. Some officials
| will declare that the loss is apparent rather
| than real; that the clerks will do just as
| much actual work by the end of the year
with the Saturday half-holiday in effect as
| without it, while others will hold to a con-
| trary opinion. Personally. believe the loss
| will be apparent Clerks IN government en-
| ploy are like those employed in other busi-
| nesses and trades; they will do and are
| capable of doing just so much work and no
| more, it matters not how the hours are
regulated. Upon the theory that long hours
! count. it might be urged that the clerks
| work ten hours a day, that they would do
| more work in that time than in seven. and
| SO 1t would seem at a superficial glance.
You could not, however drive clerks
| for ten hours day as the clerks In the
| executive departments are driven today.
Clerks are under the constant supervision
| OF chiefs who paid to see that the
clerks do not Idle a minute; hundreds never
| look up from their work from the time they
| begin until they stop. 1t is this strain and
high nervous tension which puts clerks out
| Of business physically in the course Of a
4 few years. In stores and in trades en-
| ployes have certain amount Of relaxation
| and spare time, but it is not so in the gov
| eminent offices, as the clerks are required
1 to be busy and they are so kent
| The volume Of the governments business
has grown so enormously within recent
years. and the appropriations for increased
| clerical force have failed to increase at a
/ corresponding ratio that in all Of the de-
/ partments the forces are driven and in
| some Of the divisions they are kept in until
| O clock at certain seasons Of the year sea-
son after season. The great growth of the
| governments business does not seem to be
! taken into consideration by Congress- as
| that body bases its estimates for the en-
| suing fiscal year upon the estimates of the
| preceding, when, in some divisions, as in
mine, for instance, the volume of work has
| increased fully 40 per cent with say 10 per
| cent increase in force.
Increase in Governments Business.
1.-The stupendous growth of the country in
| wealth population and otherwise accounts
| for the great increase in the volume of the
| governments business. These facts would
| be urged against the continued observance
| OF the Saturday half holiday, and while
| have no reason not to adhere to the opinion
1 have just expressed, I would not be sur
| prised to see congressional action at the
| next session II 1t was decided that the gov
eminent was too great loser by reason Of
| the liberty the amendment OF the code Of
| fers. and. If such should be the case 1t will
probably be repealed. On the other hand, it
may be found to work most advantageous
| ly and will be allowed to stand.
AT any rate, the whole policy of Con-
| gress has been against granting the execu-
| tive any more clerical aid, money or any
thing else than it can help, and It Is safe
| to say that that body did not know OF the
| clause in the code affecting Saturday as a
half holiday, or it would have been un-
questionably stricken out by some watch
! dog OF the treasury.
| 1T remained for The Star to discover the
| clause, and 1t will be interesting to OBJ
| serve what action Congress will take when
| 1t becomes acquainted Herewith should the
| Attorney General decide that the clause
| applies to the executive departments"
|