Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-09
FOR LONGER HOURS
Mr.. Gillett's Letter Which
Caused the Trouble.
NEW OFFICIAL ORDER
MANY OTHER INTERESTS AZ
FECTED BY THE CHANGE.
What is Said in Regard to the En-
ployes of the District
Government.
NEW OFFICIAL ORDER

The order requiring department clerks 10
| remain at their desks another half hour,
which has been promulgated in all the de-
partments result of the decision at the
| cabinet meeting yesterday, has created a
| mild sensation throug bout the District, and
has resulted in an extended re-arrangement
! of railroad and other schedules. With few
| exceptions, the new order Of things is
| looked upon with disfavor. 1t has been
| called a political move pure and simple,
| and persons usually of conservative speech
| do not hesitate to declare that the purpose
| of the order-economy-wil be entirely de-
feated. 1t is claimed that the extra half
hour will do the government service no
particular good, although it is not charged
that it will do any harm The force Of
clerks engaged in mental work for the
government will not do any more work, it
is claimed. Five or six hours put in on
brain work Is a sufficiency, 1t is claimed,
and when an extra half hour Is added to
the time already required the clerks will
simply do their work more slowly.
Mr.. Gillett's Letter.
The prime mover in the creation of the
new situation is Representative Gillett Of
Massachusetts, member Of the subcom
mittee in charge of the appropriations for
the legislative, executive and judicial depart
ments. Mr.. Gillett sent letter to the head
of each government department except the
Attorney General. The letter follows:
Committee on Appropriations
House of Representatives,
WASHINGTON, D. c., January 4, 1904.
Dear Sir-The subcommittee is now pre-
pairing the legislative, etc, appropriation
bill. and l observe that you ask for your
department an increase in the number of
clerks. and yet / understand that your
present force OF clerks Is only employed
six and one-half hours day. instead of
seven hours, the minimum fixed by law, and
are also given the afternoons before holt
days, and on Saturdays throughout the
summer.
This would indicate that you now volun-
tarily dispense with about ten per cent Of
the service which the law requires you to
exact, and that consequently there can be
no pressing need of more clerks.
If you will explain this apparent contra
diction as soon as possible as we hope to
report the bill this week, you will oblige,
yours respectfully.
FREDERICK H. GILLETT
The receipt Of this letter by the cabinet
officers with the exception Of Attorney
General Knox, created a stir in their Of
were particularly pleased at its receipt, and
did not hesitate to say SO. They regarded
| 1t as a reflection on them, and at first were
not disposed to believe that Mr.. Gillett was
acting for his committee, but in his per-
sonal capacity. The matter was taken up
at the cabinet meeting held the day follow
Ing the receipt OF the letter, ana was THOR
oughly discussed. 1t was then that 1t was
learned that Attorney General Knox had
not received a letter from Mr.. Gillett and
no explanation could be found for the over
| sight.
The Official Order.
The discussion was continued at the cab
met meeting yesterday, and resulted IN the
| PRONUNCIATION # an order from the White
House to all the departments. This order
was copied by the heads of the departments
and sent around to the various chiefs of
bureaus. The order follows:
Department,
Washington, January 8, 1904.
The act of Congress of March 10, $685.
provides follows:
That 1t shall be the duty of the
heads of the several executive departments,
in the interest of the public service, to re-
quire of all clerks and other employees, Of
whatever grade or class, in their respective
departments, not less than seven hours of
labor each day except Sundays and days
declared public holidays by law or execu-
tive order: Provided, That the heads of
the departments may, by special order.
stating the reason, further extend the hours
of service of any clerk or employee in their
departments, respectively; but in case Of
extension 1t shall be without additional
compensation.
In order more effectuslly to comply with
the above provision of law it is hereby or
dered:
l. vi diiO ealeCi iNhohddy, JdiiudIy ISOf
the hours of labor for all clerks and other
employees of whatever grade or class in this
department who have heretofore been en-
ployed between the hours of am. and 4
pm. win be from am. to 4:3O pm, with
an allowance of one-half hour for luncheon.
2. The foregoing provisions will apply to
all Saturdays except during the months Of
July. August and September. During those
months the hours of labor on Saturdays
unless otherwise ordered, will be from 0
| am. to l pm, without any allowance for
luncheon.