Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-05
CONTRARY TO STATUTE
EXTENSION OF DEPARTMENTAL
WORKING HOURS.

There is a practice growing up in sew
erai of tie departments which should be
taken cogniEance of by the heads thereof.
and II It is not II VIII In all probability
ultimately be considered by Congress. re-
Gently said a representative from a north
ern state to Star reporter.
"A clerk in one of the downtown de-
partments. constituent OF mine came TO
me recently and Informed me that the chief
OF the division In which he was employed
had been In the habit OF ordering the
clerks under him to remain at their desks
after 4s3o o'clock. also TO come down at
night to work at the office. and his de-
mand included the female force as well,
and reeently OF giving each clerk GER
tain stint OF work for the day. which was
ordered. completed before the clerks could
leave the office for home.
IN view or the plain provisions OF the
statute on the subject of Office hours In the
executive departments in this city / con
Tess my surprise at such complaint and
made inquiries among my colleagues IL
Similar stories of petty tyranny and viola
ton OF the statute had been made to them.
though In no wise doubted the accuracy
or me statement OF my constituent.
1 found that similar complaints OF execu-
tive Juggling with the statute had been
made to other members. and IL II continues
snail institute an Inquiry into the matter.
Inc law governing Office hours IN the de-
partments was framed with especial care
by Congress to prevent Just such petty
tyrannies on the part of bureau and di-
vision chiefs as have here been witnessed
Even bureau chiefs or assistant secretaries
have absolutely no discretion In the matter
OF extending the hours of work of the
forces under them, which Congress pur-
poseiy lodged In the head OF the depart
nmduy TO used as end ss 4 s1eh S
TOT Congress to reach the official respon-
sibie therefor
Were such not the case the rivalries
big subchiefs In the various departmentS'
IRON the oyerdone zeal of room chief
with little delegated authority to the
more powerful chief OF bureau. or an as
slstant secretary-you could run the entire
gamut OF ofilcialdom, each striving to outdo
the others In the execution of their official
duties at the expense of their forces-would
cause no end of trouble.
No bureau. division or room chief has
tho slightest legal or official authority to
load q Clerks desk with work so that 1t
Cannot be done by reasonable performance
within the statutory hours, nor has any one
OF the officials or head clerks the least legal
or official authority to hint. much less TO
order, that any one or all OF their subor-
dinates shall remain for pne minute over
the statutory hours prescribed by Congress.
so careful was Congress of the rights OF
the clerical forces In Washington and so
ties petty Or powerful chiefs would take
were any discretionary power lodged In
them by law to juggle with the regular
hours of employment that Congress speci-
fed in detail. even TO the manner In which
the head and the head only. of department.
could extend the hours; the statute particu-
larry specifying that the act was TO be in
writing, giving the reasons therefor. and
throwing about this power of the extension
of the official day all of the safeguards that
experienced representatives and lawyers
could construct.
And heads OF departments, conscious OF
this fact, have been very chary in extend
ing the working day In their departments.
1t is very rarely that they have dope so
and / know from personal knowledge that
they are very reluctant to isspe the order.
The fact that their subordipstes therefore,
are either consciously op unconsciously. d.
rectly or indirectly Permitted to interfere,
and to issue opeers in this delicate and
highly imports.nt question, means that some
action Is Imperative to curb their usurpa-
ton o. functions which are not lodged in
THIN officially"