New-York tribune., 1907-06-22
YOUNG WOMEN OBJECT.
TOO MUCH EXTRA WORK.
Health Department StenographerS
C0mpLain about Hours.

F-ift,, INDIGNANT Young women stenographers. en-
floyed by the Health Department. have joined
forces with the one hundred physicians who COM
planned a few weeks ago Of being overworked'
The stenographers say they, too, cannot meet
with the requirements Of the department To add
10 their troubles they have been working over
time for two hours every day without extra pay
since February
The young women are now worrying whether
they are going 10 get their vacations. AccorclhS
20 the heads Of divisions during the last SIX
months there has been unprecedented amount
OF business in the department requiring IoIS OF
medical officer said yesterday that the extra
work came when the department began 10 IN
Vestigate the sanitary conditions OF farms ana
dairies throughout the state in connection with
The pure milk campaign. Heretofore our Stenog-
Taphers had all they could do TO handle the reg
ular routine business OF the depariI iI4ehl sdiu
tho physician. but since the milk Investigations
began ley have had to do double work The
routine work has to be done every DAY beIore they
can go home. The extra work accumulates SO
fast that they can do very little Of il each day.
"A year ago afteen inspectors were appointed by
the department and sent throughout the state TO
look after the farmers and milk dealers to see
that the sanitary law was lived UP to. Their
reports come pouring in every day and are sent
10 DR. Russell Ravnor, the chief sanitary inspector
More than ten thousand reports have been sent
10 The department in the last eight months Every
one has 10 be answered in the form OF an oFuer-
which Is Niolators Of the sanitary code
The result is that we are behind In sending them
out because the routine business mist be done
first
"An the records Of the department that are fled
av-av are f,-peyyrirten by the srenographers. The
girls are ct their machines from the time they
enter the building and are pounding away WIN
the exception OF their luncheon hour until at
night They don't sc: any rest in between II
they could set supper money it would he Of some
consolation But they don't get that.
The heads Of the various departments get
report from their assistants each day. showing the
work that been done and that has not been
done In all OF their reports they say they cannot
Go The amount called for because there are not
doing soCn. when hear the result Of the meet
ing recently held bv the special milk commission
appointed by the Mayor TO investigate the pure
milk question. II said at this meeting that
resolution adopted to appoint 100 additional
milk inspectors and for appropriation OF $1,000
This IS now III the hands Of Controller Metz II
these inspectors are appointed and follow up the
Zork Of the other fifteen the reports coming in
viii be increased ten times.
we can't even now keep up with the work of
sending our the necessary orders in response 10
their reports. What will do when they come
IN at a rate OF a thousand a day? II will be up
10 the commissioner then TO appoint fully seventy
five more stenographers if he wants the work done.
Even then il viii be d difficult problem TO solve.
No one realizes what a busy department this Is
until he comes here and sees for himself. If these
inspectors appointed. which am almost sure
they will be. anl additional stenographers are
appointed, the department will become so con-
gesteG that Il viii be q physical impossibility to
carry the work
The girls We have here now are almost worn
out and # il keeps up much longer they will soon
be physical wrecks. It's outrageous and some
thing ought be done Take for instance the
division Of the bureau Of records: than thirty
five thousand seaTchers and transcripts of birth
certificates were issued during the last several
months 10 children to be admitted schools. Take
for instance The four thousand vaccinations that
occurred only last week. All OF this is recorded on
separate cards and has to be typewritten by the
girls
In 4 report TO Commissioner Darlington yester-
day il stated that 1850 hours overtime work
had been done. The Commissioner receives reports
from all departments, giving the names of the
young women and the number OF hours they have
worked overtime. When the Commissioner was
asked about the congested condition of the depart
n1ent he said that the girls had 90 their work
regardless Of hours.
4 don't expect any one in this department. said
the Commissioner. TO work any longer than my
self work nearly every day on an average
fifteen hours, and work hard any one. If
am called away 70 make speech. i is for the ben
eft Of the department.
Look at the doctors: they have 10 do Sunday
work But they viii be rewarded by getting ar
extra weeks vacation. AS far the girls are con-
cerEed l am making arrangements they will all
get their vacations. They have cause 10 worry.
Even though we are overworked. they will get
theT vacations"
The Commissioner said he could not get the
money from the Board of Estimate TO pay the en-
plOyes for overtime