Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-17
GETTING UP SPEED
Card Punchers at Census Of
flee Mastering Machines.
ARE BECOMING PROFICIENT
Experts Make More at Piecework
Than on Salary.
THE AVERAGE DAILY RAISED
Promotion of Those Showing Abil-
ity-Provision for Comfort
of Bureau Employees.
ARE BECOMING PROFICIENT
THE AVERAGE DAILY RAISED

The hundreds of census clerks who have
| poured into Washington and have been
| set to work on the machines in the census
bureau are rapidly getting used to their
work and in a short time, say officials at
| the big bureau. all of them should be
| making as much, if not more, money than
the clerks employed during the compila-
ton of the twelfth census. It is admitted
that the newcomers have labored under
| difficulties, due to the fact that they could
not operate the punching machines quick
ly when they began. and to the fact that
the pay for piece work was held up for
nearly two weeks in order to allow the
controller of the Treasury to pass upon
certain matters. But the clerks are be-
| coming proficient with the machines and,
| 1t is said, their pay will now be forthcom-
| ing promptly.
| 1t was pointed out yesterday that the
| least possible salary which the clerks could
draw was $50 a month, under the law
enacted by Congress The law provides
| that If clerks prefer to receive a regu-
! larIy monthly salary instead Of doing
piece work their salaries can, be raised
| at the end of two months to $50 a month
| If they do satisfactory work, at the end
| Of four months to $40, and at the end of
six months to $40.
More Money on Piecework.
But clerks who are quick at the punch
| ing machines can make much more by
doing piece work, 1t was said. Some Of
| them can make as much as 81 day, and
| 1t is expected that the average for piece
work will be about So day before long.
| The average work turned out by the
clerks working on the electric punching
| machines July ID was 1.326.25 cards at
| 20 cents hundred, or 500. On the hand
| punching machines the average was S72. :
| 62 or about S261 day. This average
lis being increased day by day.
| The officials Of the census Office, there
| fore, take the stand that the census
clerks troubles are in a fair way to come
| to close. The clerks are given two
weeks to decide whether they wish to be
| paid the regular monthly salary or to
| do piece work. No matter whether
| a month, according to the piece schedule,
they are paidithat amount, and they will
| never be paid less. Those that elect to
| receive a regular salary will be advanced
in salary as rapidly as they show them
| selves worthy of advance.
Promotion of the Efficient.
| Those clerks who show particular abil-
ity are being appointed subsection chiefs
at $1,000 a year. and others are made as
s!stants at $1,000.
If the machines upon which the clerks
are working get out of order temporarily
and they are compelled to stop work
| they are paid for their time according to
the rate prescribed by Congress. Those
| clerks who do piece work do not lose be-
| cause Of the half holidays on Saturday.
| They are paid for their time Saturday
afternoon according to the regular
monthly rates, although they are not at
| the office.
annual leeave and sick leave, too, ac-
| cording to the law.
Every effort is being made to make