The Washington times., 1910-12-15
Arguments on Whether
Views Expressed Will Have
Weight on Decision.
RETIREMENT BILL
URGED AS INCENTIVE
Letters Assert Employees Would
Accept 5 O'clock Closing In
Return for Pensions.

A general discussion, in which the Gov
eminent employees Of every department
are participating. has followed the an
nouncemeut Of the poll taken by The
Times, which shows conclusively that q
large majority Of employees is unalter-
ably opposed to the extension Of the
working day.
The result Of the poll. announced yes
terday afternoon, brought an aftermath
OF much desk-tO-desk comment today
No emDIoye was too busy TO wonder IL
the expression Of the viewpoint OF the
great body of Government employees
themselves would have its effect on
those who are to decide whether a 3
O'Clock closing is 70 be ordered
The fact that, If the working day is
10 be extended, the greater number Of
clerks prefer that the additional half
hour be required in the morning rather
than the afternoon, also was the sub
ject OF departmental gossip. as en-
plOyeS went to work IN crowded cars. OF
as they met IL the corridors Of the build
inSs and around the desks in their Of
fees.
Retirement SidetTacked-
The subject is a live one. It has
aroused even more debate than the pro-
posed retirement bill The Times con
tinues to receive letters from Govern
ment employees expressive Of every shade
Of opinion
One empIoye writes that the Govern
rnen- workers are loyal and would glad
" work overtime II there was necessity
for the change He adds:
However, when there IS no emer-
gency, when the country Is prosperous.
when private employees are reducing
rather than extending the hours Of
labor, and when the half holiday on
Saturday Is growing in favor throughout
the country, II is believed that such an
order would be UNJUST
Your baIIoting contest is good
enough observes another, so far as II
goes but you ought 10 give the Govern
ment employees an opportunity to ex-
press their views concerning the con-
tri5utOTy retirement plan Probably not
g. per cent Of them prefer any sort Of
colt-ibutOry retirement The scheme Is
men who wish 10 retire on a good pen
sion"
Should Have Incentive.
And stiH another sums up the situa-
ton this way
We find men in every branch Of the
service who have served for years with
out q promotion and whose future Is
hopeless In this respect longer hours
viii not remedy this defect in our sys-
tenn The only way 70 have work done
rs it should be done, Is to furnish some
incentive, either IN present OF future
conditions
An analysis OF the entire problem
which cOnfronts the Government en-
IlOye IS given by one contributor as
follows.
The wish Of the Government clerks
In general-hOurs no longer than q m
10 "A, = m, with a least half an hour
fer lunch a raise il salary large
enough 20 add about 10 per cent TO his
present salary and just enough more
TO cover his part Of the fund which Is
70 be used as pension for supeTan-
nuated clerks
Not Surprised at Views.
Among the scores Of letters received
ny The Times-and they continued to
arrive IN the mails tOday--WeTe many
expressing no surprise at the story OF
tie ballots which The Times collected
at the departments at 40 O'Clock
Tuesday afternoon. and which express
ed the following views
Opposing any extension Of the work
ing day without additional COmpenSa-
ion, 1888
IN favor Of extending the day until
q m, "a
In favor Of extending the working
dav until o. m provided the Saturday
Eaif-hOlid2v IS made effective through
OFT the year 1855
In favor OF beginning work earlier in
the morning Il a longer day Is required.
2.15o.
Here are some more Of the cOmmuni-
cations which have poured IN on the
paper since II afforded the Government
tTeufoEe rEe Cvr0orff7T7if- IN Vote m z