The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-12-18
NO REVISION NOW
IN CLERKS HOURS
Cabinet Members Will Make
No Changes at Present.
DEPARTMENTAL WORK IS UP
Opinions of Various Officials show
Five Not Contemplating Changes,
Three Undecided, and One Whose
Employees work Until O'Clock
ana VIII Continue same Hours.

Nine heads OF government departments
gave cut statements yesterday upon the
length of the day for employees. ana the
general tenor of the utterances indicate
thar there will be no change in the
hours for the present
The opinions of the Cabinet members,
when analysed, show I'VE who eontem-
plate no change at present in their re-
spective departments, one whose clerks
are now working until O'Clock. and in
which hour there will be no change,
and three who have as yet reached no
decision.
The Postmaster General said that he
does not intend 10 issue an srder length
ening the hours Of work in the Post
Office; that he would not do so unless
general order was issued that would APP
ply TO all of the departments; and that
the hours al the Post-office viii remain
tho same
Secretary of War Dickinson said that
the work OF the department is we'll up.
and that there is no need OF asking his
force 10 work later or longer than now.
II. however. the work of the whole de-
partment or any part of it should get
behind, he would have no hesitation in
calling upon the force To get the work
up, irrespective Of what might be done in
other departments.
work in Treasury Up.
The Secretary of the Treasury said that
the hours in The Treasury will Pemain
the same. as he sees no necessity for
making any change, and is not contem-
nj oil a..
son TO be satisfied with the way the
work there Is kept up.
j was said al the State Department
that no change in hours is contemplated
there, and that the employees keep their
work up in the day Of seven hours.
Secretary Ballinger said that the work
IN the Department of the Interior Is so
we'll up that there is no need of eX-
tending the time there, and that he does
not contemplate issuing any order 10 that
effect
Secretary Of the Navy Meyer, Score
tary Nagel Of the Department of Labor
and Commerce. and Secretary Wilson, Of
the Department OF Agriculture. all said
that they had arrived at no decision so
far as each OF these three departments
is concerned.
1huhtN AAouEA tntkeIt-
The Department of Justice has been
working till O'Clock every afternoon
since April last by reason Of the great
pressure Of work in that department and
II was said that it is not likely that any
change TO shorter hours there Will be
made
II was learned that the Department OF
Commerce and Labor, the Department of
Agriculture, ana in some others that it is
the custom 10 have clerks remain at work
after the stated closing hours upon any
occasion when their services are needed
10 bring the work Of the department or
any section OF II up 10 date II has de-
veloped that there Is greater irregulaTity
in the home-going OF clerks than was al
first supposed. In fact, there are few of
the Departments at which some OF the
employees do not al some time or other
remain for extra work
The frequency Of the call in the Treas
ury Department has become so great that
some Of the employees have declared
themselves in favor OF uniting with or
sanized labor as a means of promoting
unison in whatever steps may be taken
10 secure pay for working overtime.
Employees IN the Department of Agri-
culture say that il is by no means an
unusual occurrence 30 be called upon 10
work overtime. and on some occasions
even until midnight in finishing special
work for which some OF them receive a
little compensation by a sight extension
OF leave, but no monetary recompense.
The clerks in the Census Bureau are
often called upon to work beyond the
prescribed closing hour and many of them
at times under the closest surveillance.
No Monetary Recognition,
Some Of the employees in the Post-ofice
Department have for some time been
working regularly overtime upon a special
piece Of work that bears upon post-ofice
economy and receive no monetary recog
milton for extra work
IN the Department of Justice il has
been practice for so long a time that
II IS the almost established custom TO
work until o'clock.
The technically skilled workmen in the
Government Printing Office. the Bureau
OF Engraving and Printing. and the navy
yard. among whom many adherents %
organized labor are TO be found, work
the eight-hour day.
These are among the facts that cause
many of the employees who are likely
10 be affected TO say that there is al
ready no uniformity of closing and that
when an employe leaves home in the
morning he never knows what exigency
may arise that Will keep him az work
long after the closing hour For this
reason, there is a strong feeling mani
Tested by representatives from every
department TO have Congress take hold
cl the matter and set the hour of clos
inc, so that the matter would be settled
for definite time at least. Provision
should be made for the recompense OF
all who do more than a days work for
the Federal government, as well as for
those who work overtime for individuals
or corporations. That sentiment is
freely expressed and is gaining favor
among the employees.
Fixed Time Better.
Il cannot see" said one prominent en-
ploye, what all the discussion over
longer hours is about If the closing
time was hxed at $50. it would not be
observed. Some clerks would have to
go back at that. II a fixed hour of clos
ing was decided upon, and all employees
stopped work at that time OF were paid
for overtime, the general effect upon all
would be better, because all would know
what is expected OF them As il is now
no one knows how long he viii have to
work,
While no move has yet been made to-
ward the issuance Of an order affecting
the question. there is. of course. good
reason why an order that may have been
contemplated should not be withheld
modified, or Cancelled.
Virginia Farmer still Missing.