Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-03-11
HOUSE MAY VOTE
ON RIDER TODAY
Action on BorIand Scheme to
Increase Clerks Hours
Is Imminent.
OPPOSITION is READY
TO MAKE HARD FIGHT
Representative Griffin of New York
Issues Statement Showing Why
He Is Against Plan.

Legislative action on the Bor-
land rider, placing an added hour
of work on the government
clerks day without increased
compensation, is imminent in the
House this afternoon.
The House assembled with
eight pages Of the legislative,
executive and judicial appropria-
ton bill intervening before sec
ton 6, which is the Borland rider,
could be reached.
Representative Borland was on hand
with pile of legal publications be-
fore him: and on the other side of the
House Representative Mondell was
ready to make a point of order against
the rider.
Other members of the House were
primed for speeches for and against it.
Earlier in the day Representative
Griffin of New York issueds state
ment in opposition to the Borland rider:
and Representative Smith of Idaho an
nounced that he would make speech
in opposition after the battle had been
opened on the Moor.
Should Limit Hours of Labor.
THE best results" says Representa-
tive Griffin in his statement, ARE at
tanned by limiting the hours of labor"
He declares that to fatigue workers is
not the proper method by which eff
cheney is obtained: and he cites the re-
organization along efficiency lines
which has been effected in the Post Of
fee Department recently.
This attempt to place an extra hour
each day on the government clerk"
adds Representative Griffin, without a
proportionate increase in compensa-
ton. is MUST and unrea sonable.
The statement in full follows:
Mr.. Grifhn's Statement.
Il am unqualifiedly opposed to the
proposition submitted by Represent
alive Borland of Missouri to increase
the hours of the employees in the de-
partments in Washington, both on
principle and the method pursued in
trying to bring about the change.
1T is the tendency of the times to
raise the standard of efficiency of en-
ployes. both in public and private en-
ployment, so that the best results can
be attained in the conduct of business.
In bringing this about it has been
found necessary to eliminate duplica-
ton of work and to get the maximum
result from the labor of employees. On
Investigation it has been found that
the best results are attained by limit
ing the hours of labor, SO that men will
not become fatigued and worn out at
the end of their days work. In all
lines of business the hours of labor are
being reduced, and l prophesy that the
Z 10 he
erage work day will be six hours.
TT was my firm belief that with the
lowering of the hours of those who
labor, whether it be the laborer or me-
chanic, or the clerk who is confined in
doors, that his efficiency will be raised
accordingly, and will be doing more
and better work in six hours than is
being done now.
in the departments in Washington
so-called system of Standardization
and reorganization has been going on
for the past two years, in charge of
an efficiency and economy bureau.
This bureau has reduced the number
of employees in the Post Office Depart
ment and has established a system OF
efficiency ratings that. in many in
stances, has resulted in reduction in
salaries of competent and efficient en-
ployes. In few cases clerks have re-
ceived increases in salaries. and when
ever this has been done the efficiency
bureau has seen to it that the in
creases were well advertised in the
public press. We seldom or never hear
however, of the large number of clerks
who suffer reduction in pay.
Often Work Overtime.
1T is not an unusual thing for the
clerks in the departments to work an
hour or more after their days work is
supposed to be finished. and many OF
them report at their offices on Sundays
and holidays. in order to catch up with
work that accumulated during certain
neriods For this extra SerYice these