The Washington times., 1916-02-29
SMITH OF IDAHO TO
FIGHT DORLAND PLAN
Congressman Calls It "Leglsla-
tive Robbery" Of Clerks.
Advocates Higher Pay.

Legislative robbery" is the latest
caustic term applied to the Boriand
rider requiring Government clerks tc
work eight. hours day.
CONGRESSMAN Addison T. Smith OF
Idaho issued n statement announcing
that he will fight the Borland rider and
declaring that the proposal OF Mr.. Bor-
land was AN unjust imposition upon
the clerks.
In his statement the Idaho member
says:
''The Boriand amendment Is. In my
opinion. nothing more OF less thnn an
attempt by legislative robbery to exact
an extra hours service each day from
the department clerks. believe that
1 am as well informed in regard to the
onerous duties imposed upon the de-
partnent clerks and the demands made
upon them by their division chiefs who
are charged with the responsibility Of
getting out tho work. as IL any Repre-
sentative in Congress.
II do not believe that 10 per cent
Of the clerks nre able TO save any money
for unexpected needs or the purchase
Of a house from their meager salaries.
because OF the increasing cost OF liv-
ing, and the necessity of spending more
on account of the character Of their
work and their environments for clothes
and living expenses for themselves and
family, than those In some other walks
OF life where the compensation ID
higher.
Work Exhausting.
Their work In most exhausting, both
mentally and physically, and while II
IN true that many members OF Con-
gress. including myself, work ten or
twelve hours a day. our work is not
nearly as irksome or exhaustinB, AZ
we are not compelled to sit Mt a desk
In a stuffy room for seven hours. but
have an opportunity of moving about.
"It Is rather poor encouragement 10
the clerks when they are nouned that
they mist donate an extra hour each
day to the Government without addition
al compensation. ard the proposed plan
will not have a tendency. II adopted.
to secure from them any. more work or
closer application to their duties.
There are many clerks VINO, because
Of III health or age. are performing tne
limit Of work now. and IL an extra noui
should be placed upon them is wou,d ,,n ~
many instances mean that they wouio
ance Of the duties required of them.
Every department clerk. when ne
takes his oath Of office. enters into q
contract with the Government to render
seven hours work per day at the en-.
trance salary with the tacit assurance
that he will be advanced as vacancies
occur. To require an additionai hour
! service without additional pay Is ar
| arbitrary resentment OF the contract
aud could not be enforced in any cour'
| OF justice were the contract between IN
dividuals. II is simply an arbitrary. un'
reasonable. and dishonest method o.
taking from a large class Of people serv'
Ice without compensation.
For Higher Pay.
what we should do Is to increase th'
salary Of department clerks. receiving
less than $500. at least is per cent
enact a law establishing a contributor
pension system, and provide that 8 pe'
cent OF each clerks salary should q
into a pension fund to retire the clerk
who are too infirm or advanced in year
| to continue In service. such a plaI
would provide for the promotion OF de
serving clerks and invite into the servic'
bright. active young men and womei
who would be encouraged to prepar,
themselves for proper discharge OF th'
important duties imposed upon them.
IAN intelligent administration OF tn
laws requires as much preparation ant
| CAlrCliChScg anu uc6fco "
ability. as making the laws. and Il In I
mistake to assume that because OF tn,
small salaries that are being paid tn,
employees of the Government that thei
work IL not OF the greatest Importance.
II personally know men In the depart
ments receiving from 81 200 to 5000
year. who. II they were in private EN-
ployment, would receive five times a
much, and yet. because of the fact tina
thoy are established here and interests
Nwa NhANs- M vNVaar - las
they hesitate to give UP their position
to enter private employment.
II am utterly opposed to the Borlan'
amendment. and am doing all cal
to convince my colleagues that its en-
actment would work a great injustic
upon very deserving class of people
II is unfortunate that we are livin
under an Administration that is SO shor
OF revenue that 1t Is proposed to resor
to what l think would be legislativ
robbery of the Government employe I
get money to prevent a larger deficienc
than Is now staring us In the face"