The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-10-18
SATURDAY HALLIDAY
FAVORED BY RALPH
Director Of Bureau Of Printing
and Engraving Includes
Proposition in Report.

That Director Ralph. OF the Bureau
of Printing and Engraving. Is heartily
in accord with the move for a half
holiday Saturdays for all employees OF
executive departments was shown to-
day, by a statement he made In re-
port to Secretary McAdoo.
In his opinion the employees OF the
Bureau OF Printing and Engraving are
required 10 perform more arduous
duties than in any of the clerical de-
partments, and he stated that he should
certainly hope to have the bureau In
cluded in the order II all branches OF
the Government are to be given these
holidays 1t was indicated, however.
that longer hours on week days would
be necessary to maintain the bureaus
required output
IT feel that the matter Ia one concern
ing the bureau more particularly than
the clerical branches, for the reason
that nearly all the male employees and
a large number of the female are MEM
bers Of labor organizations which have
been urging these half-holidays," he
stated.
"Inasmuch, however. as pracucally
all the employees Of the bureau are paid
on a per diem basis. the granting OF
these additional. holidays would
necessarily vitality AFFECT the output OF
the bureau.
SHOULD the half-holiday be granted
throughout the year the bureau would
be compelled to reduce It's output or ex'
| tend the hours of work on the othei
days of the week from I to i:S0 p. M
would be necessary to enable II to TURF
out the amount Of work now estimated
| to be required
McAdoo Fayors Plan.
Secretary McAdoo has come out ir
favor OF the plan. making a total OF
| three heads OF departments who have
signified their unqualified assent to the
Saturday half-holiday proposals. In q
| letter to Joseph Tumulty. secretary t
| President Wilson. he told of the effici
| ency OF the office force under him. ant
| stated that he considered that the Sat
urday half-holidays extended to then
centive for best efforts In keeping VI
4 work In other hours.
II am in favor OF the proposition as ,
| general principle. and / hope that tn,
grant the request" his letter stated. At
torney General Gregory and Secretar.
of Commerce Redfeld have alread!
recommended a similar step, and favor
able action from TIE other executive
departments Is expected shortly.
| Secretary OF State Lansing in a let
ter to President Wilson today recon-
mended that State Department of
fcials and clerks be given a half
holiday throughout the entire year.
Secretary Lansing did not give gu
| the text of his letter, and no officia
| announcement was made concerning
1t, but II was stated unofhcially tn,
letter was favorable to the holida,
extension plan.
At the request OF President Gomper
| of the American Federation of Labor
President Wilson asked all the Cab
met officers for their views on tn,
advisability of extending the presen
three-month half-holiday period I,
| cover the entire year.
Secretary OF the Treasury McAdoo
Attorney Gregory and Secretary o
Commerce Redfield previously hav
written letters recommending the half
holiday extension.
The chief clerks of the War an,
Navy departments have reported I
Secretaries Baker and Daniels in fayo
of the holiday extension, but the tw
Secretaries have not as yet passed Of
the recommendation Secretarie
Baker and Daniels are expected to max
their recommendation to the Presiden
upon their return from present cam
paign tours.