The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1916-02-26
EIGHT-HOUR BILL TO
BE FOUGHT BITTERLY
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.

peeeioh' merely acccntuateS this
disproportion.
T. Ihat Congress recognized the ap-
phcation Of the increased cost of living
10 their own compensation when they
voted TO Increase their own salaries from
e'ooo to F,b0o, ignoring the plight of other
employees OF the government at that time.
o. That the attractiveness of a seven
hour day Is responsible for the presence
IN the civil service of hundreds who
receive compensation far below that
which they reasonably might expect in
private pursuits. where the necessary re-
laaonship between compensation and cost
Q, nVlhg mas been recognized by en-
pioyers from time to time.
Representative James A. HamiII. of
New Jersey, covered many of these points
IN prief attack upon the rider at the
commencement Of general debate yester-
day. Mr.. Hamill Is the author of a civil
service pension bill, which he hopes 10
oring ND this session. and has an excep-
tonaliy clear grasp of the problems pre-
sented by the presence yof ao,loo under.
paid government cierks fl Washington.
HamilPs Speech Axnni.t Hi
Mr.. Hamill said In part:
Mr.. Chairman. / did not think this
bill would be brought into the House
| was to have been deferred until after
the Post Office Bill had been disposed
OF. There Is, however, a provision in IL
which should be carefully considered
and discussed in the general debate in
order that the members of the House
| may understand 1t thoroughly before
the whole measure is taken up section
by section. I refer to the clause which
extends the hours Of labor for clerks
In the departments in Washington. I
think little consideration Of the matter
VIII bring US irresistibly to the conclu-
sion that the provision making the work.
ing day eight hours instead of seven, as
fixed by present law, is unwise and
should not have been included In the bill.
since 1t has been included. the next best
thing to do is to eliminate II by adverse
vote when the bill is being considered
section by section.
1T Is true that the clerk. of the de-
partments In Washington work seven
hours, and that other classes of govern
ment employees work eight hours a day
We must, however, remember that these
men who work seven hours are engaged
In performing duties which are confin-
ing and which require intense applica-
ton. Consider that these men are con-
tinually under the eyes of Congress,
They arc alert and industrious and are
constantly at the call of the members
of the House and Senate. They put In
seven hours of solid, faithful, and con-
scientious labor.
Work TIL Task Is Finished.
Moreover the clerks have a certain
amount OF work to do and they continue
at II until It Is finished. Sometimes thew
work more than seven hours. 1 have
heard that during the Mexican trouble
the clerks In the War and Navy Depart
ments were engaged day and night in
dfscharging each days duties and they
worked cheerfully and effectively. This
provision Is not progressive step. II is
step OF retrogrcssion. In private bust
ness the tendency has been to shorten
hours of labor and to increase wages.
The government now proposes to lengthen
the hours of labor and, except I'm some
instances, to leave wages stationary, The
compensation the clerks now receive was
fixed In 1857 and although private en-
ployers have increased their pay sched-
ules to enable the employee to cope with
the high cost of living, the government
has, In this respect, done practically
nothing. The government should set the
example of ameliorating the condition
Of the yorkmen rather than that of max
Ing It more burdensome.
THE gentleman is very much interested
In a civil service retirement biIl because
he has introduced one." interrupted Rep
resentative Borland. How does he think
he Is aiding the accomplishment of that
purpose by insisting upon a larger num-
Der OF men doing a smaller days work,
or would not he be aiding his retirement
proposition for his civil service EN-.
pioyes throughout the country by in
sisting upon a smaller number of men
doing full days work, and having a
smaller number OF employees to deal
with?
Replies to BorIand.
Gentlemen, this proposition will work
injury to the business men of the Capital.
We ought to take the business comrnu-
nifty into consideration. because the peo-
pie of Washington are. in a special way, |
committed to the care of Congress They |
have no representatives on this floor. |
They have merely the right to petition |
Congress We ought not. therefore, |
without good reason. to contemplate
passing an act which will work havoc
among the merchants. And there ia no |
good reason for this legislation. No de- |
partnent heads have called for II or |
recommend IT. II Is contrary to the |
spirit Of the times which tends to make |
the working day shorter. 1t is unjust |
and unnecessary. 1t IL our plain duty to |