The Washington herald., 1916-03-01
GOMPERS' LETTER
SCORES BORLAND
Author of Amendment Re-
buked for Hasty Manner Of
Introducing Proposal.
NO CHANCE FOR HEARING
Labor Leader Denies Plan Would Re-
suit in Greater Efficiency or
Marked Economy.

A sharp rebuke is handed Repre-
sentative Borland for the hasty man
ner in which he brought up the
amendment to make all government
employees in the District work eight
hours a day by Samuel Gompers, pres
ident of the American Federation of
Labor. in an open letter, made public
by Mr.. Gompers last night.
Replying to Mr.. Borland's query as
to why the American Federation Of
Labor should protest against an
amendment affecting government
clerks, Mr.. Gompers says:
principles of humanity and human
welfare are the same whether applied
to one group of citizens called wage
earners or to another group of citizens
called government employees"
Mr.. Gompers further continues:
You say that your purpose in pro-
ize the hours of labor of all govern
ment employees. II that is your pur-
pose 1t can be accomplished equally
well by reducing the hours of labor
of all other employees to the hours
worked in Washington, thus equaIiza
ton can be accomplished without any
backward step and without acting in
violation OF principles of human well
fare"
scores Hasty Action.
Taking up another of Mr.. Borland's
arguments, Mr.. Gompers replies:
You say that the purpose OF your
amendment is economy, but have you
considered that the salaries paid gov
eminent employees does not constitute
the total departmental costs? There are
other expenditures that must be taken
into consideration to reduce the sum
total Have you taken into consideration
fully their bearing upon this problem?
II the hours of work are increased there
must be additional expenditures for heat
and light"
Mr.. Gompers refers TO the hasty and
unusual manner in which the amendme Mt
was offered. He says:
You SIT, are the author OF the amend
ment to increase the hours OF labor OF
the government employees. 1t is not
known to the public that You ever con-
suited with any Of the officers OF the
departments of the government, or with
any Of the government employees so
vitality interested. Nor that you even in
quired from those who would speak a
word in defense Of the rights and inter
ests of the government employees. and it
is not entirely unknown to you that gov
eminent employees have been made to
feel that they dare not speak in defense
VI AllNli ONt ilSlllS anu llNtTtSlS
No Chance for Hearing
Nor has there been any opportunity
for hearing before any committee OF
Congress upon so vital a question Of
fundamental human welfare. Would you
or any committee OF Congress under
take to enact into law any proposition
affecting industry. commerce, finance
transportation without giving a hear
ing TO the interests primarily affected
by such proposed legislation? The mere
statement OF the question carries with
1t its own answer.
You say that this economy measure
is also a measure for efficiency. Now il
is matter of common information that
the work done by government clerks is
of an exactinG nature and that after
a certain amount is accomplished. fatigue
causes an increasing number of mistakes.
These mistakes, OF course. must later be
checked up and corrected. This is not
economical, it is not efficient. and is a
waste OF time. energy and money.
1T is a well established fact to which
many employers and other experts have
given testimony. that the shorter work.
day results in greater efficiency of work
ers and greater quantity OF work"