Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-02-29
B0RLAND SCHEME
UNDER HOUSE FIRE
Many Pointed Questions Ask
ed of Plan to Increase Fed
eraI Clerks Hours.
Representative BYRNS
TARGET FOR QUESTIONS
Admits No Hearing Was Held. and
That Employees Now Labor
Overtime Freely.

| '.'i was dttd1hSu DOiulN Ou tilS
floor OF the House TODAY bv both
democrats and republicans. Al
though the skirmish was during
general debate. it forecasts bit
ter struggle when the Borland
provision is reached under the
five-minute rule.
| Opponents OF the Borland
measure bobbed up in the House
i'll the most unexpected corners.
Chairman Byrns opened the gen
eral debate on the legislative ap-
preparation bill. which is in his
charge, and which contains the
eight-hour provision. He ex-
planned in general terms the fig
ures of the big supply bill, but
he had not proceeded ten minutes
before men from all over the
House were firing questions at
him. endeavoring to get an an
swer as to why the hours OF gov
ernment clerks should be length
ened without compensation.
Chairman Byrns admitted that
the Borland rider had been made
a part of the bill without previous
consideration, without hearing
and without investigation. He
said frankly that the government
clerks are not overpaid and that
many departments are now work
ing overtime as it is. Represen-
tative Byrns opposed the Borland
rider in committee. but as chair
man in charge of the bill he was
forced into the position OF being
the champion OF a cause in which
he has no real interest.
Does the bill provide for reduction
in the number Of clerks on account of the
Borland provision?" asked Represents
No"
Then it does not contain reduction
Of expenses?' continued Mr.. Austin "lf
adopted 1t does not mean the dropping of
a single clerk?''
Not unless the House wants to drop
Them said Representative Byrnes
Representative Cox of Indiana. seeing
that Representative Byrnes was being
pressed closely, offered his help.
There are 10000 clerks" he said,
"and If they are required to work
eight hours a day. they will do more
| to accomplish more without taking on
more employees"
Asked as to q. s. Saving.
Further on in the debate Representa-
tive Aastin said:
''Tns clerks now work one-half an
hour more than they did a few years
ago. AS the result of that increase
| in the days work has the government
saved any money!
Il have not looked up the facts" said
Representative Byrnes.
! Representative Ragsdale of South
| Carolina asked Representative Bvrnes
| If he thought it good business to in
| crease the hours of the government
clerk without discussing the matter
! with bureau chiefs and heads of de-
| partments. Representative Byrnes re-
piled in general that ne did not believe
/ eight hours q day too much. and Rep
resentstive Ragsdale brought him ba ok
| to the specific question again by ask
| ing:
! would II no. be wise to forexo this
| legislation until we can consult the
heads of the departments and then
| bring in such legislation on this sub
] ject as they adNise?" II was asked
| Representative Byrns replied that
he lad not given it much considera-
| ton.
| "shouid not the heads o. the depart-
ments have control over the clerks
work and the time of working" con-
J tinued Mr.. Ragsdale. They have that
; power and discretion at this time Do
! you think IL wise to take this power
away and make an arbitrary law COW
ering the situation?''
| Representative London of Now York
said that increasing the hours of labor
does rot increase efficiency If the
/ hours of labor are prolonged for $4,000
| employees without consulting them they
would be justified in resenting such
action.
| DO not these CLERKS work overtime
now and do it cheerfully?" asked Rep
resentative Harrison of Mississippi
They do" admitted Representative
| Byrns.
| Representative Byrns also admitted
| that hearing has been held by the
committee to ascertain what are the
| actual conditions of service in the de-
partments.
| Representative Howard of Georgia
| emphasized The fact BY asking IT, as a
! matter Of fact, the employees Of the De-
| partment OF Justice do not work half
| an hour longer than those In other de-
! partments
I Representative Bryns was subject
| ed to running fire OF questions as to
how the committee. to use Fhe words
of one inquirer. Happened to slip this
| BorIand amendment through without
any investigation"
Have Worked Overtime.
| Representative Byrns admitted there
had peer no nearing. Also in re-
! sponse to questions from all over the
/ House. he admitted that since the out
break of the European war clerks in
nearly all the departments have work ed
overtime, which was looked upon by
many Of the members as an answer to
| the occasional slur at government
| Representative Byrns also said that
paid.
! Representative Reavis of Nebraska
| tried TO get Representative Byrns to tell
| him what was the motive of the Boriano
! amendment i'll the committee, but. in the
absence OF Representative Borand. Rep
| resentative Byrns could not furnish
| this information.
EITHER we are overpayirg the clerks
| c. We are trying to economize," said the
! Nebraska man.