The Washington times., 1916-02-26
labor FEDERATION
WILL AID CLERKS
Gompers and Associates to Do
All They Can to Defeat Bor-
land Rider.

The American Federation OF Lhpot
has taken up the fight OF the Govern
ment clerk In Washington against the !
eight-hour day. Through the execu-
tive council. now In session In this city
II has forwarded protest to Speaker
Clark, Congressman Borland. and me
House Committee on Appropriations.
The enforcement Of an eiEht-hour day
for Governemnt clerks. the labor leao- I
era state m their letter, Is opposed to
good policy. and flies in the face OF all
The lengthening OF the hours Of toll
brings about no saving, they state. On
the contrary, decreasing the hours o., OF
ward greuter efficiency. greater accuracy |
of service and a longer amount OF work |
accomplished in a given time.
Eeen II there were no foundation TOT
the argument that a longer work day |
10 uneconomical, they declare, there 10
something OF greater value TO the ma
ton than the saving OF small amount
The state and all the agencies Of or
ganized society have as their ultimate
purpose the promotion OF the health. |
the comfort, the happin%sssA % "a and the :s ae.
principles of human welfare, therefore,
at stake. which are far more important. |
the labor leaders say. than principles
of economy.
Most Of the session Of the executive !
council of the American Federation OF
Labor yesterday afternoon and last
night was occupied In the consideration
Of the Borland amendment;
President Gompers brought the mat |
ter to the attention of his associates, |
and after an extended conference was
test to Speaker Clark. Congressman |
Borland, and the members OF the COM
mite on Appropriations OF the House, |
which would set forth labor's senti- |
rhents on the matter.
Authorized To Fight Measure.
Further than this. President Gompers |
and the, other officers Of the fedora |
'tion were authorized to do eerything
in their power to defeat the Borland |
amendment. The letter Of protest fol-
"Apropos of the proposition coming
before the House Of Representatives, an
amendment to H. r. 122O7, which In ets
feet will increase the hours Of service |
OF Government clerks and other EN-:
ployes In the executive departments ana
of the District OF Columbia, the execu-
of Labor, now in session at It's heao-
quarters in Washington, d. e, re-
spectfully call your attention 70 tne
fact that It IL now generally recognised
that shortening hours Of work 10
fundamental principle Of human well
fare.
feet upon workers in all the various re-
lations of life. These facts make II dou-
blv deplorable that the United states
Government should be asked even 70
consider proposition to increase tne
number of hours that It's employees shall
work daily, and 1t is exceedingly regret
table that the demand for longer
workday for Government employees
should be made under pretense OF
economy.
No Saving In Long Hours.
! "All industrial experience goes to
prove that there Is no saving In length
ening hours of toll. On the contrary
decreasing the hours OF work to q nor
greater efficiency, greater accuracy OF
service. and a larger amount OF work
accomplished in q given time. Those
workers ws0 SS f's oTaS to the GSe SnS
with qulckened physical strength and
mental interests and power are OF great
er value In their respective places OF
service than clerks who, because they
have worked longer. have found II
necessary to disarrange. to limit, or to
forego entirely other duties and ac-
tivities Of life.
"But even though there were founda-
tion for the argument that longer
workday would be more economical.
there is something of greater value to
The state and all OF the sgencies OF or
genized society have as their ultir,ate
purpose the promotion OF the health
comfort, happiness. and development OF
citizens, Human lives and human well
fare must not be balanced against pub
lie moneys with the Idea that the ma
ton can afford to save dollars at The
expense Of human welfare.
There are principles of human well
fare that are of infinitely more import
ance to the nation than are any princ-
pies of economy. America represents
an ideal which places humanity para
mount above all else. II comes. there
fore, with a shock to those who have
an understanding of the principles of
national. welfare and the principles of
humanity that a proposition should be
made to Congress to lengthen hours
Nof labor for Its employees in order that
a sum OF money may be saved the Gov
ernment.
"The cumulative effect of longer hours
OF work will have an indelible influence
upon the lives of those citizens who are
the employees of the Government In the
National Capital. The effects will be
evident, not only physically. but men,
tally, socially and in all of the various
phases of the everyday life.
'If America Is to be true to her ideals,
she must observe the highest concepts
of the relations that ought to exist be-
tween those who employ and those who
render service, and the best expression
of those concepts ought to be found in
the conditions afforded Government en-
ployes In the Nations Capital"