The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-02-28
CHAOS IN 8-HOUR DAY,
SAY INSURANCE MEN
Change in Hours Would Upset
Whole Life Of Capital, They
Assert.

hours
John NJ Cherry. general agent for the
Connecticut Mutual life Insurance
Company, said:
I'D be opposed to Frightening the
hours OF the Government clerks, even
IL were sure II would result in the
saving which Congressman Borland
seems to think It will. As a matter of
fact. however. / very much doubt II IL
would save the Government anything.
Longer hours do not necessarily mean
more work accomplished.
Government employees In Washing
VINO have been working on the basis OF
seven-hour day all these years. and
Who have arranged tho daily routine Of
thelr life accordingly, would lind II q
real hardship to have TO work an iddi-
tional hour without receiving additional
They are Paid little enough now, and
To increase their hours OF labor In the
way suggested. would amount to abcu.
me same thing as reduction in pay.
very high standard OF efficiency by
working It's employees long hours and
underpaying them. Even under the
Pre- system o 4 Is difficult to retain
women In Government service"
Calls II Ridiculous.
James Lee Bost. general agent for
the Home Life Insurance Company.
said:
''The proposal r. ridiculous. OF course,
am opposed to II. The Government
would gain nothing In efficiency or in
quantity Of work done by sucn action.
while the clerks would lose an hour
each day which they how use in shop
ping and attending to their personal
affairs"
There Is no stronger argument
against this proposed measure" said l..
IL. Albert, general agent for the Phoenix
Mutual Lie Insurance Company, than
the fact that the heads OF the various
departments ~ the Governn ent have
not asked for such action. They are
the ones who arc In closer contact with
the work OF their clerks and who arc
advised as to what Is best for the
service. What arguments have been
advanced for this change other than
economy?
"If this be true. why not Increase the
days work two hours and cave twice
as much. or three hours with n still
greater saving. and so on. The man
who thinks he can save money by de-
oreasing the efficiency OF Ills clerks usu-
ally wrecks his business.
IA real business man confars with
his managers when he considers making
any change, but was that done In this
case: What departmental head has
advocated II?
/ ity who have spoken. are opposed to
such change. And why? Because
| they know that II Is not necessary
that when conditions require that the
clerks remain after hours they willingly
do so. and for which they receive no
remuneration. and that long hours do
not increase clerks efficiency.
Can See No Good.
William q. worthington. who repre-
senst the National Life Insurance Com
pany OF Vermont. said:
81 can't SEQ that any good would re-
suit from the proposed Increase In hours
| of work for the clerks here. As 1t Is.
they have little enough time to attend
to their own affairs. II an increase In
salary accompanied the increase In
wise think It would be an injustice to
the employees"
| Z. ID. Erewson. agency director. OF
the New York Life. said:
This would not be good business for
the Government, and would work a
hardship on the clerks. The tendency
today among business men generally Is
| toward shorter hours and increased Ell
4 dciency No one ever increased EN-
. cheney Dy lengtnenlhs nouis. 1hu - .
absurd to thing that tho Government
can"
| T. Janney Brown. of the Penn MUTUAL
Life Insurance Comapny. said: =,
| 1T am against any plan that WOULD
| make more work for the Government
clerks here unless 1t was accompanied
| by a fair increase In pay. As II Ii now
| the business men OF the city nave "a
, keep open at beast an hour longer Iha ~
| a. ~. oil work order
give them an opportunity TO do DUST
''If an additional hour is added to the
Government clerks, II probably woulo
many business houses who cater e
them. l can see no good that would
be accomplished by such plan"
#. T. Smith, OF Huske e. Smith. which
firm represents the Northwestern r1d Mu'
Many departments already require
eight or more hours for clerks, the pow
or to do so when necessity demands
| being ample. The need OF the proposed
] LEGISLATION Is not apparent. Every man
naturally views such movements from
the standpoint of the effect upon HIN
and his business. Life insurance mus'
be carried to and urged upon the aver
1 age man. Few seek II voluntarily. The
stringent rules in the various depart
ments impose limitation upon propa'
| ganda, and the proposed increase OF tht
working hours will still further limit
our opportunities to get In touch with
Government friends. The constant agi
tation of various movements with re-
spect to the Government employees II
| most unjust to them. AS a class nj
more faithful workers are to be found
Would Be Real Hardship.
George c. Jordan. president Of thu
District OF Columbia Underwriters AS
ISOLATION, and who represents thu
Equitable Life Assurance Society here
| said:
"Of course, do not favor increasing
the houIs of work OF the Government
employees here. 1t would be a real hard
ship to them and would do nobody an!
good that can see"
Orville b. Drown, general agent 10
the Massachusetts Mutual Life Insur
ance Company, expressed himself a
follows:
No private employer, whether In
dividual or corporation. would think 10
a minute of increasing by an hour tn
working time OF his employees withou
some compensation, and feei sur
that Congress win take no such action
The majority Of the clerks would b.
"a ~