Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-02-25
Extra Hour Daily Means
Hardship to Clerks and
Business Decentralization

Indignation mildly expresses the feel
ing of many of the clerks in the depart
ments toward the proposition to increase
their hours of work from seven to eight
hours, exclusive of the half hour required
for luncheon. While none of those ap-
preached on the subject would consent to
be quoted by name. all showed unmistak-
ably their opposition to the movement to
extend their hours of employment with
no corresponding increase Of pay
1t was agreed by many of the clerks,
including those of most conservative
views, that the plan proposed not only
would be a hardship to the thousan ds of
clerks, but also would b emost democrat
izing to business conditions in the Dis
trict. All the transportation companies
operating in this city. as well as those
operating in nearby districts, would have
to change their schedules to meet changed
conditions in the government workshops,
but the merchants and business men gen.
orally also would have to rearrans,e their
hours Of business or neglect altogether
the custom of federal employees
At least that is the way it looked to
many of those questioned on the sub
ject. 1t was pointed out that with all
the department stores and other big
business houses operating under the
eight-hour labor law as at present the
government clerks would have no op-
eXC0Dt
by general change of hours in the
business houses. SO that they would be
open either before the government
clerks got to work or in the evening
SO that shopping coulc be done after
the clerks were excused for the day.
Might Split the Hour.
Although no complete canvass on that
point has been made as yet, it seems
that most of the clerks feel that IL
they are to work another hour each
day the extra time should be divided
between the morning and the afternoon
so that they would start in at $50
o'clock and stop at o'clock Some.
however. opposed the earlier hour, be-
cause Of the difficulty Of getting break
fas. and making an earlier start for
the ONCE.
As one clerk put it. 1t is hard enough
as 1t is, to get servants at the house
in time for breakfast under existing
rules without expecting to have them
hour at the departments, 1t was pointed
out. would be especially hard on the
large number of government employees
who have their homes in the suburbs
OF Maryland and Virginia and already
have to hustle to get to the Office at 8
o'clock. A representative of that group
of employees said that If he had to work
an hour more. he would prefer to have
IT all added to the close of the day
instead of having it divided between
the morning and afternoon. II his plan
were followed the eight-hour day would
begin at o'clock and end at $50
o'clock.
One OF the older clerks said he saw
| no occasion for the new rule for the
reason that many OF the clerks already
work eight hours and more under the
present seven-hour schedule. Extra
| work Is done in all offices whenever the
business requires it. which Is oftener
than is generally realized. He supposed
that the congressional committee in re-
porting the bill was actuated by repre-
sensations from the heads Of some Of the
departments or bureaus that needed more
clerks in order to keep up with the in
| creased demands of business II the pro-
posed rule is adopted. however, he said.
he thought 1t should be made clear that
hours day and must not be extended
except under the most extra ord,narv
conditions. And then II the Saturday
! half-holiday law was respected all the
year round IT would be easier to bear.
Mr.. Borland's Economy" Measure.
To the Editor Of The Star:
Mr.. Borland claims hiss motive In ~,
fering an amendment adding an hour
to the working day Of the government
employees Is to save the government
100000 annually. Assuming, for the
sake of argument. that he Is right in
using the power of his office to save
so vast sum by Expressing the gov
ernments employees. then why stop at
this amount? In other words, IL op-
pressive laws to take from our en-
ployes their services without added
4 tNpx itta hO afN Ia ovSfv,
1.-THE mere sum of 100000
i Ii AeemS to ha very unhecnmina of