The Washington times., 1916-03-02
BORLANDR|DER
NOT PRACTICAL
SAYSCHAMBER.
Organizations Directors Unani-
mousIy Adopt Report De-
nouncing Eight-Hour Rule.

rider, providing an eight-hour
working day for Government
clerks In the District, as "an i'm
mature, impracticable and unjust
proposal" the Chamber Of Com
merce will send to Congress a
resolution protesting against the
enactment Of this feature Of the
legislative, executive and judicial
appropriation bill.
The board Of directors OF the
Chamber last night adopted, by
unanimous vote, the report Of the
subcommittee Of the executive
committee appointed last Monday
to consider the Bosland proposal.
The report asserts that the Bor-
land measure, by fixing eight hours
as the minimum number for a
days work, is inconsistent with the
customary eight-hour day provided
by legislation, in that in the latter
eight hours is the maximum num-
Der for Q day Of labor.
NO LiMIT,To EXTRA WORK.
with such law on the statute books,
the committed contends, heads OF bu-
reaus and departments could work their
clerks any number Of hours In excess
OF eight that they saw ft, and would
not be required to pay for the extra
work.
Stress likewise is laid on the inability
of the Government employees to make
an organised effort to defeat such
Should they agree to resign in
sufficient number to impair the work
OF the Government, or any of its par
qcular branches. the report holds that
the clerks so agreeing could be charged
with conspiracy.
Text of Report.
tee composed of John q. Capers. chair
man; Isaac Cans. A. L. Sinclair. A. Lis
ner. and Ralph w. Lee.
The full text follows:
ington Chamber of Commerce.
Gentlemen: The undersigned COM
mittee. appointed from the executive
committee OF the chamber to investi-
legislation In Congress. commonly call
ed the Borland rider. to the legislative,
executive. and judicial appropriation
o .sHSs e fS,Ss ssn m
vision for the payment OF salaries to
Government clerks in the District of
Columbia dependent upon the condition
that all such clerks should be required
day 10 repugnant to recent legislation
IN botn state and nation upon the ques-
tion OF the hours OF labor required by
employers of labor. whether the en-
ployer be an individual. a company. a
corporation. a municipal State. or the
National Government.
This Is primarily true, because the
proposed eight-hour day, as minimum
time OF service for Government clerks,
is not only inconsistent with the eight
hour law provided by legislation as a
maximum number of hours for a days
work, but defeats the just propositions
involved In the eight-hour maximum
day laws and upsets every principle or
consideration to the laboring man or
woman upon which those laws were
"Existing law. fixing eight hours as a
ma ximum days work, provides for ad-
ditional work In cases of emergency
upon the distinct basis that extra COIN
pensation shall be paid for each hour OF
service over and beyond the maximum
eight hour period.
1.-THE Boriand rider not only makes
no such provision. but by fixing eight
hours as a minimum leaves the Gov
ernment free to work the clerks en-
ployed in the District OF Columbia any
length of time beyond the eight hours
without any additional compensation.
your re committee how the member or
Congress who Is the author OF the prop,
osition can defend 1t by statement
that Its purpose 10 to correct accidental
privilege OF discrimination now enjoyed
hNy IDiatrICt
Ion the contrary. the discrimination
II. for the first time, proposed ny the
provision In reversing the present max
imvm period and making OF 1t min.
imum period applicable only to Govern.
merit clerks employed In the District oil
"Y6dK committee feels that. it is for
that reason that the labor organiZa-
tions Of Hhe country. without exception.
have aligned themselves earnestly and
ably in opposition to the proposed
OF the interests, the rights, the health
and the opportunities in life of the
members of labor organizations, those
organizations are alert when legisla-
tlon is proposed that would discrimi-
nate agaiI6t them and their members.
and In their present opposition to the
proposed amendment the labor organi-
zations show a cUmmendable and an
admirable degree of study and compre-
hension In view of the fact that at
first glance the proposition has the
misleading and alluring appearance OF
preventing discrimination against the
eight-hour laborer because Government
clerks In the District OF Columbia are
required to work but seven hours.
"The author OF the amendment stated
to the chairman OF your committee that
he contemplated. as a result of the leg
islation, II enacted. a very material
reduction In, the force OF employees now
at work for the Government In the Dis
trict Of Columbia.
Indeed, II Is only because OF his as
sertion that the provision would re-
duce expenses that tho rider was al
lowed to be attached to the main bill,
otherwise 1t would have been new leg
islation. and not allowed under the
rules OF Congress.
Ignorant of Local Conditions.
Going into local phases OF the prop
osition, your committee does not share
an indiscreet and unjust opinion, FREE
quently expressed. that legislation by
Congress Upon matters directly concern
ing the District CT Columbia Is prompted
by any III feeling. prejudice or wanton
neglect OF the interests OF the District,
but rathor By lack OF Information on
the part of members OF Congress as to
ths real local conditions peculiar TO the
District OF Columbia and wholly unlike