The Washington times., 1916-02-25
SOAKING" THE GOVERNMENT
CLERKS

the logic OF adding an hour 10 the
working day of Government en-
ployes is delightfully."- simple. Let
them work eight hours a day, he
says, in effect, and thus do what is
expected Of workers in private indus
tries.
Is that all there is to this ques-
ton? Let us see. Surely the busi-
ness men of Washington, men who
labor under all sorts of handicaps al
ready, and have no voice in their own
city's affairs, are to be considered.
The Government has passed an
eight-hour law for women workers.
That the merchants accepted with
fairly good grace. There is no COM
plant against it. But, as one mer-
chant points out, it cost them money.
Now there is agitation for mini
mum wage. Whatever the merits or
demerits Of that proposition, it also
will cost business men money. Who,
after all, defrays the cost of these
reforms? In the long run the con-
sumer. And the consumer is the
Government clerk.
While the Government is busily
passing legislation to improve the
condition of workers in private en-
ploy, it might be expected that it
would do something for its own 40,-
900 workers of this city. But close
inspection will reveal little that has
been done for them in the past fifty
years. The same wages are paid now
as then. A higher degree of eff
cheney is required. The cost of liv-
ing has advanced.
In lengthening the hours of the
departmental working day the Gov
ernment further handicaps the busi-
ness men, particularly the merchants.
Other cities have eight-hour days,
but many of them have an hour for
luncheon. Few other industries en-
ploy so large a proportion Of women,
the shopping population, as does the
Government. In decreasing the trade
of the Washington merchants the
Government will increase the cost of
living in Washington, already high
enough in all reason, and this in
crease will fall upon the people of
whom it demands more work for the
same pay.
If it were a question of increasing
the hours of employees and increasing
their pay, most employees, we believe,
would acquiesce. That would be a
fairer proposition.
The idea that Government en-
ployes might as we'll work an hour
longer is based on an erroneous as
sumption. The idea is that most OF
them have nothing else to do the rest
of the day, and they might as well
work. AS a matter of fact the Gov
ernment gets a large bulk Of low.
priced labor from young folk who
are using the late afternoons ant
evenings in pursuing studies. These
young folk have bargained with the
Government to work at a nomina
wage so they may live here and at
tend school here. To ask an addet
hours work of this class will result
in losing them, and the substitution
of less efficient workers, and ther,
will be no startling saving to Uncl,
Sam about that.
Again, the assumption that al
eight-hour day is an ideal working
period, because that is all employel
have so far been able to force from
private industries is not conclusive
Social reformers are working to in
crease efficiency and decrease tn
working day. They see visions of
universal six-hour day. If tn
worlds work can be done in tina
time, and the rest of the time used il
individual improvement, so much tn
better. So far the Government ha
set the pace in regard to working
hours, if not in respect to pay, an
it should not slump in this point o
progress.
Most of the dealings with Govern
ment employees. by Congress hav
been the result of no broad stud
of the question. Action has bee
taken because the Government hold
the upper hand. The Government ha
outdone any monopoly and corpora
ton in high-handed methods Q
! treating it's employees; and all tn
while it has sought, wisely but il
consistently, to compel these privat
employers to just dealings wit
wage-earners. 4"