The Washington times., 1916-03-06
Clerk Tells Why Borland Amend.
ment Should Be Defeated.

To the Editor OF THE TIMES
Approaching your open columns for
the presentation OF the Government
clerks viewpoint relative 20 the Borland
corresponding increase IN salary, I beg
to offer the following:
Most Government clerks, as Congress-
men, became annexed to the pay rolls
a contest for grade, the other in a
contest for votes. Back home there are
many who would most willingly perform
the services for less money, and, be-
sides. agree to heightened work day.
But do we, In an unguarded and gem
erous moment, resign and make way
for them because such Ii the case7 Not
so often that II becomes noticeable. We
pursue our labors firm In the belief that
the. conditions of employment that pre-
vailed when we contested for our places
VIII not he made more irkaome but
rather. II anything. that they win be
made more desirable.
clerk that is closest to the legislative,
executive, and judicial officials, the
highest In the land, receiving from them
directions that when executed. place in
operation tho, IN, many c,.. q the Laws In fact
motion and keeps In motion the things
self?
Our lawmakers have been as silent as
razingl the departmental clerks salar-
les. Their own and the Congressional
committees clerks salaries have not re-
manned at the old levels. We believe
also believe that there has been we'll
directed action and n desire 20 be i'm
partial on the part OF our lawmakers,
who progress with the times and adjust
their Views as economic laws changed
that the clerks would now be getting
wages respectable and commensurate
with the value Of the work they are do.
ing and In keeping with the deprecia-
ton in the purchasing power OF the dol.
lar.
The greater number by far of the
Government employees In Washington
| expect 10 he able TO continue the ab.
breviated day. for the trend OF the timei
is toward something more than a bare
| existence with little time for recreation
| The Capital City not only heartily be
| lieves in the short work day, put hopes
/ that eventually the rest OF tho countr.
will also have Il as the banks nnd man,
other commercial concerns so have !
now.
So our work first In TO annihilate III,
Borland rider. II for no other reason
! than these:
without increasing the compensation.
! II places no limit on the workday
Eight hours would be the miniInum-n
4 one knows what would be the maHi
mum. The. application of the unto
eight-hour law now In operation place
| n maximum on the work dayi thus tim
worked beyond the eight-hour limit -
turns to the. empioye "time-and-ahal
| for overtime"
| II has been said that the navy var
| clerks and others even In washingto
] work eight hours. and this Is given a
| ono OF the reasons advanced by the al'
thor OF the rider why the workday 70
the clerks should ba standardized 60 tn
| eight-hou day. IL he Is disposed I
know conditions. and che reasons there
| for. ne can ascertain that the nav
ward clerks are working eight hours De
cause the machinists, boilermakeri
blacksmiths. ct al. Der diem employees
have to work eight hoursi and IL
necessary for timekeepers. material
| cost keeping. and other clerks 10 he o
the tcb while the mechanics. working e
tn hour. are Mt their work.
Fellow clerks. while we are profoundl
J grateful to those Congrossmen who AR
| aiding our cause. and to Mr.. Gomper'
MFR. Giles and other labor leaders wh
have como TO our assistance. yet "
must bestir ourselves as never befoi
In order 10 prevent having another neck
lace (mIllstone) presented to MS.
The agitation OF this rider by III
clerks and their friends has. In fac
become even more than a tempest
teapot" MS our Nemesis calls II.
NAV have seemed ''lndefensible"
him. hut iuFt as "one swallow does ne
make a summer" 81 one opinion doe
not always make a fact. The rider pre-
posals, 10 say the least, are too ur
worthy the consideration OF A-calibe
men-men hig enough to sit In the hal
of the great American Congress.
A DEPARTMENTAL CLERK.
n Washington March T.