The Washington times., 1916-02-27
TRADE UN|ON|STS IN
KANSAS CITY ASKED
TO AID CLERKS HERE
Division Of Labor Federation
Wrles to Home Of Congress-
man BorIand to Help Cause.

Trade unionists In Kansas City,
homo OF Congressman Bosland. have
been requested to Join the nght
against his rider" which would i'm
crease the working hours of Govern
ment employees in Washington.
Request for activity by the Kansas
was made by telegraph by the STEM
ographers. Typewrlters. Bookkeepers
and Assistants Association. OF the
American Federation OF Labor. ].
Edwin Giles. president Of the associa-
tton, which included in Its member
ship many Government employees, said
today that the Kansas City Unionists
were bound to aid in the fight against
the increase in hours without a COM
mensurate increase in pay.
Revolutions disapproving of the
Borland proposal were adopted by the
executive committee OF the associa-
tion az a special meeting yesterday.
Our organization is prepared to
fght the Borland rider to the limit.
We have already asked by wire for
assistance OF the labor unionists Of
Kansas City. Mr.. Borland's home
town, and we expect organized labor
to rally to the defense of the in
terests OF the Government clerks"
said President Giles.
Already on Record.
"our organization includes a consider
able number of Government office
workers now. and we are using every
effort In their behalf. Our executive
committee met yesterday morning and
adopted resolutions condemning the pro-
posed increase of hours Of labor, and
we have wired to the organized labor
branches In Kansas City, asking assist
ance. The executive council of tho
American Federation OF Labor has al
ready expressed, through President
Gompers. Its condemnation OF this pro-
posal to put an additional burden on
already overworked and underpaid
Government employees.
Our Union Stands for a workday OF
not more than seven hours, and we are
endeavoring to educate businessmen OF
Washington to that standard. The or
ganized labor movement Is on record
as approving the reduction OF hours OF
labor In keeping with the increased
productiveness of machinery and the in
creased skill OF the workers. Mr.. Bor-
lands proposal Is a distinct step back
ward. The Government ought to lead
in showing tho way to private employ
ers. instead of retrograding. Govern
ment workers now frequently work
much more than seven hours. and the
heads OF departments have the absolute
discretion to increase the hours OF labor
whenever Il is necessary. Furthermore.
Government workers have had no in
crease I'm wages since 1856.
THE addition Of an hour Of labor to
the working time of Government work.
ers would mean no real economy. 1t is
the universal experience of employers
everywhere that decreases I'm the hours
of labor invariably result I'm increased
efficiency OF employees. Clerical work.
brain work-is hard and grinding work
at best, and to increase the hours OF
labor would mean an increase In that
law of fatigue which results In con-
stantly decreasing output. Mr.. Borland's s
proposal Is indefensible from any point
Adopts Resolution.
At its executive committee meeting
yesterday. the Office Workers Union
adopted the following resolutions:
Whereas Congressman William p.
Boriand has introduced a rider to the
legislative, executive and judicial ap-
preparation bill providing that the hours
Of labor Of clerks in Government de-
partments in Washington shall be eight
instead of seven as at present. and
Whereas the adoption by the Con-
gress Of this proposal would be n back
ward step inasmIch as the tendency In
industry Is towari reduction OF hours
of labor in keeptng with the increased
Hroduct,yene;s%s ;% OF I'm machinery ;siI and tho
Whereas II has been the universal
experience that reduction In hours OF
labor results In increased efficiency
whereas many workers in the Gov
ernment departments in Washington
ara members of the Stenographers, Type
writer's, Bookkeepers and Assistants
Association. No. 1l772, A; #. L., and one
object of our orgsnization is to estab-
lish wherever possible workday not
exceeding seven nours. and
For Time Reduction.
Whereas 1t is the object OF the
stantly toward reduction In the hours
OF labor. and Improvement in the work.
ing conditions of workers.;
therefore be II resolved, That the
stenoaraphers, TypeYriters. Book
keepers and Assistants Association. No,
1l773, American Federation of Labor.
record itself as opposed to the proposal
TO Iengthen the working day of its mem
bers and OF clerical workers generally
in Government departments and
Resolved further, That our organi-
zation call on the Trades Unions of
the country generally to assist us in
preventing the passage of this legisln-
tions be sent to the chairman of the
Appropriations Committee of the House
OF Representatives. to the Speaker OF
the House, the President Of the Sem
ate, and the President of the United
States"