The Washington herald., 1918-03-16

For DurafiOn of War.
Friends Of clerks realize they will
have to wage a hard fight to convince
a majority of Senators they should
reject Mr.. BorIand's amendment when
they take II up in the legiSotive, ex-
ecutive and judicial appropriation bill,
which PASSED the House yesterday and
Is now before them
In the Senate the eight hour amend
ment attached to the Agricultural ap-
preparation bill was yesterday further
amended to apply only for the dura-
ton of the war. The House amend
ment in the legislative, executive and
judicial bill lacks this amendment,
and it will be up to the Senate TO
make the amendment on the Agrl-
cultural bill. which applies only to
clerks of the Agricultural Depart
ment in Washington, consistent with
that on the legislative, executive and
judicial appropriation bill which ap-
plies to all clerks.
As had been predicted by interested
members, the $40 fat increase was
voted to stand.
Senator John Sharp Williams will
TODAY make an effort to offer an
amendment to the eight hour amend
ment, providing for wage and a half
for all overtime work beyond the
eight hour day. Senator Sheppard
will also use his efforts to amend
the amendment.
There is little doubt but what the
passing of the amendment by the
House caused a favorable vote on
the amendment on the part Of sew
Cral doubtful senators who did not
feel certain that the first favorable
vote of the House on the eight hour
amendment recorded their true ma
jority sentiment.
Overtime Wage MOOted.
II attempts to amend the Borland
amendment so as to grant the
clerks wage and half on all over
time are defeated it is believed
that general legislation advocating
this step will be introduced.
Miss Florence Etheridge, acting
president of the National Fedora
ton of Employees Associations. said
last night the association had not
given up hope that they might ul-
timately be able to defeat the pur-
pose of the higher minimum day
and they were at least fairly con-
hdent they would be able to win
over it the privilege Of enjoying
wage and half for overtime.
Both houses spent the greater
part of the day in discussing the
clerks in the departments here and
the merits OF their wage increases
and the BOrIand eight-hour amend
ment.
Representative Myer London, the
Socialist, tried to amend the Bor-
land amendment so as to make il
apply only for the duration of the
war, but he was ruled out on a
point of order. Chairman Byrns
pointed out that the amendment as
it stood would die with the legis-
Iative, executive and judicial ap-
propriation bill, June 80, 1919, but
" Mr.. Myers amendment was ad-
mitted it might continue much
longer or become null after a short
er period.
says Clerk SACRIFICES.
Representative Keating led an at
Tempt in the House to make the
BorIand amendment further provide
for wage and a half for overtime.
Mr.. Keating said the House should
remember that the ordinary govern
ment clerk was sacriflclng as mucn
as the ordinary member of Congress
He took issue with some Of Mr
Borland's statements, declaring that
when he called the clerks slackers
he was indicting the President and
the heads of every government de-
partment He pointed out that the
government through the civil serv-
ice. had entered into a moral agree
IL 60
hour day and that it would hamper
war work more than promote it to
raise the minimum day to eight
hours
Representative Walsh, OF Massa-
chusetts, pictured the clerks here
to the House as poor potterins
crippIes' who have to drag them
selves up the balustrades. and de-
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