The Washington herald., 1918-03-15
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sum Of money from the war chest
in the interest OF those who were
amidst ease and luxury in the Ma
tional Capital and elsewhere.
He called clerks in Washington the
highest paid in the world and COM
pared their salaries with the meager
ones given to enlisted men. He said
the clerks should be willing to fore
go these raises in the name Of war
sacrifice.
One Of the few amendments which
was passed on the committee amend
ment was one introduced by Repre-
sentation Gard, of Ohio, which caus-
ed the words ability and qualifica-
ton" to be inserted in lieu Of "rea-
son." This was done. he said. be-
cause he wanted It understood the
increases were being given for no
other reason than because they were
deserved on merit rather than con-
tingent on war conditions.
Vast Sum Involved.
Representative Sherley, one of the
first to defend the $40 fiat increase
against an added increase. called the
attention Of the House to the fact
that even the $40 fiat increases
meant an expenditure of S26 900, 900
and that they could then realize what
great sums would be involved If they
granted even another small percent
age of increase. He said that ap-
proximately 24o.3OO people would be
affected by the fiat increase.
Representative Rainey read to the
House a story which appeared in The
Herald in regard to the clerk situa-
ton in Washington. He praised It as
the most truthful and fearless article
which he had yet seen in a Washing
ton newspaper.
Declarations of Representative Blan-
ton. of Texas. which pictured the
clerks as near" plutocrats with
every luxury. including their own
automobiles, was met with laughter
even on the part OF some who had
voiced their disapprovaI of a further
fiat increase.
Too Many Clerks, Says Penrose.
In the Senate, Senator Penrose
caused a sensation when he declar-
ed in discussion of the Borland
eight-hour amendment as a rider to
the Agricultural Appropriation bill
that there were by thousands too
many clerks in the departments
here" He said:
Il believe there are too many en-
ployes in all these departments. I
would hesitate to say what percent
age Of needless clerks are in the
departments, but I believe it is very
large. We only have to go through
some of these departments that have
sprung up like mushrooms in Wash
ingtOn in temporary buildings to
see employees fairly tumbling over
each other and hardly knowing
what they are called upon to do.
Il know of one departmental
shall not mention it now, but I in
tend later on to refer to it-in which
from two to three thousand people
are being employed where / believe
from two to three hundred would
conduct the business more effective
ly. That is a substantial assertion
to make, but 1 do make it without
fear of contradiction. and hope to
be able to satisfy the Senate about
the truth of what say when I get
my materials ready.
IF we had greater efficiency and
economy in the departments we
would get at the purpose which the
author of this provision had in mind
much more quickly than by making
a particular regulation for the Ag-
ricultural Department"
Would Pass General Law.
Senator Penrose said he intended to
vote to strike out the eight-hour para
graph on the ground that the question
Of hours Of labor during this war
crisis ought to be taken up after due
investigation and deliberation and a
general law applicable to all the de-
partments Of the government prompt
ly considered.
This seems to be the general senti
ment In the Senate and If the House
votes down the Borland amendment
there Is little doubt but what the Sem
ate will vote 1t down. Should the
House pass the Borland amendment.
however, before the Senate takes its
vote 1t was admitted last night that
1t would doubtless swing sufficient
doubtful Senators on the side of the
amendment to pass It also in the up
per body.
Representative Borland last night
said he confidently expected his
amendment to pass the House by a
d.