Evening star., 1918-02-04


action of the House in approving the
Borland amendment to the agricultural
appropriation bill, which calls for a
full eight-hour day on the part OF all
government clerks. have been adopted
by the advisory committee of the Wash
ington Federal Employees Union.
Arguments Against Bill.
The statement of the committee says:
THE Washington Federal Employees
Union opposes and protests against the
enactment into law of the so-calied
Borland amendment on the ground that
it is a serious step toward breaklng
down the established standards of Ia
Dor; as unnecessary. unwise and mimi
cal to the best interests of the govern
ment service, and blow at the EN-
cheney of the employees affected by It.
The Borland amendment, so sweep
ing and far-reaching in its effects. was
adopted by the House of Representa-
tives, so far as We are advised. in the
absence of the recommendatio ton of a
single responsible executive official.
without investigation by single COM
mittee of the House, and in advance of
the report of the efficiency bureau which
had been directed by Congress to in
vestigate. among other things. the very
questions forming the basis of the ac-
tion under discussion.
Makes Service 1rkSome.
Notwithstanding the fact that the
Civil Service Commission (Which re-
ported recently that 30 per cent OF
the appointees decline their appoint
ments) and the departments in Wash
ington are resorting to extreme and
unusual measures to secure competent
employees. action is now taken by one
branch of Congress to render more
frksome the conditions of employment
n a Moreover
many years wise and far-seeing men
in power in both the executive and
the legislative branches of the govern
ment have laid stress on the necessity
of building UP the efficiency and esprit
de corps of the government machine
by offering inducements to men and
women especially qualified for the
work to enter the service. Is it to be
supposed that they will be attracted
to a service in which stability is so
lacking that Borland changes may be
made over night?
'The heads Of departments already
have ample authority to extend the
hours of employment. and in every de-
partment where war emergency work
is being done the clerks are now and
have been for long time cheerfuiiy
working overtime without additional
compensation. Consequently. as before
stated, the Rorland amendment is en-
tirely unnecessary. Further since it is
not limited to the duration of the war.
without foundation.
Produces Living Congestion.
"a consideration which applies with
epeciaI force to the Washington of
today should not be overlooked. Any
lengthening of the working hours in
evitabIy means that the employees will
be compelled to live as near as possible
to the offices in which they work-a
factor which will measurably add to
the congestion and confusion which
even now constitute a serious menace
to the efficiency of the departments.
The committee deems it unneces-
sary to refute any attack from what
ever source on the patriotism and
LOYALTY of the federal employs. S. There
is not the slightest hesitation on their
part to give freely to the government
their time and energy and substance.
as they have done and are doing. The
opposition of the employees to legisla-
tion of the type of the Borland amend
ment is based on far broader consid-
erations, as herein outlined. than the
mere desire to avoid an additional hour
in the days work
The Washington Federal Employees
Union, acting in conjunction with the
National Federation of Federal En-
ployes, affiliated to the American Fed
GRAFTON of Labor, will use every proper
and legitimate means to defeat the
Borland amendment"