Evening star., 1918-02-07
REGISTER PROTESTS
TO E|GHT-AOUR DAY
Federal Employees Union Out
lining Opposition to Bor-
land Amendment.
GoMPERs TO COOPERATE

/ Plan9 Tor a mass nt6cL1nS wneIo cHi-
ployes Of the government may register
their protest against the Boriand
amendment to tho agricultural bill,
which would give employees Of tho De-
partment of Agriculture here an eight
hour work day, are being made today
by the Federal Employees Union, which
has declared it's determination to fight
the proposed measure to the last ditch.
| The union yesterday secured the CO.
operation of Samuel Gompers presi-
dent Of the American Federation of
labor organization squarely behind any
movement to defeat the amendment.
Mr.. Gomperv said:
THE American Federation of Labor
stands today on this proposition ex-
aotly where it stood when. in February.
1915. Representative Borland first at.
tempted to procure its enactment, and
sincerely hope that the Congress OF
the United States will not enact into
law this unwarranted and unnecessary
piece Of legislation"
Representative James P. Maher Of
New York today came to the help OF
the union by declaring himself against
| Mr. Maher is chairman OF the House
committee on labor. He decries the
proposed legislation as "a step back
ward" and unnecessary"
Representative Borland's proposition
to lengthen the working day of en-
ployes In the Department of Agriculture
Is in my estimation entirely unneces-
sary," said Mr.. Maher. Furthermore,
l believe that seven hours Of work are
worth more than eight hours, both in
the amount Of work accomplished and
in the quality of the work. / do not be-
lieve that the Borland amendment will
pass the Senate"
Representative Carl c. Van Dyke Of
Minnesota. also a member of the House
committee on labor, declared the
amendment will provide a minimum
working day for all government en-
ployes ultimately. and is contrary to
labor. Mr.. Van Dyke will work against
the amendment and today said of 1t:
Minimum Work Day.
ITO establish by law a minimum
work day, no matter Of how many
hours, is a direct violation of one OF
the fundamental principles Of organ.
lied labor. and the Federal Employees
Union is exactly right to fight the Bor-
land amendment to the limit. A maxi
mum work day only is recognized by
labor, and the steadily growing tend
ency Of the present time In the indus
trial world is toward lessening the
hours OF labor and never toward in
creasing them. For this there is sound
scientific justification. For the govern
ment of the United States to enact
such a law as the Borland amendment
would be unquestionably a step back
ward and would indicate absolute dis
| regard of the spirit of the times.
Furthermore, such law is totally
unnecessary, and to claim that it is a
war measure is obviously absurd. For
under the existing law every govern
ment official has the power to require
eight, ten or twenty-four hours work
from his employees if he sees At. and
| every ono knows that an immense
amount of overtime work is now being
done by government employees in WASH
ington without one cent of additional
pay. The fact that the Borland amend
ment is intended as a permanent piece
Of legislation. and is not limited to the
duration OF the war. further makes the
argument that it Is a war measure
ridiculous on the face Of it. Any at
tempt to iegislate into existence a mini
mum workday of eight hours for fed
eral employees in Washington will un-
doubtedly meet with the opposition OF
organized labor throughout the coun-
TRY"