The Washington herald., 1918-02-07
BORLAND PLAN
UNWARRANTED,
SAYS GOMPERS
Work Day for
Federal Employees Meets
/. Further Opposition.

Samuel Gompers, president of the
American Federation Of Labor. last
night again made plain his disap-
proyal of Representative Borland's
amendment passed by the House FRI
day, which would cause workers in
the Agricultural Department to
observe an eight-hour work day. In
commenting upon this provision he
said:
The American Federation of
Labor stands today on this PROPOSE
ton exactly where 1t stood when in
February, 1916. Representative Bor-
land first attempted to procure its
enactment, and I sincerely hope that
the Congress of the United States
will not enact into law this unwar-
ranted and unnecessary piece Of
legislation" g..
To Hold Mass Meeting.
Announcement was made last night
that plans are being formulated for
a mass meeting of government em=
ployes to protest against he length
ened work day by the Washington
Federal Employees Union. Definite
notice of the mass meeting will be
given as soon as a suitable hall can
be secured.
"a step backward" in labor stand
ards and unnecessary" were the
terms used by Representative James
p. Maher of New York, chairman of
the Labor Committee of the House,
last night In characterizing the
Borland amendment. Representa-
tive Carl C. Van Dyke of Minnesota,
member of the same committee.
also expressed disapproval of the
amendment.
Congressman Borland's PROPOSE
tion to lengthen the working day of
employees in the Department of
Agriculture is, in my estimate, en-
tirely unnecessary" said Repre-
sentative Maher. Unnecessary and
contrary to labor principles. Fur
thermore, / 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 believe that the
BorIand amendment will pass the
Senate"
ITO establish by law a minimum
work day." declared Representative
Van Dyke, nc, matter of how many
hours, Is a direct violation of one
of the fundamental principles of
organized labor. and the Federal
Employees Union is exactly right-to
fight the Borland amendment to the
limit. A maximum work day only
is recognized by labor and the
steadily growing tendency OF the
present time in the industrial world
is toward lessening the hours OF
labor and never toward increasing
them"
Appeal to Congress.
Each of the 531 memebrs of Con-
gress yesterday received a copy Of a
circular letter urging their co-opera-
ton in defeating amendments which
would cause employees to shoulder
burdens which are ill-advisedly being
laid upon them.
H. H. McLarin, who is president of
the National Federation of Federal
Employees, laid emphasis in his letter
on the fact that to carry Representa-
tive Borland's recommendation to a
logical conclusion 1t will compel their
secretaries and Office help to adhere
to the extra-time provision. He said:
Directed at ID. G. Only.
THE amendment is directed only at
employees in the District Of Columbia,
who have not the privilege Of voting.
Mr.. Borland refrains from proposing
legislation Of this sort affecting en-
ployes who do vote.
He has many government employees
in his own district who do vote and
who work seven hours a day, but this
legislation does not apply to them.
At the request Of the Kansas City
Labor Union. Mr.. Borlanf has agreed
to support the increase in pay for
these same clerks'