Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-02-06
HOPES TOCUT OUT
OVERTIME WORK
Director of War Risk Bureau
Soon to Have More CON-
modious Quarters.
CAN ENLARGE HIS FORCE

Whatever overtime work is now
required of the 1000 clerks of the
day force in the accounting division
of the war risk bureau-the division
engaged in seeing that allotment
checks are made out so that soldiers
dependents may receive them-may
be done away with.
Col Lindsey, director of the bureau.
will be enabled. when the bureau
moves into the Arlington building,
to increase his force, if necessary.
which he cannot now do because of
lack of space. Also. check-writing
machinery is being installed which
will, it is assured, Tighten the work.
In the meanwhile, to distribute the
burden as much as possible, "a night
force is augmenting the services OF
the clerks whose regular hours of
labor are in daylight.
That it should be unnecessary, in an
industry efficiently administered. to re-
ouire overtime work of employees, Is a
principle to which Director Lindsey
gives Endorsement. He will aim for such
efficiency.
Explains the Conditions.
This is in answer to statements that
clerks of the bureau are required 10
work ten and one-half hours aday-
from 9 o'clock in the morning until
4:30 O'Clock in the afternoon, return
ing in the evening for three and one
half hours more Of work: No such
general condition prevails, asserts
Director Lindsley.
In the accounting division, for the
past two months, in order to keep up
with the tremendous task OF check
writing. and accumulation of the
work through falling behind. it has
been necessary to require. once or
twice a week. that the day force work
at night to augment the la1ors of the
night force
The night force has been put on
because of the lack OF space to MAKE
room for any additional clerks on the
day force. This has enabled the ac-
counting division to catch up with its
work A total of 2.09o.000 checks were
written last month. bringing the ac-
counts up to date
Hopes to Eliminate Night Force.
When properly housed and organized
in the new building. Director Lipds-
ley is expecting that night work will
be eliminated With the installation
of check-writing machinery. this
month, part of the labor will already
have been lightened. He is unable to
pay overtime because of civil service
regulations and the law.
In regard to complaint of employees
of the war risk bureau that they have
not shared in the extra Size granted
! TO regular employees of the older g;y-
ernme mt establishments. IL is pointed
j out by Treasury Department officials
that a misconception exists. While
the clerks do not receive this bonus
in addition to their salary. it is stated,
i the amount is figured into the stand
ard of pay.
AT the time Congress was discussing
/ legislation providing the bonus. it is
pointed out. an efficiency commission
was at work, considering conditions
in the war risk bureau. In standard
iZing wages. taking into considera-
. ton the competition for labor. the
T, stapdards were established on the ba-
sis of including the sfz0 granted else
/; where. Being greatly in need of help
no other offer of compensation would
. have attracted applicants. it is as
Z serted