The Washington times., 1921-06-18
lord HELPUS'T
OF i. S. CLERK MAY
FORCE 0-H0UR DAY
Eys-Weary and cIock-Watohsr
Federal Employees Buck
Libbsy In Move.

M Inc AVN HVAPua Iypo Oh OOu-
mercs Department clerk who 10 eye
weary from looking at the clock. and
worried owes the prospect Of stand
ard eight-hour day. may yet force
the hand Of Secretary Hoover and
through continued argument against
the efght-hour day bring that very
schedule into force.
In the wake Of the suggestion Of
the Commerce Departments chief
clerk, z. w. Libbey, that the clerks
volunteer to work an extra half-hour
each day. II the work Of the depart
ment dhould demand extra time, there
has been much talk about the unof-
ficial effort OF the chief clerk to have
the clerks offer. unasksd. the slight
extra service.
CLERKS PRoTEsT.
Every clerk 10 against the reso-
luton" said one bureau worker to-
day. -but when each bureau chief
called q meeting in his once and
started the resolution with his name
at the top, the clerks were forced to
Volunteer the extra haif-hour. They
signed with the same Willingness that
a man gives up his money at the
point of q pistol!'
Fearing Congress might notice the
agitation and suddenly think II not
bad idea to have Government
clerks employed for the same num-
Der OF hours those in private busi-
ness are asked, another worker re-
marked that the clerks can see no
reason for longer hours just after
Redfield and Alexander, who were
business men," have gone out of Of
fice. "Chief Clerk Libbey is so mod
est that his friends have to tell the
truth to honor him." sarcastically re-
marks this Lord Heipus. "He ordered
us back to our bureaus to get the
clerks to sign the resolution
LIBBEY SOMEWHAT CONFUSED.
Contradicting this statement stand
the words of Chief Clerk Libbcy him
self. In his explanation to a Times
reporter OF his extra time proposal.
when I called the men from the va
rious bureaus and divisions into my
office" said Libbey. II tried to make
II as plain as ! could that we would
not mention the proposal at all. IL
we could not unanimously agree to
its worth among ourselves. There
~tfN SSNSfdf dttScntiuk NDteSs Ouf
further discussion finally resulted in
universal approval of my suggestion.
Just before the meeting broke up. /
again asked all those present IL they
believed In the idea. II everybody
was not in favor of II. ] wanted to
discard the proposal. realized that
unless IL were unanimous IL was
worthless. They again signified their
belief In the value OF volunteering
extra service
Among the arguments against the
eight-hour day are those advanced
by clerks in scientific and technical
work is that many are engaged In
instruction in schools or in attend
ing classes after working hours.
These studies must be stopped n
longer hours are ordered" they
argue" Thousands of clerks WHO
have been attracted by the t:so quit
ting hour have been able to raise
families on little properties Ia ytr-
ginia where they can live more
| cheaply throusa cultivation of
| truck gardens. Longer hours would
mean they would have to move 10
| the city TO further congest housing.
Whether Secretary Hoover is medi-
tating over the advisability OF elinr
mating the discussion of Chief Clerk
| Libbey's proposal by turning that
proposal into an order from the Sec
retary's desk is not known. But there
are many In the department who
| realize that either Secretary Hoover
or Congress may take cognizance of
agitation and put into efefct the slight
| increase OF working time to the dis
| advantage OF the Lord Helpus type OF
clerks. Those who do realize are
| silently working, and leaving the dis
cussion TO the calamity howlers.