Evening star., 1921-06-15
FEAR LONG HOURS
IN DEPARTMENTS

Lowering OF standards IN the gov
ernment service, which may result
from requests to volunteer for over
time work." is opposed by the Ma
tional Federation OF Federal En-
ployes. Miss Gertrude McNally. a vice
president Of the federation. and J. G.
Gurley, editor Of The Federal En-
of the Department Of Commerce. to-
day. The representatives of the gov
ernment employees organization visit
ed Mr.. Libbey to discuss with him
voluntary offer OF overtime work by
employees of the Department Of Com
merce, which has been made by prac~
tically all the employees Of the de-
1--WE are not opposed to overtime
work at any time under emergency
conditions" MIR. Gurley said. But
we believe fsgsess dr fef ah.1d n1y
come from the chief clerk. but should
come from the bureau chief or head
Of divisions at the time the work Is
needed"
Both Mr.. Gurley and E. ]. New
GRAFTON of Federal Employees. inti-
mated that the request to volunteer
for overtime work amounted to a
command. THE very fact that the
request came from the chief clerk Of
the department made it tantamount to
an oruer." Mr.. Newmeyer said. Prob
ably most Of the employees realized
that they would do well to volunteer
for such overtime work, and did SO
because they understood the request
came from the chief clerk"
May Extend to Private Use.
The national federation takes the
position, according to Mr.. Newmeyer,
that if the hours of days work be
raised in the government service,
private employment may take the cue
and increase its hours of work. thus
violating the principle of the forty
four-hour week. He said comparison
Of the hours Of work throughout the
year by government employees and
those in other large industries shows
that the government employe actually
works only three hours less a year
not including overtime. than the aver
age employe in private industry.
At the same time the representa-
tives Of the labor organization with.
in the government service said their
organization is not opposed to over
time work when an emergency arises
that requires it Mr.. Libbey told tk en-
they said. that government reorgani-
zafion will place q. large amount OF
additional work on the Department OF
Commerce.
a beginning. such as has been
made atssthe Department OF Com
merce might spread to all govern
ment departments and would ulti-
mately involve all the field employees
in the government service the gov
ernment. labor organization repre-.
sentatives said. Such a step would
break down the whole system Of the
maximum seven and a-half-hour day
in the government service and might
lead to complete breakdown of the
working conditions for which labor
organisations have striven so long"
- Letter From Employees.
Mr.. ,Libbey received late yesterday
a. letter signed by representatives OF
the employees Of the census bureau.
saying the employees were entirely
willing to do overtime work il nee
essary in the discretion of their di-
ever, they did not want to go on
record as favoring overtime work.
Employees of the census bureau. Mr..
Libbey said. frequently WORK over
time.
ards have taken no decided stand on
the proposition, Mr.. Libbey was told
today. A meetings of the employees
was held yesterday, at which 1t was
decided that. as most of the bureaus 9
employees are scientists. voluntary Of
fer Of overtime work was not neces-
sary. The scientists at the bureau OF
standards. it was said. work far more
than the routine day when they become
involved in a scientific problem, and no
voluntary offer is needed on their part
The coast and geodetic survey has
not taken action on the proposal. Col.
d. Lester Jones. its director, said to-
day. Col. Jones said the survey
would take cognizance Of the request.
but that as most of the employees
work now from ten to twelfe hours a
day, volunteering of their services
for more than the seven-and-a-haif-
hour day was not necessary. The
movement had not spread to other
government departments today, al
though several of the chief clerks ex-
pressed sympathy with the thought
behind the voluntary offer.