The Washington times., 1922-05-17
WOULD GUT
PERSONNEL
He CLAIMS
Officials Assert, However, That
Lengthened Work Day Is
Not Contemplated.

While Administration officials
made known through the White
House today that there is no in
tention of inaugurating an eight
hour working day for the army
of Government employees. the
principle of a heightened period
of toll found a strong adherent
in Walter F. Brown, chairman of
the Congressional Commission on
Reorganization.
Would Cut Personnel.
"I never knew of anyones
amounting to much who didn't
work eight hours a day" declared
Brown. "ln the case of the Gov.
ernment departments. ii is obvious
that If we can get an extra sixty
minutes of work we can get along
with one-seventh less in personnel"
The chairman declared that the
matter of an eight-hOur day had
not been taken up by his commits.
reorganization of Federal bureaus,
nor could he state the attitude to.
wards such move possessed by
members of the efficiency body.
A strong sentiment is deN eloDinR
in Congress in favor of President
Harding relenting in his stand for
"ragtime" in the Government de.
partments and restoring tn" for
mer working hours. which would
have the effect of bringing order
out of the present chaotic situation
In the business life of the District.
Up to Harding.
Although the White House has
Indicated that in the event Con
gress would enact legislation legal
lzing daylight saving for Wash
ington the President would sign
the measure. there is no hope at
the Capitol of such action being
taken by the Senate and the House.
While members of Congress nat.
urally are not disposed to be quot
ed, they said today that the Chief
Executive had put the cart be
fore the horse" in his movement
for changing the hours in the
Government departments.
The failure of the President 10
consult members of Congress to
the end of legalizing daylight saw
Ing before making his ''ragtim2'
plan effective has placed the White
House in position where Con-
gress feels that II Is not obliged
how TO solve the situation for the
President and that he and members
of the Cabinet will have TO work
their own salvation out of the pres
ent confusion.
Reports TO the effect that the
Cabinet discussed such a plan were
likewise denied by officials. who
Indicated that the agitation was
started by those behind "ragtime"
with Il view to intimidating Govern
ment employees into tacit accept
RnCe OF the jerky schedule put into
operation this week by executive
officials.
President Harding favors the Llan
of having the Government employees
begin work an hour earlier during
the summer months, it was learned,
but he has no intentions of urging
Congress to lcgalizs "raGtime."
However, 1t is understood that he
would approve a resolution to make
daylight sa wing" uniform rather
than haphazard.
There was considerable resent.
nent in Administration quarters
today over the printed reports init
ma ting that President Harding End
the Cabinet members had discussed
the feasibility of adding an hour to
the work day Of the Government
employees in Washington. Officials
scented an effort on the part of tGe
IRA agtime" promoters to scare the
employees into doCilc acceptance Jf
the freak system foisted on the pub.
lie Monday.
Fearing that the reports of the
possibility of an extra hour hecom.
lnS a permanent arrangement will
cause wide discomfort, officials are
considering the question of formal
denial. Meantime. the department
heads were busy today assuring tho
employees OF the utter lack of foun.
dation of the stories that the Cabi.
net had discussed any extra hour
plans at the meeting yesterday.
The District Commissioners, who
supervise the work of some 1900
employees, are not opposed to the
eight.hour day. 1t was pointed out
that the seven.hour day District
Government employees were in the
minority compared with eight hour
employees.
Means Big Saving.
The intimation that President
Harding's Cabinet took uD the
eight.hour question Yesterday has
aused considerable concern through.
out the city. "Ragtime" is now
being regarded only as move to
put into effect an eight hour day.
Vigorous opposition to the eight.
hour day Is expected. Government
clerks have fought this suggestion
before and won.
II is estimated that the eight.
hour day would save the Govern.
ment $4,000, 900 a year, in addition
to making possible a reduction in
force from 10000 10 60, 600 or less
employees. II might also mean the
opening wedge for higher salaries
for the more efficient employees.
The board OF education will meet
M 2:30. o'clock this afternoon.
"Ragtime" will be discussed Or.
Frank ". Ballou, superintendent
Of schools, said today that rag.
time" has worked out well in the
gChOOls