HEARINGS BEFORE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE. 309 
Mr. Apams. The trouble is that the fellows we want to reach are 
the fellows who do not want it. 
Mr. Grarr. I believe this division is one of the most important 
divisions, because this is the medium through which the people are to 
get the benefit of the information, if they get it at all. 
Mr. Scorr. You said a moment ago that a large number of the em- 
ployees on your roll are kept during most of the session of Congress 
until 5 or 5.30 o’clock. 
Mr. Hix. That would be an exaggeration—not during the most of 
the session of Congress, but frequently during the session we have to 
keep them late. 
Mr. Scorr. When that is the case what arrangement do you make 
for extra pay? 
Mr. Hitz. None. The law prohibits it; the law says the Secretary 
may exact extra hours, but he can not compensate with extra pay. 
It is only the laborers that get extra pay. 
I want to say, Mr. Chairman, it is a little overlooked that our 
people have been giving the extra work that they have. Lots of our 
people give more than the half hour amounts to. ~ 
The Cuarrman. Would that be an average for a year—a half houra 
day ¢ 
Mr. Hitu. It would come, every year, very near it. If you remem- 
ber, we give the half holiday on Saturdays very cheerfully and 
ungrudgingly to the Government service. We exact that from our 
employees. 
Mr. Apams. We figure the Government would gain fifteen to six- 
teen days’ actual work. 
Mr. Hi. I think that is it. 1 have figured that out. The most 
responsible men I have put in from twenty to thirty days of extra 
work—the equivalent of twenty or thirty days of extra work. 
Mr. Avams. Are you quite sure of that? 
Mr. Hix. I know it, sir. You have not gota finer lot of men in 
the world than my force. Let me tell you this. I have had many of 
my men face a lot of work that I know would take a man four or five 
hours to do, at 4 o’clock in the afternoon, and I know they have brought 
it to me completed at 9 o’clock the next morning, many and many a 
time. As soon as they find out I want it, and I am going to be 
disappointed if I do not get it, I get it. 
Mr. Bowrs. Those are the men you want to promote? 
Mr. Hr. Yes, sir. 
Mr. Bowrz. Is it not a fact that many of your men do not take a 
thirty-day leave? 
Mr. Hix. Ido not think that in the fourteen years I have been 
here that I can think of a half dozen cases where responsible men have 
taken thirty days of leave. 
Mr. Bowrs. All of it, you mean? 
Mr. Hixz. All of it, Imean. I have been there fourteen years last 
July, and I do not think I have had thirty days in all that time. 
The Cuarrman. Why do they not take their leave? The law says 
they can. 
Mr. Huu. If the Secretary permits. 
The CuarrMan. I thought it was obligatory. 
Mr. Hit. No, sir; it is purely permissive. : 
The CHAIRMAN. Is the act in your Department exceptional ? 
