388 HEARINGS BEFORE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE. 
Mr. Burcu. We have two switch boards and two instruments— 
telegraph instruments—and we found it was impossible to get con- 
nected on the switch boards to expedite business, and we had to have 
an assistant in that office, especially. Of course there must be one 
present every minute of the time. 
The Cuarrman. For how many hours of the day ¢ 
Mr. Burcu. The whole day. 
The CHarrman. Hight hours? 
Mr. Burcn. Yes, indeed; just as long as the Department is open— 
seven hours. | 
The Cuarrman. When does-the Department open? 
Mr. Burcu. At 9 o’clock. 
The CHarrman. And closes at 4.30? 
Mr. Burcu. 4.30. 
The Cuarrman. The hours of the telegraph and telephone operator 
would be just the same as the clerk? 
Mr. Burcu. They are supposed to be there really before the office 
opens—ten or fifteen minutes. 
The Cuarrmay. Are they there? 
Mr. Burcu. Yes, they are; I can say they are; and frequently they 
have to stay half an hour longer—stay as long as the Secretary stays. 
Mr. Scotr. I notice that the telegraph and telephone operator you 
have now is rated at $1,200. Why is it necessary to have two hun- 
dred dollars more? 
The CHarrman. That is to raise that person, and give the other 
twelve hundred dollars. 
Mr. Burcu. That is the point exactly. That lady has been there a 
great many years. She is an expert—probably a very few others, if 
any, in Washington have—— 
The Cuarrman. Do you know anything about the wages paid by 
telephone and telegraph companies? 
Mr. Burcu. It is more than she gets. In all the Departments you 
will find— 
The Cuarrman. I am comparing them with outside work. 
Mr. Burcu. I know nothing about the outside work. 1 was saying 
that she is an expert and can telegraph with one hand and give you 
connections with the other. A person that can do that is pretty good, 
ae as is capable of doing it; and she is worth the money, as we 
think. 
The Cuarrman. You submit three clerks in class 3; ‘‘increase of 
one submitted.” That is the $1,600 clerk? 
Mr. Burcu. There is one file clerk, and another in the appointment 
clerk’s office, and the other I want to provide for should the in my 
office. Those are the three. Now, I have one detailed and carried 
by the Bureau of Plant Industry. 
The Cuarrman. What is the need of that additional clerk? 
Mr. Burcu. As I said, for my office. I have one who is paid from 
the Bureau of Plant Industry, and we think he ought to belong to the 
Secretary’s office; that is all. 
ae CuarrMAN. He is now paid on the Bureau of Plant Industry 
ro 
Mr. Burcu. Yes; Plant Industry. 
The Cuarrman. From the lump sum? 
