HEARINGS BEFORE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE. 393 
Mr. Burcu. They have two men acting as watchmen, but they are 
skilled laborers; they are not watchmen. : 
The CHatrman. What is the difference? 
Mr. Burcu. There is not much difference. We can use skilled labor 
for watchmen. And then, you see, we have now three laborers that 
are not properly employed, and they are acting as watchmen under the 
Civil Service, and we have none. Now, there are sixteen watchmen, 
and if you allow these men a month’s leave it would take sixteen 
months; and we are asking for one extra watchman to take place of 
watchmen when on leave, so we will have a watchman without having 
to detail laborers to perform that duty. As it is now, we have to call 
on some of the bureaus to furnish a laborer to act as watchman when 
any of them take a leave of absence. . 
Mr. Grarr. Government buildings are never insured, are they? 
Mr. Burcu. Not to my knowledge. 
Mr. Grarr. It has been suggested that the number of watchmen, 
not only in the Agricultural Department, but in the other Depart- 
ments, is much larger than the number employed by a private 
enterprise. Take a large lumber yard, or a great manufacturing 
establishment, and they have a good many less watchmen, and they 
have to cover in some cases a block. The watchmen report at a cer- 
tain time at the office, where there is a machine apparatus with a 
clock attachment, where they have to report, showing not only at the 
office, but at other places in the building, that the watchman has been 
there at that particular time. ; 
Mr. Burcu. That would work all right if we were in one build- 
ing. We have that kind of record in the main building over at the 
Department. : 
Mr. Grarr. Do you think it would take more than one man to go 
over that whole building at night? 
Mr. Burcu. That is all we have there. But we have so many 
buildings, at so many different places. We have but one watchman 
in the main building. 
The Cuarrman. With the half-hour additional work now required 
you will accomplish a good deal more, of course? 
Mr. Burou. We hope to; but that half-hour of work would not add 
at all to any of the requests that we have made for additional force, 
and would not apply in any way. ; 
Mr. Bowrsn. It does not add to it, but will it subtract from it? 
Mr. Burcu. No, I do not think it would subtract in any way. 
Mr. Bowrs. The statement has been made here, as to some of the 
bureaus and divisions, that they are already working more than half 
an hour and consequently it would not be any gain. 
Mr. Burcu. That is true. 
Mr. Bow1s. How is it with reference to the Department generally ? 
Mr. Burcu. You will find in every bureau men who will stay there 
as long as they can see to work. : ; 
Mr. Bowrs. Do you think, on the whole, there will be any gain 
from that half hour? ee 
Mr. Burcu. Yes; in the clerical work, but not in the scientific, 
because those scientists will get there as quickly as they can get there 
in the morning, and will stay as long as they can see to work. 
The Cuarrman. Does the committee wish to ask Mr. Burch any 
more questions? If not, we are much obliged to you. 
