§ MR. KELLY (Camberwell, N.)asked the Secretary to the Treasury, If it is the fact that the clerks in the Custom House have been required to give an attendance of seven hours a day in compliance with the terms of a Circular recently issued by the Treasury, but yet continue to be paid only at the rate fixed by the Order in Council of February, 12, 1876, for a six hours' office; and, whether there is any reason why these clerks should not be placed in the same position as all others employed in Government Offices for seven hours a-day?
§ THE SECRETARY (Mr. JACKSON) (Leeds, N.)Under recent directions of the Treasury, the period during which some of the indoor offices of the Customs Department are open for the transaction of business has been extended to seven hours. It is not, however, intended nor expected that all the clerks concerned shall give continuous attendance throughout these extended hours, nor that they shall, as a general rule, be expected to give during each day a longer total period of attendance than at present.