National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1880-04-15
A Faithful Public Servant,

In the death Of John Y. Laub, which oG.
Cured yesterday morning, in tho siGty-hrst
year OF his age, the Treasury Department loses
a clerk who has, perhaps, been longer in the
Government service than anyone now upon its
rolls. His history is in many respects a re-
markable one and presents mauy singular and
striking condolences.
His father died when the son was but oigh-
teen years of age. He had been appointed n
clerk in the First Comptroller's Office in 1904,
while tho Treasury Department. was located ut
Philadelphia, and he came TO this city in 1900,
when il became the seat Of Government. He
had been a clerk in the Comptroller's offices
for rorty.three years. Six days after his death
his son, the subject of this sketch, was ap-
pointed to fill the vacancy caused by the death
of his father. He entered the Department at
tho same age and in tho same month Of the
year as his father did. lie was employed in
the same Office, and, had he lived un-
til next September, ho would have served
the same number of years Father and son
together have been employed in the same
Office eighty-sX consecutive yCars-'nearly
century-a period which covers all but Ave
years of the entire history of the Treasury
Department.
During the whole time that Mr.. Laub has
been in Office he has only taken five days
vacation, although ho was entitled to thirty
days in each year. Upon his return to the
Office lie declared that "if the Lord would for
give him that time" he would never do the
like again. He was so annoyed by fear that
his work was not being well performed that
he took no pleasure in being away Another
clerk had been put in charge Of his desk dur
ing his absence, and, as an inducCment to OK
ira care in its performance, he paid him gold
dollar for each day that IL was properly at
tended to. This occurred more than twenty
six years ago, aud from then to tho time OF his
illness he has allowed no ono but himself TO
touch pen to his books, lio was very pains
taking and methOdical in everything he
did. Ever since ho entered the Depart
mont he had Charge of what are known
as appropriation ledgers," in which are
entered, under their proper heads of Rp'
propiations all warrants paying money
into and out of the Treasury. lie manifested
the greatest interest in this work, performing
it invariably in the same careful and accurate
manner Whilo at the Office he was very
rarely absent from his room, and lie often de-
clared that he was never so happy as when Sit
ting at his desk, hard at work upon his books.
With him his work was an all-absoTbing pas
sion, He loved his books almost as much rs
If they were human beings lie always
covered them carefully with piece Of oil
cloth after his days work was done, and the
tears would spring to eyes if by any accident
they fell to tho floor and became rumpled or
soied. During his illness he constantly m-
agincd that he was at work in tho Office. lie
would 60 through all the motions Of making
entries in his books-blotting them, and talk
ing up and laying aside the warrants as he
entered them. lie was greatly distressed by
! the thought that he was falling behind with
| his work, and WAS only pacihed by his son-in-
| laws promise to help him bring it up.
| lie was always Mt work an hour before Office
hours commenced, In coming to the office
| and returning home he invariably chose tho
| sumo route, aud ON Sundays lie always went
| to the same church and by the same way. His
| home, his Office aud his church wore the only
places to which he ever went He often re-
marked that he had not beou to the Capitol
for thirty years, lie maintained his position
in the Treasury Department for SO long timo
not by political influence, but by his worth
! and fitness for the work.