Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-12-16

puDilc aiiey IN square 10 De closed, anu q new
alley opened In the same square, the requisite
proceeding having been taken by the owners in
conformity with the recent act OF Congress OF
July 9th, 1882.
LIQUOR LICENSES.
The Commissioners have approved the appli-
cations OF the following persons TOR barrOOm
licenses: Mrs. T. Byrne 18th street and Ohio
avenue; Jas. Keliher. 1914 SOD street: Daniel J.
Hartigan, 1916 32d street; c. A. Hammer, 131
Virginia avenue s.w.; Edward l.. Hail. g25 9th
street s.w.; Edward P Humphrey. $500 street;
Chas- Beckett, 927 d street: s. Bien, 400 9th
street; B. J. Carley & Bro. 1928 II street; p. F.
Gently. corner OF Sth and ID streets: Jno w.
Gray. 425 10th street; John Shannahan. 321 Viz
GINA avenue Sc; Daniel T0Omey. 300 l. street
s.w.; John F. Weeden, Benning's road; c. l..
Wood. 1919 9th street: James Ryan. 329 C
street s.w-; F. p. Hall. 1000 9TH street s.w. The
applications of the following were disappro we'd:
Frederick Rose. Rock Creek church road; John
Eibert, 1920 Pennsylvania avenue, and Bernard
Murphy, 140l 4th street.
AmusemeMts.
NATIONAL THEATER.-The engagement Of Mr..
joseph Jefferson will close this evening, when
"Trip Van Wrinkle" will be again presented.
JefersOns reputation IN this role is national,
atld whoever has not witnessed the performance
SHOULD take advantage of this opportunity.
A WEEK OF TRAGEDY.-Next week the WELL
Known tragedian. ThOs. w. Keene, will hold
the boards at the National. He will open Mon
strong company.
FORMS OPERA HoUsE-Miss Margaret Mather
delighted her audience last evening with a
very finished rendition Of the favorite role of
Ros0tind in GAS You Like It," This evening
the engagement OF this very successful debu-
tante closes, when the same play will be pre-
sented. Next Monday Barry and Fay, the Irish
comedians. begin an engagement in their sue
cessful comedy of Irish Aristocracy."
THEATER COMIQUE.-The COmique Is always
ia that the
gram does not satisfy the most critical lovers of
variety. The performance next week prom
ises to he Of unusual interest.
SKATING RISK.-The skating rink on New
YORK avenue IS now open for the season, and
the lovers of the fascinating sport greatly enjoy
the facilities offered
Rising from n Clerl1ship to the Cabinet.
The movement looking toward the reduction
Of domestic postal rates revives the valuable
service rendered by Hon. HOratio King in CO.
ordinate field, the reduction of postage between
America and Germany and America and France.
Mr.. King is frequently mentioned as Postmaster
General under Buchanan; but it is less generally
known that he was twenty-one years in the
Post Office department, entering as clerk, at
salary of 81 900, and leaving the department as
Cabinet officer, the only instance of the kind in
the government service, and a shining illustra-
ton for the encouragement of civil service re-
formers. 1t was while in charge Of the foreign
mail desk, which he enlarged into bureau,
ana subsequently, during seven years service as
Assistant Postmaster General, that he accom-
plished the most permanent results for good to
the department. His actual service as Cabinet
officer began In January. 1861, and ended with
the reorganization of the Cabinet under Lincoln
the same year.
Office Hours for Government Clerks.
OLD LAWS UNEARTHED WHICH ARE CREATING
CONSERVATION AMONG THE GOVERNMENT EN-
PLOYES.
An official in the Treasury department, who
has been studying the statutes of the United
States. has called attention to provision of
law in regard to business hours in the executive
departments, which, if strictly carried into eff
feet will cause much CONSERVATION in the ranks
of the government clerks.
EIGHT HOURS IN WINTER AND TEN IN SUMNER.
The law in question was enacted July T. 1886,
and is found in section 1862 Of the Revised
Statutes. 1t reads as follows:
From the first day of October until the first
day of April in each year all the bureaus and
offices in the State, War, Treasury,
Navy and Post Office departments
and in the General Land Office shall be open for
the transaction of the public business at least
eight hours in each day; and from the first day
OF April until the first day of October In each
year, at least ten hours in each day; except
Sundays and days declared public holidays by
law"
MODIFICATION.
The same authority declares that this law has
never been repealed or modified, except by a
provision in the executive, judicial and legisla-
tive appropriation bill Of 1874 which can be
found on page 100 of volume 10 of the Revised
Statutes, and which reads as follows
THAT it shall be the duty Of the heads of the
several executive departments and of the heads
OF the respective bureaus theren in the interests
OF the puUc service, to require of all clerks of
class one and above and of chiefs of divisions
such hours OF labor as may be deemed necessary
for the proper dispatch of the public business
not exceeding, however, the time for which said
departments are by law required to be open for
business any usage to the contrary nOtwith-
standing"
THE PRESENT CUSTOM
In all OF the departments is exactly the reverse
of the system laid down in the statute first
quoted, In that now the short hours are In the
summer months instead of In the winter months
as there provided; and in other ways that law
is one decidedly more honored in the breach
than in the observance" The subject was
brought to the attention of the Secretary of the
Treasury few days ago, with a view to it's
enect OH the question OF closing that depart
ment at noon during the coming Christmas
holidays in accordance with the custom that
has obtained for many years back.
"UiEAsCKY CLERKS ON THE ANXIOUS BENCH
Secretary Folger said lie would look into the
matter. When approached on the subject to-
day he was decidedly "non-cOmmittal" as to
his conclusions. Great concern is manifested in
the Treasury Department as to his intentions in
this regard, and it is even asserted that the
question will be brought before the President
and his Cabinet next week.
THE FUNERAL OF Mr. SAMUEL RATCIIFFE-
The funeral of Mr. Samuel Radcliffe took place
in Baltimore yesterday. Rev. J. E. Grammer Of
floating. The pall-bearers were Judge W. NJ
Merrick, Col. Mark Alexander. Col Luther r.
SmOot DIR. George G. Ogle, B. Wech Owens
and Dr. Lynch. Among the friends present
were Ii. c. Dallam, Benz. C. Barroll. Major w.
5. Amman. William Redwood, II. Caperton Will
liam Rogers and DR.. Carter.
The Courts.
COURT IN GENERAL TERN
Yesterday. Blunt agt. Hart: argued and SUBJ
United. Geiger agt. U. B. Mutual Aid society
OF PENNSYLVANIA; on hearing.
CIRCUIT COURT-,/,tI0e Mnc ,3bu.