The National tribune., 1882-11-16
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
PENSION OFFICE, November II, 1882.
CIRCULAR.

PENSION OFFICE, November ii, 1SS2.
CIRCULAR.
am very sorry to be compelled TO call this
marked attention Of the employees of this Office
to an evil that if there is power enough vested
in me- and 1 think there is, shall no longer re-
main as a stigma upon this Office.
In return for the pay you receive for your
services, yo' owe the Government and the
almost dcspairng claimants before this Office
six and One-halt hours of honest, industrious
labor every working day, except Saturday, and
five and one-halt hours on that day, and any
Entertainments You make upon that time for
any purpose, or upon any excuse, save only
actual sickness leave of absence, is at the eX-
pense OF yOur personal honesty. Now, you
would not wish it known TO the country and
its defenders that the fifteen minutes at morn
ing and Mt noon to get from the street 10 your
desk is taken by you from the time which is
theirs nor would you like them to know that
the half hour allowed for lunch is extended to
nearly an hour by your eating lunch when you
should be at work, and spending the lunch
time on the street Would you wish claimants
who are waiting and hoping that you Will
settle their cases soon, that the winter wolf
may be kept from the door, to witness the en-
tire cessation OF Worl, which with many too often
takes place at quarter past twelve and quarter
before four each day, that you may be out OF
the office at 1870 and O'clock?
Hereafter each clerk or employee must allow
himself or herself ample time before office hours
to enter the office and be at his or her desk so
as to take up work promptly at and O'Clock,
and not lay it down until 1890 and o'clock.
| And | simply have this to say, that this Office
! will hereafter have no use for any clerk, eX-
amncr or reviewer who will not devote 10 the
work OF the office six and One-half hours each
day, except Saturday, and five and onc-half
| hours on that day.
No example is furnished by n single officer Of
this bureau for the reckless waste Of time, which
| il is my intention by this circular order to put
an end to, nor can there be any reasonable cx-
! cuse offered for it. Let it be well understood
! by every employee Of this bureau that good
! moral character, correct habits and cOnscien-
! tious discharge of duty, both as regards the
| time employed and the character Of work done,
| command and viii receive the commentator
| and respect Of the officers of this buVcau; and
| that their opposites the surest road to dis
misssal.
There is no necessity for Sunday work, save
! in very rare and exceptional cases, and ii will
! be discontinued hereafter. Admittance to the
Office will be denied ON Sunday, and except
! from $50 a. 10 $50 p. III. on other days Of the
| week, to all except officers Of the bureau,
chiefs of division and the law clerk and all orders
| in conflict Herewith are rescinded. Exception
! to the rule governing admittance to the build
| ing will be made by the chief clerk, one of the
| deputy commissioners or the commissioner,
| when the necessity actually exists
There are, ! am happy to say, many to whom
this circular has no application; probably al
| most as many as there are to whom 1t does.
| Men and women who are conscientious and
honest about the discharge of their duty have