The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1883-03-25
GRIEVANCES OF GOVERNMENT CLERKS
Ls~eer Hours, Fewer Play SPELLS, aaa
Large CurtaIlment Of Privileges.

Is.rer Home, Fewer Piay SPELLS. aaa .
Large CurtaIlnent er Privileges.
WASHINGTON, March 22.-The Government
clerks arc beginning to consider themselves
proper objects of compassion. Every day secs
them subjected to some now indignity or
misery. To-day an order has been issued
which puts stop 70 one Of their most cher
ished privileges. It has been the habit when .
clerk has been discharged to give him
months leave OF absence on an imagin-
airy new year of service. and to date
his resignation so that 1t should take
effect on the day his leave ended. Practically.
OF course. this was giving removed clerks one
months salary. Under the new rule. however.
this practice will be done away with. Under
the strict legislation OF the last session. the
question OF annual and sick leaves is now reg
ulated by law instead OF at the discretion OF
heads Of departments and tho law specifies
that In the event Of a resignation. the clerks
will only be allowed as much time as would
make up the regular thirty days allowance in
SH taEsn hs R
year he gets no extra time when removal comes.
This regulation the clerks say - only one
work to tho merest routine drudgery. :, Why"
said one OF these indignant persons. at this
treated like mon OF honor We have, to sign
our name the moment We onter tne Dulluln&
In the morning and whom We leave at night;
The hours OF daily work are heightened. and
we must not SEQ friend or read newspaper:
1t Is like an intermediate school. and some OF
the chief clerks and heads OF bureaus take
pleasure apparently In making our lives miser-
able by petty tyranny"
In spite Of this general complaint among the
clerks and their fear that their lot will be worse
before 4 is better, there are few resignations
handed In as the days slip by. In some direc-
tiOns. however the Government finds it diff
cult to retain the services OF flrst-rate clerks.
In the Patent Office. for instance. the clerks
look upon their stay In tho department as little
moro than q preliminary step to setting up
In business for themselves. 1t Is exceeding.
or inventor to have that practical knowledge OF
the machinery of office which experience OF
clerk alone will give. Hence 1t Is q common
custom for bright young mon to stay In the
Patent Office or other technical bureaus OF the
Government until they have served an APP
premiership. and then to launch out for them.
selves To-day for INSTANCE one Of the G most
announced his intention Of resigning no
doubt to engage in outside practice be-
fore the department. or to become con-
nected with some mechanical concern. where
his knowledge Of office methods will be valuable
Under the present classification OF clerks. no
mand OF special pursuits; and hence. while the
Government is q liberal paymastor. as II gen
eral rule the public service often suffers from
tho inability OF the Government to keep spe-
cialists In branches whore knowledge Ia valu-
able business capital. These mon nre par
tfcularly sensitive to cast-iron regulations
restricting convenience and dgnities. and
application OF harsher code OF civil service
regulations.