New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-02-26
GEN. BLACKS METHODS.
VIOLATING A PLAIN STATUTE.
GENEROSITY AND ECONOMY" CoNrRAsrED-TIiE
DEPARTMENT TURNOUT.
rpyr rlIE

rBY TELEGRAPH TIE TRIBUNE
WASHINGTON, Feb. 25.-Desptc his disposition to
draw the reins tight, Secretary Villas does not
seem to have the nerve to enforce the law and
regulations to office hours in the Pension Office I;
and Physical Wreck Black continues to close
that Office at p m each Saturday, while employees
in all other offices of the Government have to
stick to their desks until o'clock The law
is as follows:
That hereafter II shall be the duty OF the heads
of tho several Executive Departments, in the interest
OF the public service require OF all CLERKS ana other
employees Of whatever grade class I'm their respective
departments not less than seven hours OF TABOR
each day except Sundays and days declared public
holidays by law. or executive order
In view of this law Secretary Teller on March
Il, 1883, issued an order to carry it into effect
That order has never been revoked or modified
except by General Black, as no other officer Of
the Government has had the temcrty openly to
defy the law That Black should do so under
Secretary Lamar is not so strange, owing to La
mars absolute abdication of all Pension Office
administration, but that Colonel Villas permits
IL Is remarkable
In contradstinction to this generous disposition
OF Government time and defiance of law, mention
should be made of the economy" practscd on
the day of the funeral of the late Commissioner
OF Pensions Clarke who from long service and
genial personal qualities had many friends In
that Office lie and Black were Grand Army
comrades Word was passed in the office that
any Of the employees wishing to attend the funeral
could be excused for that purpose but II any
absented thems Ives and did not attend the funeral
their time would be deducted from their annual
leave. But apparently relenting of much gen
crosby toward a dead Republican, the second
word passed that any wishing to attend
the funeral could do so, but that the time
would be deducted from the annual leave.
Magnanim0us Black! Loving cOmradc! Court
cOus successrr!
When Lamar in a spasm of virtue sold of the
Department carriages, Black would not cons mt
TO the sale of the Pension Office turnout, but
insrad Il modest onc-horsc outft-dccmcd SUI
fCcnt ry all his predeccssOrs-he soon had PAR OF
spanking blacks new harness and other trappingS
to match. 1t is Lot known whether he had his
monogram put on the blankets or not. Day in
and day out, nights and Sundays, is this turnout
used for the social and family Purposes of Black.
Nor was he satisfied that the team should DE
kept at the Department stables They were
too far from his residence to be HANDY at all
times 50 tho horses were put to board at private
livery stable near the Generals home at cost
fully double that at the Department stables.
In addition an extra wagon called a mail wagon
was fttc. UP f0g inner country diving 'h'
top raised SO the General could sit inside WIN
a silk hat on without dangtr-to the hat.
II Secretary Villas is at all curious, let nm
inouirc how much it has cost the Government
in plant repairs, equipments and maintenance
Of this practically private turnout Of Black
since he became Commissioner of Pensions, not
including the salary of the Government driver
In tbs connection IL is amusing to hear OF Sec
rotary Villa, catching ride with icllow-Cab-
mot officer, between the WLio House and the
Interi + Department.