New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-11-09
HE DIDN'T WANT TO WORK SATURDAYS
ASSISTANT SECRETARY cRoUsz's REMARKS on

ASSISTANT SECRETARY CROUNZ's REMARKS ON
CLERK WITH An ACTIVE CONSCIENCE.
Washington. Nov eSpeciall.-som. time ago James
z. Austin. clerk in the sixth Auditors Once apph7u
for permission to omit work on Saturday on TIC GVna
that he was d Seventh Day Baptist and believed 'h'
he endaagering his eternal welfare BY aoofhs o'
that day He did not. however. saw ANYTHING soou'
working on sunday or beginning his days work carrier
than usual to make I'D for the lost time Assfs'ah'
Secretary Crounz TO whom the matter wos referred LOT
a report has written Endorsement upon tie papers
which Is too clever to remain buried in the Treasury
Department. II reads as follows:
Mr.. Secretary The accompanying communicated re-
ferrcd 20 you by Auditor Coulter and handed to me
for my consideration presents where CLERK IN MS
division has become somewhat entangied In the Depart
ment regulations and the laws OF Moses Believing thas
the thousands Of clerks employed about him and the world
generally are headed tbs wrong direction In observing
that day as sabbath they should he Is moved by eo-
scientious eonvction aad regard for his eternal wei
fare 10 appeal Auditor for assistance 10 ensoe
him to follow lis conscience which says he should not
work on Saturday abide by the regulations, which
-,v he should solution Of the question seems %
obvious and wholly in Mr. Aushns hands by BIS
simply realqnnc that It must be the Auditor VIII not per-
nit him do II this be 50. think the AUDITOR Is
clearly wrong.
The Dluc Book shows clerk has had his 'Consci
entous convictions Of duty" outraged for Years BY being
compelled 10 six or seven hours daiY foF SN
days In the week saturdays included for 81 COO year
continue no longer IL Is not oaly volatye OF the Con
st6uton Of the United States ut OF these fundamental
principles which underlle free Institutions Nae
Amendments 10 Constitution Article II, and Mrs Hennns
LANDING o. the Pilgrms') It occur TO the SscF
ary that Is Is possible that while this clerk l. ssroa
on the Fourth Commandment be may be weak On ths
Tenth that while his conscientious convictions lead hin
70 rebel against working SATURDAY, his eoveoasneSs
ncnes him TO appropriate the 81 600. This Is barely
possibc but | do want 10 beleye IT,
Vow / can understand tia. 20 good a man as Audlto
Coulter should desire to retain MN OF 70 active con
science in service there is supposed TO be 80 tu
display of IT, Still it would not do to make an exception
IL this undertake rcvoutonize the service IN nj
division BIZ starting work Sunday morning anu ehsn'
Friday evening Neither would II do 70 permit TWO SAD
birth DAYS in every week. While am satsheo sheh al
arrsn cement would run to conscientious cen
vctlons and generally agreeable IL ~oud not
proper In view the preent condition Of the treasury
In throwing these few hasy suggestions on ths IT,
lgious DEPARTMENTAL question have not considered u ~
fully as i; deserves further suggest however that u
whole matter referred hack to the AudtoF Win dfec
ton that he assoclte with him the Chef Of the Nafh
Division and Director OF the Mint who toee'hei sha
consider the and report These gentlemen are CTS
tnguished for their pety well as executive ability aho
are fully competent 70 successfully wleste with any or oil
| the commandments Of the Dccaogue
L. CROCNz, Assistant Secretary.