Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-07-13
LEAVES OF ABSENCE
10 the Veins of the fOrd's Thsstsr
Disaster.
An Inquiry and the Probable RepIy-sirty
Days Believed to BE the Extsns
the Department Can Go.

Gen. Grant, scting secretary Of war, TODAY
received letter from Mr.. John w. Doueasss.
chairman Of the citizens committee for the
relief Of the sufferers by the Ford's Thestsr
disaster, in which he says,
We understand that under the approximation
bill, which went into effect on the first Of this
month, a change in the system Of sick leaves
has been inaugursted. As the appropriations
made by this committee from time TO time have
been upon the financial condition Of the per
sons aided, il is very important for us to know,
in cases Of those who are still suffering by rea-
son OF the accident at Ford's Thester, how
much sick leave you can give them under the
new law.
We desire to call your attention especially 10
the case Of -. who was employed in the
building and was present on the day of the
accident, though not hurt immediately. The
shock TO his nervous system on that occasion
was followed in a few days by an spoplectie
attack, accompanied by paralysis, and We
understand he has not yet recovered conscious
ness. He has a large family and his salary 10
but 81 900. The committee has given them aid,
and II is hoped that the Secretary Of War win
include him among those who are injured.
We will be glad to receive . reply at your
earliest convenience.
LIMITATIONS OF LEAVES or ABsxxok-
Although Gen. Grant has not yet formulated
his reply, the practice of the department justi-
fes the belief that he will notify Mr.. Douglass
that the legal limitations Of leaves Of sbsAncs
forbids the extension Of sick leaves beyond
sixty days in any one calendar year regardless
of circumstances.
The law on this subject is contained in the
following provision of the act Of March s.
1888, making appropriations for the legislative
judicial and executive expenses OF the govern
nent Tor the fiscal year ending June 80, 1894
THE LAST Law on THE SUBJECT.
''Sec. s. That on and after July 1, 1893, u
shall be the duty OF the heads of the several
executive departments, in the interest Of the
public service, to require Of all clerks and other
employees, OF whatever grade or class. in their
| respective departments, not less than seven
hours Of labor each day, except Sundays
and days declared public holidays by law or
executive order: Provided, That the beads OF
the departments may, by special order. stating
the reason. further extend or limit the hours
| OF service or any clerk employe in
their departments, respectively; but in case
OF an extension il shall be without additional
compensation; And provided further, That
the head of any departing Mt may grant thirty
days annual and thirty DAYS sick leave, with
pay, in any one year to each clerk or employee,
the sick leave to be allowed in crses Of personal
! illness only, or where some member Of the
immediate family is afflicted with a contagious
tendance of such employee, or where
his or her presence in the department would
ieopardize the health of fellow clerks: and be it
further provided, Thu in exceptional and
meritorious cases. where to limit such sick
leave would work peculiar hardship. il may be
extended, in the discretion Of the head Of the
department, with pay not exceeding sixty days
In any one case or In any one calendar year.
This section shall not be constructed to mean
that so long as clerk or employee is borne upon
the rolls of the department in excess of the
time herein provided for or granted, that he or
she shall be entitled to pay during the period
OF such excessive absence, but that the pay shall
stop upon the expiration OF the granted leave.
ONLY SIXTY DAYS
There was q difference Of opinion among the
law officers Of the various departments ~ to
whether the above law limited sick leave to
sixty days or to ninety days The question was
submitted to the Attorney General and he gave
an opinion that the limit Of sick leave is sixty
days. and that has been adopted o. the rule in
all the executive departments.