Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-02-01

The Comm issioners send Information Asked
For by Mr.. Dockery.

For by Mr.. Dockery.
The Commissioners this morning received a
letter from Representative Dockery requesting
information respecting the holidays, leaves of
absence and hours of labor affecting the clerks
and others in the Offices of the government Of
the District Of Columbia. 1t was decided to
comply with the request at once and the fol-
lowing reply was submitted:
The number Of holidays given during the
calender year 1899 under law or executive
order has been as follows: January l. Feb
ruary %, May 80, July 4, November "a
Thanksgiving day. and December %. All
of these are legal holidays except Thanks
giving day, which is fixed by presidential
proclamation.
The number of days or parts of days re-
mitted from the regular hours of employment
were as follows:
May 16 Offices closed at IL O'Clock m out of
respect to the memory of Senator Barbour.
June the employees in the auditors Office who
could be spared were allowed to attend the
funeral of deceased clerk of that Office. From
June Is to September the Offices were closed
at O'Clock IN. on account of the heated term.
During the GA. Il. encampment the Offices were
closed all day on September 20 and one-half
day on the 18th, 2lst, 22d and 23d. excepting
the health Office. On October colored en-
ployes belonging to colored Odd Fellows or
mitted to be absent TO participate in the
ceremonies of that organization. On No.
vember %. the day before Thanksgiving
the offices were closed at u O'Clock m.
On December 81 the Offices were closed at 1
o'clock out of respect to the memory of Senator
Plumb. whose funeral took place on that day.
The offices we're also closed one-half day each
from the oath to the 3lst of December. both in
elusive. These remissions did not apply to the
hre or police departments or to per diem EN-
ployes-
All salaried employees of the District govern
ment are allowed thirty DAYS leave of alb sence
during each year. under the following order:
All employees will be allowed thirty DAYS leave
Of absence during the year at such times as
may be recommended in writing by the
heads Of Offices and be approved by the
Commissioners, and any absence in excess of
the allowance. except for Illness must be
the absentee must submit a statement Of the
facts. accompanied by the Endorsement of a
reputable physician, stating that il incapaci-
tstes him from doing duty, through the head
OF the office to the secretary of the board.
This order has generally been construed to
allow pay during thirty days illness.
A full thirty DAYS leave of absence during the
year was not given to all those entitled to it
under said order. In many cases only fifteen
days leave of absence was given, and in
other instances much less. This was
one Of the considerations which influenced
the Commissioners in ordering the remissions
of portions OF the other days than public
holidays 1t is also fair to state in this counec-
ton that nothing is allowed for work done by
these employees in excess of that during the
regular hours Of labor prescribed. All Of them
are subject to such service and in quite a num-
Der of cases amounting to as much as ten days
n