The Washington times., 1894-07-15
WILL GET THEIR BACK PAY
Government Printers Claims Will Be
Adjusted by Comptroller Bowler.
BENEDICT is DOING HIS BEST.
According to Law Government Printers Are
Entitled to Their Leave Of Absence-Ten
Thousand Dollars in Dispute-Claimed to
Be illegally Withheld

There is good deal OF complaint among
the discharged employees of the Government
Printing offlce who have not yet received the
pay granted them by act OF Congress on ac-
count of leave of absence Some of the print
ers have been paid. receiving, according to
the terms of the act, an amount equal to the
number OF days leave due and at the rate per
diem earned by each. About 150 Of the men,
however, are still waiting for the money. For
some reason, not understood by them. the ac-
counts are held up, and those interested are
inquiring into the delay.
They have learned that the reason their ac-
counts have not been adjusted is that they
include pay for leave accruing in the fiscal
year ended June so, 1898; but ihey contend
that there is no good reason for Withholding
the pay known TO be due-that is. for the last
fiscal year-apd they are willing, they say, to
wait for the prior allowance until such time
as the technicalnies can be gotten out of the
way.
After waiting a reasonable time succeeding
the passage of the act they inquired at the
disbursing Office when they might expect the
money. They were informed that due notice
would be given through abe papers. They
patiently awaited the appearance of the no.
tice, and afterwards again called for settle
ment and were told the matter had been re-
ferred to the first comptroller of the treasury
for decision. Later the decision was rem
dered against that proportion of the account.
aud it was understood that only pro rata
allowance would be made covering the last
fiscal year.
Some of the men then ca He'd at the disburs-
ing office only to be informed that their
cases had been again referred to the Treas
ury. They asked if the decision OF the Comp
troller had not been already rendered, but
learned that another point had arisen upon
which the Comptroller had yet to pass.
Inquiry at the Treasury, the men claim, de-
veloped the fact tnat there was no question
before the Comptroller in any way relating to
the Government Printing Office, and then &
visit was made TO Mr. Benedict. Being in
formed OF the status of the case he sent for
the chief time clerk and directed that one of
the men then present should be paid immedi-
ately. and that the payment of the remainder
should be hurried as rapidly as possible. One
man was paid n few minutes, but in re-
sponse to the application of the Others the
disbursing officer said he could not tell when
their accounts would be adjusted.
The men have a very high regard for Mr..
Benedict and are grateful ior his valuable and
disinterested aid in getting the bill passed
But they claim it is a great hardship to many
of their number to be kept out of their paw
One man has been here paying board for two
weeks. out of work and without means, wait
ing for his allowance. Another sent his fam
lily to South Bend, Ind, and temporarily
stored his furniture. expecting to ship the
goods as soon as he received his pay. He is
still here incurring board and storage ex-
penses. Many others are in the same awk-
ward predicament, awaiting the money with
which to pay their way home.
This is the story as CLEANED from some of
the ex-employes, who bitterly comment upon
the fact that the balance due is being con-
sumed in advance by needless expenses, and
that unless soon received there will not be
enough of it to pay the bills incurred since
their discharge and buy railroad ticket.
The sums due average probably S65, and the
aggregate amount nearly S10,0 900. Disburs-
ing Officer Teel was seen at the Belvedere
hotel last evening and said:
Il don't won't to talk about that outside of
the office, but will say this. 1t has been
practically settled that the discharged en-
ployes are entitled to the allowances for
leaves of absence due in the last fiscal year.
but purely technical point has arisen which
the First Comptroller has to decide. l verb
ally submitted the point to the Comptroller
on Wednesday. as l now recollect, but that
officer declined to pass upon it until it could
be submitted in writing. Accordingly, on the
day following. letter was written which
was signed by MIR. Benedict and, with a test
voucher, was transmitted 10 the Comptroller.
] do not know when the decision will be rem
dered, but for the sake OF the men interested,
l trust it will be soon. do not wish to state
what the point is that was submitted. but it
is purely technical l feel kindly toward the
men. and it will certainly give me pleasure to
settle their accounts. This cannot do, how
ever, until the Treasury official acts"