The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-12-31


ty in the holiday season. Not only are
the offices closed Christmas and New
Years, of course, but half holiday is
given all hands the day before each of
these anniversaries that they may have
ample opportunity to buy their presents
and do their marketing. 1nasmuch as
these poor clerks have to work such long
hours-from in the morning till in
the afternoon, with half an hour for lunch
they appreciate this half day off very
much. To still further Tighten their bur-
dens and gladden. their hearts during the
holiday season the chiefs have kind way
of taking things easy and permitting their
clerks to do the same It'll after the holt
days"
The truth is that Uncle Sans big army
of clerks in the Washington departments
are the best paid and most lightly worked
clerical employees in the country. There
are about $4,000 of them all told, and
their pay runs as follows: Ten and one
half per cent get 81, 800 year each, near
ly 10 per cent get $1,000 year each, near
ly 20 per cent get 81, 400 each, 33 per cent
get 81, 200 a year each, and 10 per cent
81, 900 each. These are only the subordi-
| mates, not including chiefs of divisions, ETC.
Vacations and Sick Leaves.
In matter of holidays and vacations and
| sick leaves our Washington clerks beat the
world First every one is entitled to 80
| days leave of absence each year, with pay.
| This comes in very nicely about July or
| August for trip to the mountains or the
seashore. Then there are all the legal
| holidays and the half days before Christ
mas, New Years and Thanksgiving. In
hot weather the departments often close
| down at noon to give the poor, oVerWork-
ed clerks chance to cool Oft.
The ''sick leaves are the most aston
| ishing. Those of us who have lived in
| Washington for ten years and worked
| about ~ hours day for 365 days year
| never knew it was such an unhealthful
place as the records of the departments
| show it to be. Of these II, $40 subordi-
nate employees-for the 5000 employees of
the government printing office are given
no sick leaves-no fewer than 5,276 had
sick leaves with pay last year, in addition
to all the other vacations and holidays.
The average number of days off on these
leaves was Is. That meant ~, 40 days
work lost to the government on account
of illness among the clerks Inasmuch as
275 days constitute an average year S work
| in the departments the total loss was 452
years work, and as an average year work
costs about 81, 800 the total loss to Uncle
Sam was nearly $7OO,OOO At this rate
! he could afford to hire a squad of doctors
for each department to look out for the
health of his employees.
All Under the Civil Service.
| tho official ftruroc ORC of hand
it is easy for congressman to show their
clamorous constituents how impossible it
is to procure appointments for them in
the departments here. The country is full
of good men and women who would be
glad to serve Uncle Sam as 81, 800 clerks,
with 90 days off with pay each year. But,
alas, all these places worth having are I'M
der the protection of the civil service law.
Of $4,000 subordinate places in the de-
partments and bureaus of Washington 49, y
| 734 are under the civil service.
In those great departments they do
things in most leisurely fashion. Red
tape is not run out at a speed which heats
the bearings of the machinery. A friend
of mine was appointed to an inspectorship
under the treasury department. After The
appointment had been made in due form
by the secretary of the treasury in an OIL
cial letter how long do you suppose it
took to make out the appointee's creden-
tials and other papers before he could start
off on his mission? just eight days, and
when he came to have his expense accounts
adjusted five weeks elapsed between the
submission of his bill and the issue of the
warrant for payment.
Joe Letters Father.
The prominence of the Letters of Chicago
in the famous wheat deal reminds me that
Levi u. Letter, the father of Joe, lives in
this city. levi u. Letter is now one OF
the richest men in America. His fortune
is estimated at $50, 100000 He made his
J money first in dry goods along with Mar
shall Field, who is now the greatest dry
goods merchant on the American CONT
nent, and afterward in Chicago real estate.
The elder Letter lives in one of the hand
soonest houses in Washington. 1t is noted
social center, for whatever the Letters dc
is sure to be just right, and an invitation
to the Dupont circle mansion is highly
priced. Both Mr.. and Mrs. Letter are very
hospitable, and they are popularin the up
per social circles of London and Washing
ton.
In London they have the entree to the
: best houses not only on account of theil
own standing, but through the politica
and social prominence of their son in law,
George Curzon, parliamentary secretary
of state for foreign affairs, and one of the
rising men of the British kingdom. Cur
: Zon married Miss Mary Letter, who wa:
, one of the most beautiful women ever seer
in Washington, and who is now as much
noted for her beauty on the other side o
the Atlantic Daisy Letter, her sister
? who is almost as handsome, has just made
her debut in Washington society.
Levi u. Letter is really a remarkable
man. Not only has he made vast for
tune, but he is one of the best informed
men in the world. He knows every one
! worth knowing, reads everything worth
, reading, and is an original thinker and 6
most entertaining talker. He is compan
ionable and democratic, notwithstanding
: the dignity which his wealth and socia
, station give him. He is extremely prout
of his son joe and of the latters grea
success as wheat merchant
WALTER WELLMAN.