The evening times., 1897-07-03
THE CLERKS HALF HOLIDAY
Navy, War and State Depart
mentS Closed.
TREASURY PEOPLE WORKED
All the Other departments We're
Kept Open Secretary Wilson's
Emphatic Refusal to Reduce the
Hours His Office Run in Interest
of Men Working 10 Hours Daily.

Promptly at noon today very large MT
iority of the employees in the Navy, War
ami State Departments laid down their
pens, picked up their hats and with joy
departed for their homes to enjoy the first
Saturday half holiday OF the season.
Many of them during the afternoon left
the city. and with their families sought
recreation among the fields and mountains
of duty Tuesday, refreshed and invig
Grated, and prepared to pay by hard
work for the pleasantly y-passed holiday.
The employees in the Treasury Depart
ment, however, did not fare so well, and
there was a feeling OF envy in their hearts,
which could not be suppressed when they
.oiied in the heated departments today
with a knowledge that the employees OF the
state. waI and Navy Departments Were
out for holiday. The only consolation
these employees found Was in the hope that
was expressed everywhere that after to-
day the President would make the Satur-
day halfboiiday a permanent thing a I all
the departments during the heated term
"a little fresh air and few hours Of
pleasure with our families said one
Treasury employe To Times man today,
''will harm no one and will benefit all of
the departmental employees. Saturday is
always slow day, winter or summer,
. and with the exception of very few per
sons. no cae has anything to do Saturday
afternoons except To swelter in the sitting
heat which pcrlneates the building
II Is believed that If the President can
possibly see his way clear To issue the
necessary order Saturday half holidays
VIII lie given 10 employees In al departIne
in the same manner as was done before
Mr Cleveland issued an order stopping
the practice The subject will probably
curie i:efOre the Cabinet for discussion
next week, and there is Little doubt but
that Attorney General MCkenna will be
asked 10 render an opinion as 10 whether
the civil service rules prevent the grant
ing of half Holiday. IL is among the
possibilities that II the opinion OF the
Attorney Generals 20 the effect that IN
der these civil service rules the half hOli-
day cannOt be all,wed, the rules them
selves may be SO amended as to Uernit IL
The President is very soon % make some
pronounced charges in the Civil Service
COiHniss'o on and the rules. and the sat
urday half holiday may be included in
these changes.
The Depa rtment OF the Interior did not
close at neon today. 1t is hot likely 70
grant a half-holida y on Saturdays t. its
employees at Washington unless like con-
cesSion shall be granted by the other
departments. The Question of closing at
do -
the department this morning. Chief Clerk
Dawson telephonel 70 the other executive
departments, and upon learning that they
did not intend to close I was decided To
keep the Interior employees at work till
4 O'Clock this afternoon.
See"tFTy Wilson, Of The Department Of
Agriculture. said mo in an eripha'ic
tone and with a vigorous shake Of the
head. when reporter for The Times asked
hnu this morning. "wnl you close. th,
department at noOn?''
This department is run said Secre-
tary WiISpn. in the interest of men who
work sixteen hours day The clerks
in this department work about six-and-a-
Ealf hours. ! don't think they are over
worked
The Secretary said that the meat in
>pectors we're Just about able to keep ahead
OF the packers, aud to give these employees
of the department a haIf-holiday would
iHteifere with the interests OF trade at a
tine when the department is doing all L
can TO extend the markets for American
products lie stid that he was unwilling
to give to the clerks at Washington any
privileges which he could not grant to The
eutpioypS of the danartTOent who ara unr nj
Washington.
Unless said the Secretary, "some
reason rlorc potent than has as vet hcen
presented is brought to bear. this depart
ment Will continue to do business at the nld
stand from 9 Till 4, with due time for
lunch =