Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-31

they could spend the last half hour of the
present working time in the open air they
could do more the next day OF expeditions
and reliable work. These same men say
that when practicable they retain their
last hours work for revision the following
morning, as they have found nearly all of
their errors were made during that last
hour. BY that time their mental vitality
is spent by their work, and their physical
vitality decreased by the impure air The
rooms are ventilated only by opening win
dows, which becomes impracticable when
desks are crowded up to them. By COM
pairing the amount of fresh air needed for
health with the air space in most of the
rooms the inadequacy will be obvious.
Should 1t not be the pride Of our govern
ment that Its clerks are justly paid and
not Jaded by the drag of confinement when
the brain has done its possible efficient
days work?
Usurping Authority.
]. w. E. says: I'm regard to the SIREN
uous efforts some of our great statesmen
are making to deprive us of the daily one
half hour for lunch why not stop to reason
for short time? 1 doubt If the most rural
member of Congress has a hayseed con-
sttuent of so begrudging a nature as to
wish to deprive fellow being of the one
half hour allotted to him per day in which
to MUNICH a frugal luncheon.
IF the three branches of our government
Legislative, executive and judicial-are
coordinate in regard to their different
functions, what more right has thu legisla-
tive branch under the Constitution to make
rules for the conduct Of the daily routine
and management Of the executive that has
the executive to formulate and enforce
rules for the legislative branch?
rs not the executive branch usually in
trusted to the care of men quite as COM
petent In their sphere as the legislative
tranch? Not only does this seem like med
ding On the part Of the legislative branch
of the government with matters over
which 1t has no Jurisdiction, and should
disclaim cogniZance of, but it is usurpins
authority properly belonging to the execu-
tive, for section 161 of the Revised Stat
Utes says: The head of each department is
authorized to prescribe regulations for the
government OF his department., the conduct
of its officers and clerks, the distribution
and performance Of its business etc.
How One Bureau Works.
Glorious writes as follows: by your
columns 1 see that the usual annual fuss
over sick leaves in the Treasury Depart
ment is now on. AS everybody reads The
Star, will you allow old clerk, who has
had experience Of years. to say to the pow
ers that be that In the largest bureau Of
the Treasury Department-the sixth aud
itors offlce-sck leave absolutely costs the
government nothing. The reason is plain.
The work in this Office is current work.
and must be done at the end of each quar-
ter; so Wnel a clerk Is absent, either on
leave or sick, his fellow-clerks, by working
over hours, do the work, and get no credit
for extra time. In fact, hours and days OF
extra time are given in this Office, with no
credit; but if late or absent ten minutes,
though he does his work all the same, ne
gets deduction, either in leave or pay
and his standing for efficiency is also re-
duced
Now If sick leave is to be abolished let
the clerks who are compelled to work over
time, in ill-lighted and badly ventilated
rooms, have credit and pay for the extra
tina. That is fair and just VIII the Off
Gals who are so worried over sick leaves
give this a thought?