La Junta tribune., 1898-02-05
VERY LAZY EMPLOYEES
Government CLERKS REMlss.
rhey DO vssy Little Work for rhsir BiR
PAy-L0ng Vacations and Short Boars.

In looking over the records OF the
Treasury Department Secretary Gage
dnds that during the last fiscal year
two-thirtls OF the employees availed
themselves of the thirty days sick
leave-which, when applied for. IL al
lowed by an amiable law without re-
1uction in pay-in addition to the thirty
lays vacation each clerk Is entitled
20. In other words, two-thirds OF the
persons upon the pay roll OF the treas
ury served the government only ten
months and were paid for twelve. II
Is probable that a similar advantage
was taken Of the law and the leniency
IF the higher ofliciaIs in other executive
departments. Therefore the secretary
Of the treasury Inns decided to recon-
mend thnt Congress limit the sick
leave to cases where persons are abso-
iutely unable 20 perform their duties
and can bring certificates to the effect
that their illness was occasioned by
their Official service and not due to the
ordinary exposure and accidents OF pri-
vate life. In other cases clerks who are
III will be required to furnish substi.
tutes or forfeit their pny for the num-
ber Of days they are absent. 1t u be-
iievcd that this Will check the cpl
demic that seems to have prevailed last
year.
In their attempts TO bring the work OF
the department up to date. Secretary
Gage and Assistant Secretary vauder-
lip have been embarrassed by the law
and the custom under which the depart
ment opens at o o'clock In the morning
and closes promptly at O'Clock IN the
afternoon. 1t is almost Impossible TO
Induce the employees to work Later than
the latter hour, no matter what nap
pens, and the law protects them. But
after consultation with the committee
on appropriations and the committee on
the reorganization of the departments,
Secretary Gage has decided to recon-
mend an amendment to the legislative
and executive appropriation bill provid-
Ing that chiefs OF divisions shall report
to heads of bureaus on the beginning
OF every month the condition OF busi-
ness under their Jurisdiction, and hends
Of bureaus shall furnish summaries OF
these reports to the secretary OF the
treasury, who. whenever 1t may be
found that any bureau or division Is
behind in current work shall authorize
and direct the head of that bureau TO
require his clerks to work overtime as
often and as long as 1t may be neces.
sary to keep pace with the business OF
their Offices. 1t Is probable that the
heads Of other departments will join IN
this Recommendation. and the law Will
be made general.
There will be n great kick" aOou'
this. Uncle Sam Is an easy taskmas'
ter, and the average government func.
tionary dIslikes to be hurried. But
Mr.. Gage proposes to treat the Treas.
ury Department just as he used to treat
his bank. When there Is work to DC
done. hc proposes that the employees
shall do It. just as he and the assis'an,
night in the building II necessary. :,
The opponents OF this reform VIII
doubtless raise a point Of order when
the amendment IL offered In the House
OF Representatives, but the Speake,
has promised to have q rule reported
that will admit OF any amenamenss y.
fhnt are designed to increase the EN-
cheney and promote the economy OF inc
nul,lfc service.