The Monte Vista journal., 1898-02-05
'ERY LAZY EMPLOYEES
2vERNMENr CLERKS REMIss.
~ DO Very Llttss wosk fsr Their Big
Iay-Long vacations ana short Aours.

n looking over the records Of the
easury Department Secretary Gage
Ids tim. during the last fiscal year
Fo-thirds Of the employees availed
emselves Of the thirty days sick
sivc-whch. when applied for. is al
wed by an amlabie law without re-
!uction in pay-in addition to'the thirty
lays vacation each clerk is entitled
p. 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. 1t
Is probable that similar advantage
WAS taken of the law and the leniency
Of the higher officials In other executive
departments. Therefore the secretary
Of the treasury has decided to recon-
mend that Congress limi, the sick
leave TO eases where persons are absO'
iuttly unable to perform their duties
and can bring certificates TO the ehect
That their illness WAS Occasloned Dy
their official service and not due TO tine
ordinary exposure and accidents OF pri-
va,c life. In other cases clerks who are
i'll will be required to furnish substi'
iutes or forfeit their pay for the num-
her OF days they arc absent. 1t Is be-
lieved that this Will check the cpl
dcmc that seems to have prevailed last
year.
In their attempts to bring the work OF
the department up 10 date. Secretary
Gagc and Assistant Secretary Wander
lip have been embarrassed by the law
and the custom under which the depart
mcnt opens ut o o'clock In the morning
and closes promptly At o'clock IN the
afternoon. 1t il almost Impossible ia
ts,.l 20.
the latter hour. no matter what hap
pens. and the law protects them. Bui
after consultation with the committee
IN appropriations and the committee on
the reorganization of the departments,
Secretary Gage has decided TO recon-
mend nm amendment to the Legislative
and executive Appropriation bill provid'
Ing that chiefs Of divisions shall report
to heads OF bureaus OH the beginning
of every month the condition Of busi-
ncss under their Jurisdiction. and heads
Of bureaus shull 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 10 work overtime as
often and MS long MS it may be neccs
sary to keep pace with the business of
their Offices. II is probable that the
heads OF other departments will join In
this Recommendation. and the law will
be made general.
There will be great kick" abou'
this. Uncle Sam is nm easy taskmas
ter. and the average government func'
tionnry dislikcs TO be hurried. Bui
Mr.. Gage proposes to treat the Treas
ury Department Just ms he used to treat
his bank. When there liz work to bt
done. he proposes that the employes
shall do II. Just nv lie and the assistant
secretary do their work and stay al
nigh, In the building IL necessary.
The opponents OF this reform will
doubtless raise u point of order whei
the amendment Is offered in the Hous'
of Representatives. but the Speaker
has promised 10 have rule rcportc,
that will admi. Of any amendments
that are designed to increase the eff
cheney and promote the economy Of The
public service.