Smyrna times., 1900-05-09
HE WENT UP HIGHER
HOW A GOVERNMENT CLERK Sc
CURED LEAVE OF ABSENCE.


From the Secretary of His Depart
ment He Had Fun With the Divi-
sion Chief, Who Had Turned Him
Down.
"The question of sick and annual
leave" said a clerk in an up town de-
partment to a reporter, SIS one of the
utmost Importance to government
clerks and is one of their most precious
privileges. l will tell you of an oc-
currence in my department which will
interest fellow clerks especially.
"A clerk in my division put in an
application for a few days leave in
the usual form in writing, to be o. KID
by the chief Of division and sent on its
way to the chief clerk of the depart
ment. Not hearing from it and the
time approaching for his departure he
went to his chief and said:
"'Mr. -, how about my applica-
tionY
"'Here it is on my desk. have not
sent it up. 1t is too early in the year
to apply for that length of time, i'm
portant business or not. You cannot
be spared
"My friend, who is little fellow and
a diplomat, grasped the situation at
once. 1t happened that he had per-
sonal acquaintance with the secretary
one of those rare instances where a
cabinet officer has a personal acquaint
ance with one of his own clerks. They
had met outside of the department,
for the little fellow is a member of an
influential family in the secretary's
own district.
'He bowed and withdrew, but in
stead of going back to his desk he
made short cut up the corridors to-
ward the secretary's room. Just as
he was approaching the latter's private
office entrance the secretary, in COM
pany with a couple of gentlemen, came
out. Observing the clerk and his anx-
ious. inquiring face, he paused, shook
him cordially by the hand and exclaim-
ed to his companions:
"'Senator. here is a bright little fel
low from my state who is the father of
the biggest. cherubic faced baby you
| ever saw and the husband of the hap
| piest of wife mothers. Look at him
blush. Well. what's the matter nOwY
"'Why. | want to go away on bust
ness for a fortnight, and
"'Well, you little rascal. why don't
you go? I'll let you-only be sure to
come back and don't get lost ON the
cars
"The secretary's hearty laugh, in
which the others Joined. echoed in the
marble tessellated corridors, and they
passed on. The royal word had been
given.
THAT evening at quarter to 4-he
left it until last minute purposely-he
went to his chief. 1t was his turn tC
rub it in.
"'Mr. - he said quietly, have you
sent up my leave?
"'I have not replied the chief short
ly. 4 disposed of that question this
morning.
81 thought that the secretary grant
ed leave in this department. | was
not aware that chiefs of division pos
sessed that authority 1t was wal
now. Both looked each other unfinch
ingly in the eye. Then the chief began
to smell little official mouse and re
sorted to browbeating, as is not un
usual under similar circumstances.
"'You are impertinent'-
al beg your pardon quickly in
terrupted the clerk, for n chief to say
to a clerk that he is impertinent i'm
putes charge against him. | reques
that you withdraw that remark. 1t i!
no impertinence for clerk to state {
rule of the department to his chief
more especially when he appears t
have forgotten it or is unaware of it,
existence. The secretary. and he alone
finally grants or disapprOves applica
tions for leave in all departments o
the government. have never befor
heard this authority questioned
"I don't question it, hastily inter
jected the chief, to whose nose the Off
cial mousy smell was each moment be
coming more acute.
"'By not submitting my application
to those whose province it is to decid
! such questions you certainly do ques
ton it and exceed your authority. Al
proved or disapproved by you. the
and not you pass on it finally. ant
furthermore, you know it.
"T will send it up tomorrow sal
the chief as he climbed down from hi
high horse as gracefully as the occd
:. sion admitted. Let me see. you wis
= to go'-
D. "'Take your time replied m
friend pleasantly. 1T is already gran
ed. have the secretary's persona
permission to go provided l do not sc
lost on the cars. l start tomorrow
and l will try not to get lost. GooC
by '"-Washington Star.
Gems Have Organic Life.
Scientists frequently remind us ths