Evening journal., 1900-05-17
He WENT UP HIGHER
HOW A GOVERNMENT CLERK Sc
CURED LEAVE OF ABSENCE.

CURED LEAVE OF ABSENCE.
After Getting the "RoynI word"
From the Secretary of His DEPART
ment lie 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. / will tell you of an oc-
currence In my department which win
interest fellow clerks especially.
"a clerk In my division put I'm 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 appllca-
tionY
"'Here it is on my desk. have not
sent Il up It 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
diplomat, grasped the situation at
once. 1t happened that he had n 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 theGttle 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 a 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. inqulring face, he paused, SHOOK
him cordially by the hand and exclaim
ed to his companions:
"'Senator, here lssa bright little Eel
low from my state who is the father oi
the biggest. cherubic faced baby yol
ever saw and the husband of the hap
plest of wife mothers. Look at hin
blush. Well, what's the matter nowT
"'Why. l want to go away on bust
ness for a fortnight. and
"'Well, you little rascal, why don
you go? I'll let you-only be sure t
come back and don't get lost on tn
cars
'The secretarys hearty laugh, 1
which the others Joined. echoed In tn
marble tessellated corridors. and the
passed on. The royal word had bee
given.
"That evening at quarter to Al
left it until last minute purposely-h
went to his chief. 1t was his turn I
rub It In.
"'Mr. - he said quietly, have 20
sent up my leaveY
, 81 have not replied the chief shor
ly. 4 disposed Of that question tn
morning
r "'I thought that the secretary gran
, ed leave In this department l va
not aware that chiefs of division po
e sessed that authority 1t was WI
: now. Both looked each other unhincl
q ingly IN the eye. Then the chief bega
! to smell little official mouse and r
E sorted 10 brOwbeating. as Is not III
usual under similar circumstances.
! "'You are impertlnent-
r "T beg your pardon quickly 4
r terrupted the clerk, for a chief to sa
to a clerk that he Is impertinent In
putes a charge against him. l reque
that you withdraw that remark. 1t
{ no impertlnence for a clerk TO state
= rule Of the department to his chic
4 more especially when he appears
i have forgotten It or Is unaware of J
4 existence. The secretary, and he alon
s finally grants or disapproves apple
e tions for leave in all departments
= the government have never befo
II heard this authority questioned
n "T don't question It, hastily int
IS iected the chief, to whose nose the of
n cial mousy smell was each moment h
D. coming more acute.
IL "'By not submitting my applicati'
Is TO those whose province It Is 70 decl
20 such questions you certainly do que
b. ton 1t and exceed your authority. A
sr proved or dlsapproyed by you. tn
and not you pass on It finally, an
4 furthermore, you know It,
"T viii send It up tomorrow 81
" the chief as he climbed down from !
/ high horse as gracefully as the ocC
a. sion admitted. Let me see, you wi
to GO
"Take your time replied 4
friend pleasantly. 1t is already graz
Of ed. l have the secretary's person
al permission to go provided do not {
e. lost on the cars. start tomorro
er and l will try not TO get lost. Coo
Of by "-Washlngton Star
IT. "
Gems Have Organic Life.