The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1900-04-13
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 IInd TGrred uiIn
Down.
"The question of sick and annual
leave" said clerk in an up town de-
partmcnt to reporter, "is 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 few days leave in
the usual form in writing to be O. KID
by the chief of division and sent on it's
way to the cliicf 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-
tionT
Here it is OH my desk l 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 a per-
sonal acquaintance with the secretary.
one of those rare instances where Il
cabinet officer has n personal acquaint-
nnce with one OF his own clerks. They
had met outside of the department.,
for the little fellow is Il member of an
influential family in the sccrctarys
own district
''IIc bowed and withdrew, but in
stead OF going hnck to his desk he
made short cut up tho corridors to-
ward the sccrctary'S room Just rs
he was approaching the lattcr'S private
office entrance the secretary. in COM
pany with couple of gentlemen, came
out. Observing the clerk and his anX-
ious. inquiring face, he paused. shook
him cordially by the hand and eXcla i'm
ed to his companions:
Senator here is n bright little fell
low from my state who is the father CT
the biggest, chcrubic faced baby you
ever saw and the husband Of the hap
Dicst of wife mothers. Look at him
blush. Well, what's the matter nowT
"Why. l want to go away on bust
ness for fortnight. and
w tii. ptl Ilitlc rascal. WHY UOD
you go? I'll let you-only he sure ~
come back and don't get lost OH the
cars
The sccrctary's hearty laugh, in
which the others joined. echoed in the
marble trssellatcd corridors. and they
passed on. The royal word had been
given.
THAT evening at quarter to 4-hc
left it until last minute pulposely-hc
went to his chief. 1t was his turn to
rub 1t in.
"'Mr. - he said quietly, have you
sent up my leave:
81 have not replied the chief short
ly. 4 disposed OF that question this
morning
"'I thought that the secretary grant
ed leave In this department. was
not aware that chiefs OF division pos
sessed that authority 1t was war
now. Both looked each other unflincl-
ingly in the eye. Then the chief began
to smell n little official mouse and re-
sorted to browbeating, as Is not un-
usual under similar circumstances.
"'Iou are impertincnt'-
"l beg your pardon quickly in
4
to n clerk that he is impcrtinent i'm
putes charge against him. request
that you withdraw that remark. 1t is
no impertinence for q clerk to state q
rule Of the department to his chief,
more especially when he appears to
have forgotten 1t or Is unaware of its
existence. The secretary, and he alone,
finally grants or disapproves applica-
tions for leave in all departments Of
heard this authority questioned
az 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 1t is to decide
such questions you certainly do ques-
tion it and exceed your authority. APP
proved or disapprovcd by you. they
and not YOU pass on it finally. and,
furthermore. you know it,
"I will send it up tomorrow, said
| the chief rs lie climbed down from his
| high horse as gracefully us the occa-
| sion admitted. Let me see. you wish
| to GO
""Take your time replied my
friend pleasantly. 1T is already grant
ed. hayc the secretary's personal
permission to go provided do not get
lost on the cars. start tomorrow,
and l will try not to get lost. Good
| by .'"-Washington Star.