The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-16

act of March 3, 1898 ca Stat, 715), and the
act. of March 10, 1898, supra. were the
same SO far as the question under consid-
erations is concerned ard yet the act of
March 3. 1887 GA Stat, 6O7) was passed,
which provided:
he employees of the Bureau of En-
craving and Printing, including piece
workers. shall be allowed leave of absence
OF fifteen days in any one year at such
time as the Chief of Bureau may desig-
nate. See also acts of July 6. 1892 (2T
stat. SD. August 2S, 1899 (26 Stat. 1922,
October !, 1890 lid, 6iS), March 2 1895
(2S Stat, FAD, which we're acts granting
leave of absence to employees who were
deemed as not embraced in the acts of
March 3, 1883, and March 3. 1893, supra
The act of June 3O 1885 ga Stat, 81,
provided:
That the employees of the Government
Printing Office. whether employed by piece
or otherwise, be allowed a leave of absence
with pay, not exceeding fifteen days in any
one fiscal year. This was in
creased to thirty days by subsequent acts
Under the above acts authorizing the
fuoiic Printer to graft annual leave to
employees they, except those who are paid
an annual salary. have not been paid dur
ing such leave BY the Public Printer from
since the act of June ga 1856. supra, Con-
gress has made a specific appropriation
TO enable the Public Printer TO comply
with the provisions of law granting an
iluai leave TO employees of the Government
Printing OtRce'-
Not Entitled to Leave With Pay.
In view Of what l have already said,
am forced to the conclusion that the right
to pay an employe of the Government
whose compensation depends upon actual
employment or upon piece work. during
leave of absence. must depend upon some
specific provision of law authorizing such
payment or some specific appropriation for
that object, as in case of employees in the
Government Printing Office, and cannot
be inferred from and is not embraced in
the general law applicable to leave Of abb
sence with pay and upon the facts as l
understand them. l am OF opinion and SO
decide that you are not authorized to pay
the persons in the Census Printing Office
who are employed by you at a stipulated
compensation. per hour at the same COM
rensation as is paid for similar work in the
Government Printing Office during leave
of absence. Respectfully
IL. p. MITCHELL,
Acting Comptroller"
Simply an Overnight.
Director Merriam says he was as much
surprised as the printers when he learned
that Congress had made no provision 10
pay them for leave of absence and legal
holidays. He says he is not opposed to labor
organizations. A committee from the
printers union, he says, was present when
the changes were made in the bill, and he
supposed, and the committee thought, that
the printers in the Census Office would be
entitled to the same leave of absence as
enjoyed by the printers in the Governm mt
Printing Office. Had ! known 1t then"
said Director Merriam, Il should have
asked that it be placed in the bill. l shall
call the attention OF Congress to the over
sight when 1t meets in December, and shall
recommend that the employees in the Cen
sus Printing Office be granted thirty days'
leave, and that they be paid for holidays"
All the employees in the Census Office ex-
cept those in the printing division are al
lowed annual leave and receive pay for
HOLIDAYS