The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1900-04-17
HE WENT UP HIGHER
HOW A GOVERNMENT CLERK Sc
CURED LEAVE OF ABSENCE.

After Getting the "ROya1 Word"
From the Secretary of His Depart
ment He Had Fun With the Divi- |
Down.
1.-THE question Of sick and annual !
leave" said 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 win tell you Of an oc-
currence In my department which viii
interest fellow clerks especially.
ga clerk In my division put in an
application for a few days leave in
the usual form in writing, to be o. X
by the chief of division and sent on it's
way to the chief clerk Of the depart
meDt. Not hearing from it and the
time approaching for his departure he
went to his chief and said:
"'Mr. -, how about my apphca-
tionT
"'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 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
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 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 bright little fell
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 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
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 to
rub it in.
"Mr. - he said quietly, have you
sent up my leaveY
"T have not replied the chief short
ly. I disposed of that question this
morning.
"T 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 unfiinch-
| ingly in the eye. Then the chief began
| to smell little official mouse and re-
sorted to browbeating, as Is not I'M
usual under similar circumstances.
"'You are impertinent'-
"T beg your pardon, quickly in
| terrupted the clerk, for chief to say
| to clerk that he is impertinent i'm
putes a charge against him. | request
that you withdraw that remark. 1t is
| no impertinence for clerk to state a
rule of the department to his chief,
more especially when he appears to
have forgotten it or is unaware Of Its
existence. The secretary, and he alone,
finally grants or disapproves applica-
lions for leave in all departments of
the government. / have never before
heard this authority questioned
81 don't question it, hastily inter
| jected the chief, to whose nose the Off
cial mousy smell was each moment be-
| Ginning more acute.
"rBy not submitting my application
to those whose province it is to decide
such questions you certainly do ques-
ton it and exceed your authority. APP
proved or disapproved by you, they
and not you pass on it finally, and,
Furthermore, you know it,
"T will send it up tomorrow said
| the chief as he climbed down from his
high horse as gracefully as the occa-
sion admitted. Let me see, you wish
to CO.
"'Take your time replied my
friend pleasantly. 1t is already grant
ed. I have the secretary's personal
permission to go provided do not get
| lost on the cars. l start tomorrow,
and l will try not to get lost. Good
by" -Washington Star.