Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-24
PAY OF RIFLE TEAM
Should Printers Who Went to Sea
Girt Be Compensated?
DECISION OF CONTROLLER TRACEWELL
Holds That 1t Would Be of Doubt
full Legality.
REGRET OF GEN. HARRIES

A question had arisen In the ONCE Of the
public printer as to whether he was author
lied to pay such employees Of the govern
ment printing office as were members Of the
brigade rife team of the National Guard
of the District of Columbia and attended
the rifle competition at Sea Girt from Au-
gust 81 to September Of this year, under
special orders of August "a, 1900 The mat
ter was referred to Mr.. Tracewell. the con-
trolier Of the treasury who says that ne Is
of opinion that payments would be Of doubt
full legality. but, If desired. he says he will
hear any evidence in support of the legality
of the payments that parties may wish to
submit
The Decision.
The decision is as follows:
To the Public Printer:
Sir-I have received your letter of the
10Th ultimo, inclosing a copy of special
orders. No. 76 issued from headquarters
District of Columbia Militia, August "a,
1900, at follows:
Il The annual encampment Of the
Brigade Rife Team of the National Guard
of the District of Columbia will be held at
Sea Girt, N. j., from August 81 to Septem-
Der 8, 1900, inclusive. The team will par
ticipate in the ninth annual rifle competi-
ton under the auspices of the New Jersey
State Rifle Association"
You ask to be informed whether you are
authorized to pay employees OF the govern
ment printing office for the time they We're
absent from their duties under this order.
Section 40 of the act of March 1, 1889
(25 Stat, 772), provides:
THAT all officers and employees OF the
United States and of the District Of Column
bia, who are members of the National
Guard, shall be entitled to leave Of absence
from their respective duties, without loss
of pay or time. on all days of parade or
encampment ordered or authorized under
the provisions of this act.
In the absence of fuller information I
cannot finally answer your inquiry, al
though as l am now advised | am of the
opinion that you not authorized to pay
employees of your office for the time they
were absent from their duties under the
foregoing order. Although termed an IAN
nuai encampment'' in the order, 1t is not
a. all clear that the visit of the brigade
rifle team of the National Guard of the
District of Columbia to Sea Girt for the
object stated was such encampment as
Is contemplated in section - of the act, nor
Is it entirely evident that the team IS such
an organization of the National Guard of
the District may have an encampment
within the meaning of that section. 1t Is
understood that the brigade rifle team Is
made up of individual members of the va
rious organizations Of the National Guard,
which organizations, and. presumably.
which individuals. have already been In en-
campmeut this year as required by sec
ton Az of the act of March 1. 1889, supra.
derstand how as members of the rife
team, they could again be ordered into en-
campment in such way as to entitle them
t. the benefits of section 80 of the act.
Under this view of the case and in the
light OF the decisions of this Office of June
., 1894, and May ), 1900 and of the opin-
ion of the Attorney General Of September
%. 1893 Go OPP. Att. Gen. Gts,), which was
therein adopted, / am very doubtful OF the
legality of any payments; but If you or
those interested desire a further considera-
ton of the question I shall be pleased to
hear any evidence which will remove the
doubts above indicated Meanwhile / shall
advise you not to make any payments.
Respectfully, r. j. TRACEWELL.
Controller.
Question Never Raised Before.
When the above was called to the atten-
ton of Gen. George Fl. Harries, command
ing the District National Guard, he said
that 1t was unfortunate any such question
should be raised at this late day.
For long years." he remarked, "the
members of the brigade team have been
paid without question. 1t is especially UNI
fortunate at this time, when not only here.
but all over the country, efforts being
made to foster and increase the efficiency
of the National Guard and make it worth
somet hing to the community in a substan-
tial way. particularly when our team made
such a highly creditable showing at Sea
Cirt