Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1900-04-18
HE WENT UP HIGHER
HOW A GOVERNMENT clsRk g.
CURED LEAVE OF ABSENCE.


After Getting the "Royal Wore"
Fror. the Secretary of HIS Depart
ment He Had Fun with the Diva-
sion Chief. who Had Turned HE
Down.
ssThe question Of sick and annual
leave" said a clerk In an up town oe-
partment to a reporter. 'fs one OF the
utmost importance to government
clerks and is one Of their most precious
privileges. win tell you OF an oc.
currence TN my department which wiz
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 Its
way to the chief clerk Of the depart
ment. Not hearing from 1t ana tne
time approaching for his departure ne
went to his chief and said:
F "Mr. -. how about my appiica'
tionY
"'Here It is on my desk. I have not
sent 1t 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 a little fellow and
diplomat, grasped the situation ut
once. It happened that he had per-
sonal acquaintance with the secretary.
one of those rare instances where q
cabinet officer has a personal acQuaint-
ance with one of his own clerks. They
had met outside of the department,
for the little fellow Is member Of an
influential family in the secretary's q
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.l Just AZ
he was approaching the latter's private
Office entrance the secretary, In COM
pany with a couple Of gentlemen, camo
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 a bright little fel-
low from my state who is the father OF
the biggest. cherub!c faced baby you
ever saw and the husband Of the hap
piest Of wife mothers. Look at him
blush. Well. what's the matter nOwT
".Why. | want to go away on lbusi-
ness for fortnight. and
".We!l. you little rascal. why don't
you go? III let you-only be sure to
cone back aud don't get lost on the
cars
THE s:crctary's hearty laugh. In
which the others Joined, echoed In the
marble tessellated corridors. an! they
passed Oh. The royal word had been
given.
That evening at quarter to t-hp
left 1t until last minute purpossly-he
went to his chief. 1t was his turn tn
rub it In.
"'sIr. - he said quietly. have you
sent UP my leave"
81 have not replied the chief short.
". 4 disposed Of that question this
morning
81 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 unffinch-
ingly In the eye. Then the chief began
sorted to Lrowbeating. as Is not un-
usual under similar circumstances.
"'You are impcrtinent'-
81 beg your pardon. quickly In
terrupted the clerk. for chief to say
to q clerk that he Is impertiuent- iri-
putes u charge against him. l. request
that you withdraw that remark. 1t IL
no impertirence for 4 clerk to- state q
rule of the department to his chief.
more especially when he appears 10
have forgotten II or Is unaware Of its
existence. The secretary. and he alone.
finally grants or disapprOves hpplica-
tions 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 otli
cial morsy smell Wns each moment iH"
coming more acute.
"'By not submitting my application
to those whose province II is to .declde
such questions you certainly do. qnes-
ton II and exceed your authority. Ap-
proved or idisapproved hS you. they
and not you pass on 1t finally. and.
furthermore. you know it, -1
"T will send II up tomorrow. said
the chief as he climbed down from his
high horse as gracefully as the occl-
sion admitted. Let me see. you wish
to GO
Take your time replied my
friend pleasantly. 1T is already grant
ed. | have the secretary's personal
Ia1 10, syaf
lost on the cars. I start tomorrow.
and l will try not TO get lost. Good
y'"-Washington Star. >-,i-
Gems Have Organic Life. n