The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-01-12

While there appears to De 10 diminution
IN the number Of people seized with the
grip. the cooler weather which set in to-
day. engendered a hopeful feeling that the
worst stage OF The epidemic had now been
passed
It appears that the disease Is not claim
ing as many victims IN the various Gov
eminent departments as il is generally
supposed This appears TO have its cause
in the protection against sudden atmos-
pherie changes which the largest number
Of Government employees are enjoying.
Nearly all Of the buildings in which they
are stationed are we'll ventilated. dry. and
have an even temperature.
It is a very peculiar feature that the
number Of sick employees is about twice as
large in the Census Office as in any ether
department. In some Of its divisions the
number of clerks absent on sick leave
reaches 90 per cent The chief clerk. Al
len Bussius. is confined 10 his home by
the grip.
The Pension Office is not quite as seri-
ously affected as the Census Office which
is ascribed TO its much superior yenula-
ton and heating arrangements In the
Pension Office out Of a total Of about LEO
there are only about Jog absent on sick
leave, among whom is T. Manneu Her
mann, Chief of the Mail Division. Chief
Clerk Bailey said that the grip has so far
not interfered With the regular prosecution
Of the work.
The Interior Departments list of sick
employs has not experienced an increase
II account of the grip The epidemic does
no 70 no he a ma lyp
Roadway in this department.
The Patent Office, out of 200 employees,
has % on sick leave, which is very low
percentage. The grip has not swelled the
number Of patients in this department
The Postofice Department is affected 10
a larger extent than generally accepted.
The percentage of sickness since the grip
made its appearance has doubled. but does
not seriously interfere with the prompt
execution of the work OF TIE department.
Poor ventilation and faulty sewerage is as
signed as the cause Of the sickness having
a stronger foothold in this new building
than in any Of the older Government
structures.
None of the chiefs and very few of the
subordinate chiefs of the departments are
absent from their desks on account Of the
sickness and II seems TO he the general
opinion that the epidemic viii not seri-
ously interfere with the prompt discharge
of the work Of the various departments.
Numerous eases Of the grip have deyel-
oped during the past week in the Wal
and Navy Departments. and a hundred OF
more clerks have been absent from their
work on this account In most instances
however, the disease is Of a mild type
and the departments have experienced
no serious incoIoenienee in handling rou-
tine work Many of the clerks are CON-
planning OF colds. but they have not been
heavy enough 10 prevent them from at
titles.
ment. however
lade deeper IN
.rly 10 per cen
ID IN this con
nection, however, II is pointed out tina
while there many absentees from the
Treasury Building there are very few
away from their work in the Bureau C
Engraving and Printing which is undel
the supervision Of the Treasury. A rea
son for this is found in the fact tba
Treasury employees proper are allowed
sick leave with pay, while those Of th'
Bureau are not
1t is a fact commented generally upon
by department officials. especially by bu-
reau chiefs. that clarks are went to take
advantage Of epidemics Of this character
TO secure sick leaves when they are not
incapacitated for work and where they
would be obliged TO perform their usua
duties if they we're employed by private
enterprises. Now that grip is prevalent
II is said that there are clerks who cour
a fl OF sneezing in order to escape a few
days at their respective departments. II
some branches of the service il is SAID
that this method is resorted to quite