Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-07-16
And There Was CONSERVATION
at District Building.
EVERYONE AFFECTED
HOURS DRAGGED HEAVILY FOR
THOSE WHO WERE SHORT.
All Caused by Delay of Congress Pass
ing the District Appropria-
ton Bill.

With hearts agIee over the advent of the
10Th Of the month and the prospect of re-
ceiving and disposing of a fortnight's earn
irgs in the salary line, the clerks and off,
GERS of the District government proceeded
light and airtly to their Iabors yesterday
morning. The ghost" was to walk at the
appointed time for pay rolls had long since
bcen drawn UP and properly signed and
there was nothing to do but collect the
money Under new rule no money had
been advanced to any of the clerks, and
all We're joyful because they were to receive
envelopes bursting with their full half
months stipend
During the morning desultory calls were
made at the office of the disbursing officer,
Mr.. Charles G.. Rogers, but the early-bird
salary snatchers came out with expressions
of nothing doing written forcibly and
sadly upon their courtenances.
Hours Dragged Heavily.
The dreary hours before noon dragged
heavily for a great number of the clerks
who were awaiting the arrival of the hob
goblin Some Of the clerks on hand yes
terday were unable to scare up lunch
money SO they said, until the ''spooky
tread OF the money man should be heard.
When the afternoon began to wear the
uneaS1nesS among the clerks grew more and
more pathetic. There was in truth abso-
lutely nothing being done in the money
line. except the hot touches that were being
made right and left upon the few provident
men who work for the Commissioners.
Quitting time came at 4 O'Clock Final
reports from the disbursing office were to
the effect that nothing had come from the
treasury, and therefore there were no SAL
aries available.
Slowly and sadly. empty pocketed and
with nothing but good excuse to give the
creditor man. the clerks reluctantly left the
home of the District government.
Only One Question.
This morning there was but one question
on the clerks lips.
Anything doing in the salary line?''
And gaunt echo. with starvation staring
1t in the face, answered:
From the Commissioners down to the ele-
vator boys the apparition failed to appear.
Many were the stories told of dealings
with creditors yesterday, most of whom
had refused at first to believe that the
District ghost" had failed to put in an ap-
pearance.
Before noon today. however. the mystery
was cleared up to most of the clerks, and
they breathed easier again.
The money was distributed this afternoon
and hearts will again beat merrily and the
famed ditty, I've got no money. but q good
excuse will not have to be encored.
The delay In paying off the District clerks
|
United States treasury and the Inability of
the department to reach the District ac-
counts IN time for a settlement on yester-
day.
Cause of the Trouble
The primary cause Of all the trouble was
the delay by Congress in passing the Dis
trct appropriation bill. Usually the bill is
a law by March, whereas this year It was
| not signed by the President until after the
new fiscal year had actually begun. July /.
The result that the accounts in the
treasury were naturally delayed.
There is always great pressure of work
in the treasury with the commencement of
the new fiscal year. This session of Con-
gress practically all of the big appropria-
ton bills. including the general deficiency
measure, were late in getting through. with
the result that toward the end the treasury
folks were fairly swamped with work.
The acquisitions were got through all
right this morning, and Mr.. Rogers, the
dsbursing officer. and Mr.. Petty. the audi
tor, rushed matters through in order that
the clerks might no longer be inconven-
fenced.