The Washington times., 1902-07-20
HALLIDAY HOLIDAY
EVERY SATURDAY

Aht thIttu states us Il udy VI pubilC
fast or thanksgiving, shall be holidays
within the District, and shall, for all
purposes of presenting for payment or
acceptance, for the maturity and pro-
test. and giving notice of the dishonor
of bills of exchange, bank checks, and
prcmissory notes, or other negotiable
commercial paper, be treated and con-
sidered as is the first day of the week,
commonly called Sunday, and all notes,
drafts, checks, or other commercial or
negotiable paper falling due or matur-
ing on either of said holidays shall be
deemed as having matured on the day
previous"
On January 81. 1879 go Stat. 270,
said section 993, R. s. D. c.. was amend
ed by adding to the days therein de-
clared to be holidays within the Dis
trict of Columbia the 22d day Of Feb
ruary, and such day shall be holiday
for all purposes mentioned in said sec
ton
On December 90. 1881 (22 Stat, y,
said section 99S was amended by pro-
viding:
Another Amendment.
THAT whenever any day set apart as
legal holiday within the District of
Columbia shall fall or the first day of
the week, commonly called Sunday, then
and in such event the day next sue
ceeding shall be a holiday within the
District of Columbia and shall for all
purposes of presenting for payment or
acceptance, for the maturity and pro-
test and giving notice of the dishonor
of bills of exchange, bank checks, and
promissory notes or other negotiable
or commercial paper. be treated and
considered as is the first day of the
week, commonly called Sunday and all
notes, drafts. checks, or other CONNER
cial or negotiable paper falling due or
maturing on such holiday shall be
deemed as having matured on the
Saturday previous
On June IS. 1888 (25 Stat, 1850, said
section 9a3, r. s D. c.. was further
amendet. by adding TO the days therein
declared to be holidays within the said
District, that day upon which the Presi-
lent of the United States is inaugurated,
otherwise called Inauguration Day, and
that such day shall be holiday for all
the purposes mentioned in said section" :"
On August l, 1888 (25 Stat. 353),
May 80, in each year, usually called
Decoration Day, was made a holiday
in the District of Columbia as fully and
in all respects as are the days mentioned
as holidays in section 1893, Revised Stat
utes, District of Columbia
Saturday Half Holiday.
On December 90, 1892 C27 Stat,
405l, Saturday was made a half holiday
for banking and trust company purposes
in the District of Columbia, and on Feb
ruary IS, 1898, said act was amended.
ION Statute 1859.
On June 2S, 1894 t28 Stat. 9G). Labor
Day was made legal holiday in the fol-
lowing words:
THAT the first Monday in September in
each year. being the day celebrated and
known as labors holiday, is hereby
made a legal public holiday to all in
tents and purposes, in the same manner
as Christmas, January l, February %,
May 80 and July are now made by law
public holidays
The earliest act of Congress on the
subject Of holidays is the act approved
July /, 1886 g Stat, 1l2). This re-
lates exclusively to the transaction Of
public business in the Offices and bu-
reaus of the General Government, and IS
as follows:
That from the first day of the month
OF October until the first day Of the
month of April, in each and every year,
the General Land Office and all the bu-
reaus and offices therein, as well as
those In the department of the Treasury,
War, Navy, State and General Postoffice
shall be open fer the transaction of the
public business at least eight hours in
nj 1ay H.,
December 25, and from the first day OF
April until the first day of October IN
each year all tie aforesaid offices and
bureaus shall be kept open for the
transaction - the public business at
least ten houss in each and every day.
except Sunda, and July t."
Two Joint Resolutions.
There are two joint resolutions of Con-
gress also which relate to the pay of
per diem employees of the General Gov
ernment at Washington, or elsewhere in
the United States, viz:
l. Joint resolution approved January
6. 1855 (2S Stat, 5lG), which reads as
follows:
That the employees OF the navy yard,
Government Printing Office, Bureau of
Printing and Engraving and all other
per diem employees of the Government
on duty at Washington or elsewhere in
the United States shall be allowed the
following holidays. to wit: The lst day
of January. the 22d day OF February. the
4th day Of July. the 25th day OF Decem-
Der. and such days as may be designated
by the President as days for national
and shall receive the same
pay as on other days
Joint resolution approved February
%, 1887 "a Stat, 644), which reads as
follows:
That all per diem employees of the
on duty at Washington or
elsewhere in the United States. shall be
allowed the day OF each year which is
celebrated as Memorial or Decoration
day and the 4th Of July OF each year as
holidays, and shall receive the same pay
as on other days"
Neither said act of July 4. 1896, nor
said joint resolutions were affected By
the code OF law for the District Of Co
lumbia, which expressly excepted from
repeal in its concluding chapter:
20. Acts and parts Of acts OF Congress
relating solely to the departments Of
the General Government in the District
OF Columbia or any OF them"
But not so the remaining above-men-
toned acts of Congress: being general
and permanent in their nature, and ap-
plying solely TO the District of Coluri-
bia. they were, in my opinion. repealed
by section 1895, which reads as follows:
"All acts and parts OF acts of the gen
ersl assembly OF the State of Maryland,
general and permanent in their nature
all like acts and parts Of acts of the