The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-07-21
Saturday Half Holiday
Q -eStion Growing
SERIOUS.
WILL COST NEAR S2,500,00O
First Estimate Far Too Small-OveT-
pay for Time Already Served Not
Likely to be Asked For-Some of the
District Queries.

Attorney General knox Will take III
the Saturday haIf-hoIiday question I'M
mediately. in so far as it affects The
National Government employees Many
serious problems are presenting them
selves IN Mr.. DuvaU's decision Of last
Saturday, and the authorities have de-
cided that they must be adjusted as soon
as possible.
IN Official circles It was stated that
the estimate of the cost of granting q
holiday every Saturday to the Gov
eminent employees, as given in The
Times this morning, was considerably
below the real figures. and that the
cost would be nearer s., 500. OO0 than ST.
625. 600 as given While among the
$4,000 employees of the National Gov
eminent. some are receiving as little as
$3.50 a year, as charwomen, the ma
jority are considerably above the 81 200
grade The average per diem compen-
sation, It IS stated, would be nearer s.
= day than $3.50. as stated.
While it is true that the clause max
ing Saturday afternoon in the District
Of Columbia a holiday for all purposes
appears only il the District appropria-
ton act, il is to be remembered that
the same legislative body that controls
the affairs of the District also frames
legislation for the General Government
already Planning for Holiday.
With this in mind, those employees Of
the departments who are already plan
ming what they VIII do with the addi-
tionaI time that is TO be theirs as soon
as the executive order can be issued
declare that when this body legalized
Saturday haIf-holidays in the District
for all purposes they certainly au-
thorizsd the closing of the Government
departments, whether IL was their in
tenion 20 do 50 or not.
Another question that is entering into
the calculations OF some of the more
calculating minds among the Govern
ment employees is with reference TO the
overtime that they have already made
under the provisions Of the act. Since
the passage OF the act every Saturday
afternoon that they have worked Is IN
reality 50 much extra time that they
have put IL and as extra time they are
entitled 10 extra pay for II they assert
This of course would uecessitate a
special appropriation to cover. and there
is hut little doubt that most OF the en-
ployes would prefer to waive their right
to additional compensation than run
the risk OF having the measure repealed
IN bringing it again TO the notice OF
the national legislators.
Holiday in Other Cities.
For some years past il has been the
practice IN New York and others OF the
more progressive cities 70 make satur-
day afternoons legal holidays, and the
precedent IS sufficiently established TO
warrant Congress in sanctioning the in
novation- There are. however, II Is said,
many Of the Representatives who would
prefer not 10 go on record before their
rural constituents as having voted
away several million dollars annually in (
giving the already well cared for Gov
employees additional play time.
The District Commissioners viii prob /
ably take the matter up for final dis (
position tomorrow when Major BiddIe, 1
the Engineer Commissioner, returns TO 4
his desk He and Commissioner Mac
saTiand. the president Of the board. are
to take immediate action as
the Illness Of Commissioner Ross Is /
likely to prevent his return 10 the office /
for an indefinite period
The Union Wage Scale.
There viii be many matters pertaining
to the question to be considered By the
Commissioners. including additional
to those artisans who have
been working on Saturday afternoons
since July L It has been the practice
II the District government to pay union
wages 10 all such employees Under the
lnion rules holiday work calls for double
-eguiaF wages. and under this rule the
district IS morally liable for the ad-
liLIoGai amounts 10 such employees.
This feature OF the Law IS one that Is
ysFlns some concern 70 contractors.
builders and other employers OF large
ium be.s Of artisan - il places every Il
saturday afternoon il the same category
win Christmas, Fourth Of July. and
.ther holidays, on which artisans are en-
itlec under The union wage scale 10
ou5le time for AL wo,k Many existing
were taken N small margin
I profit. with time limits IN which thew.
lrst be completed. and Il the double
ate Is INN uiatelv enforced it win
icTR great hardship TO contractors.