The Washington times., 1902-07-22
MR.. KNOX MAY TAKE
UP HOLIDAY QUESTION
Attorney General to Decide
Effect on Clerks.
ASSUMING SERIOUS ASPECT
Would Cost Nearly Two and Half
Millions - First Estimate Far Too
Large - Pay for Time Served Not
Likely to Be Asked For.

Attorney General Knox may take up
the Saturday half-holiday question. in
so far as it affects the National Govern
ment employees. Many serious problems
are presenting themselves in Mr.. Du-
wallis decision of last Saturday.
In official circles yesterday it was sta
ted that the estimate of the cost Of grant
ing half-holiday every Saturday to the
Government employees. as given in The
Times yesterday, was considerably
below the real figure, and that the
cost would be nearer s25c0.0Oo than 81
900 as given. While among the
$4,000 employees OF the National Gov
ernment. some are receiving as little as
1850 a year, as charwomen. the ma
jority are considerably above the $1,000
grade. The average per diem compen-
saticn, it is stated. would be nearer .
a day than $3.50, as stated.
While 1t is true that the clause max
ing Saturday afternoon in the District
of Columbia a holiday for all purposes"
appears only In the District appropria-
tion act, 1t 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 will do with the addl
tional time that is to be theirs as soon
as the executive order can be issued,
declare that when this body legalizet
Saturday half holidays in the District
"for all PURPOSES they certainly au-
thorized the closing of the Government
departments. whether II vas their in
tenticn to do so 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 so much extra time that they
have put in and as extra time they are
entitled to extra pay for 1t they assert.
This of course would necessitate n
is but 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the risk of having the measure repealed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 yIsars past it has been the
practice in New York and others of the
more progressive cities to make Satur
precedent is sufficiently established to
warrant Congress In sanctioning the in
novation. There are. however, 1t is said.
many OF the Representatives who would
prefer not to go on record before their
rural constituents as having voted
away several million dollars annually in
giving the already we'll cared for Gov
ernment employees additional play time.
The District Commissioners will prob
ably take the matter up for final dis
position tomorrow when Major Biddle.
the Engineer Commissioner, returns to
his desk. He and Commissioner Mac
farland. the president of the board, are
expected to take immediate action as
llt lllutSS VI IlooS IL
likely to prevent his return to the office
for an indefinite period.
The Union Wage Scale.
There will be many matters pertaining
to the question to be considered by the
Commissioners. including additional
compensation to those artisans who have
been working on Saturday afternoons
since July /. 1t has been the practice
of the District government to pay union
wages to all such employees. Under the
union rules holiday work calls for double
regular wages. and under this rule the
District is morally liable for the ad-
ditional amounts to such employees.
This feature OF the law is one that Is
giving some concern to contractors,
builders and other employers of large
numbers Of artisans as 1t places every
Saturday afternoon in the same category
with Christmas, Fourth OF July, and
other holidays, on which artisans are en-
titled under the union wage scale TO
double time for all work. Many existing
contracts were taken on a small margin
of profit, with time limits in which they
must be completed. and If the double
rate is Immediately enforced it VIII