The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-01-10
TOO MUCH SICKNESS"
IN ?. Q. DEPAR THENT
Mr.. Payne Issues Orders Re-
garding Leave,

Although Postmaster General PaNne
has neglected to devote much of his
time to inyesti eating the exposures con
corning A " Machen. superintendent
OF rural free delivery. as made by The
Times, he has discovered a woeful con
dition among the employees of his de
partmenU in the excessive abuse of the
Jhirty-day leave of absence on account
OF illness. and yesterday issued neT
set Of regulations. which virtually abol-
ishes this privilege A circular stating
the new order was distributed lEss
night.
In it the Postmaster General says the
annual leave OF lIkr4LTty days can only
be extended in case OF sickness in
the discretion of the head OF the De
partment. with pay. not exceeding thirty
days III any one case in any one caleu
dar year" When an application for 60
tension Of leave On account of sickness
Is made on the ground that the case Is
exceptional and meritorious. it viii be
considered only when presented, ap-
proved in writing to the Postmaster
General. BY the administrative officer
having jurisdiction under whom the ap-
pIfcant is employed. together with a
statement of the facts said to make it
exceptional and meritorious-'
Contagious Diseases.
In cases where an extension Of leave
Is asked because some member OF the
immediate family of an applicant Is at
ficted with a contagious disease, and re-
qufres the care and attention of such
employe, OF where his or her presence
IL the department would jeopardize the
health of employees. a physicians
certificate so stating. and giving, in ad-
dition. the name and relation Of the ap-
plicant 20 the person so afflicted, must
be fled Immediately upon return to .lufy.
Such certificates must also contain
statement thas, in the opinion Of the
physician, the return of the employee to
duty will not leopardize the health of
fellow employees. Only such diseases
viii be considered contagious as are
Guaranteed by the Authorities OF the
District Of Columbia.
When practicable, the department.
through a physician, will investigate and
report to the Postmaster General. All
statements as 20 absence on account OF
Illness must be under oath before some
officer qualified @ administer it, All ap-
pIications must be made on form pro-
vided by the department, and be accom-
panied by a certificate from the attend
ing physician, where one is employed.
and il one is not employed. specific rea-
sons for not so doing must be stated.
Form Of Certificates.
Hereafter, clerks and heads OF depart
ments Will not be allowed to issue sick
certificates In all cases of sickness,
The certificates must be filled by regu-
lar practicing physicians. These must
be filed within FIVE days after the en-
pIOye returns TO work and Immediately
forwarded to the head Of the depart
ment with subordinate officers recon-
menGations IN the case. All applica-
tiong must DO properly briefed before
being forwarded 10 the chief clerk
Determined that employees shall not
be paid for excessive leaves of alb
gence the Postmaster General has in
structed the appointment clerk to keep
account Of and report to the disbursing
officer all employees who have absented
themselves ii excess Of thirty days.
where such absence has not been author
ICED, and a corresponding reduction
made in their pay. Time clerks are 10
be held responsible for the correct
records OF time. and any mistakes made
viii be deducted from their salaries.
Accompanying the new regulations
given TO each employe of the depart
uenC is the new form OF application for
extension OF leave, which must be filled
out and sworn to before the employe
can be given credit for the time absent.
The regulations proved a surprise 10
the hundreds Of clerks IN the PostOffice
Department and they now realize tho
strings are being drawn closely. It is
the custom OF many departments of the
Government 10 be absent a day OF two
over the time limit and then by little
explanation have the extra time taken
paid for The neW regulation in this de-
PaTtmeut VIII put a stop TO this habit.