The Washington times., 1903-07-12
ARMY OF TREASURY EMPLOYEES
MANAGED LIKE CLOCKWORK

the appointment division before noon
vacation period OF the procrastinators
The department shows much life at
S o'clock. Messengers hurry through
the corridors with mail and busy them
selves arranging Offices for the clerical
force. In the basement the mechanics
in the employ of the Treasury begin the
repairing Of furniture. blacksmithing,
plumbing, and other work requiring
skilled labor which is carried on in Sec
rotary Shaw's busy department
Secretary shaw, the Assistant Secro-
taries. Chief Clerk Hills. and many OF
the chiefs Of divisions are frequently in
their offices long before the army of
C y rks arrives. All officers in the de-
partment who are appointed by the
President. and the chief clerk and his
assistants, are allowed to enter and
leave the building from o'clock in the
morning until o'clock in the evening
without interruption. The movements of
other officials are regulated by the
Waterman
Bureau Chiefs Must Register.
Even chiefs Of bureaus who enter the
Treasury building out OF Office hours
are halted by the guards and compelled
TO register. Many OF these officials chafe
under the strict rules of the depart
ment, but the watchmen have instruc-
tions, which they carry out TO letter.
All bundles which employees carry from
the building are subject TO inspection,
and it Is not unusual for watchmen TO
search lunch boxes which division chiefs
are about to carry from the building.
At S:45 the entrances TO the Treasury
building become as busy as department
store entrances on bargain days Tbs
men are lost in the crowd of women
clerks who make their way into the
building Women of all ages pass the
watchmen. Grandmothers and young
girls disappear through the crowded
doors, but older women seem TO pre-
vail. Mourning wells and black gowns
are numerous and give an onlooker the
impression that the clerks have known
more than their share OF grief.
Kind Hearted watchmen.
A few minutes before 8 some of the
younger men employed in the Treasury
rush from the lunch rooms east OF the
department and run into the building
still chewing their breakfasts. Every
effort is made by the watchmen TO keep
their records free of tardy marks. At
some of the doors the guards step out
side and motion 10 the laggards who do
not appreciate how near o'clock II IS.
There is much hurrying and scurrying
in the halls of the great department dur
ing the last few minutes of grace. but
the number Of clerks who fail TO get into
their seats before the clocks indicate 9
is surprisingly small. Work begins in
the divisions with the promptness of a
school opening.
After the clerks are seated the corri-
doris are deserted. a few messengers
may be seen moving from one part OF
the building to another, but the clerks
do not frequent the halls and visit In
work hours. The reading OF newspa-
pers and other unofficial matter is pro-
hibited by the rules Of the department,
and clerks are not allowed TO receive
callers in Office hours. The chiefs Of d.
visions are responsible for the enforce
ment OF these rules in their divisions.
and watchmen are accountable for the
conduct OF clerks in the corridors.
At the Lunch Hour.
Hundreds OF visitors pass through the
Treasury Department daily between .
in the morning and I'm the afternoon.
but they do not Interfere with the work
of the employees. In fact. visitors see into
few OF the large Offices where scores Of
clerks are busy at work. Tourists are
more interested in watching the giant
macerator chew up WORKOUT paper
money than IN looking at employees who
are laboring over volumes Of dry rec
ords. and gather about the rooms where
only iron bars stand between them and
millions OF dollars.
Clerks are allowed half an hour for
lunch between Y and / O'Clock. II the
day is pleasant hundreds Of the en-
ployes eat their lunches in the cafes
and lunch rooms near the Treasury. De-
partment. but in unfavorabIe weather
the Treasury cafe IN the corridor Of
one or the upper floors Of the building
IS well patronized by clerks who do
not carry a lunch box
Orders for lunches are taken in The
building early il the morning that the