The Washington times., 1903-08-23
DOUBLE PAY NOT GIVEN
PER DIEM EMPLOYEES
Acting Secretary of Navy
FOrestalls Demands.
RESULT OF SATURDAY RULING
Under Decision of Acting Attorney
General Navy Yard Men Could
Make Claims.

BEFORE ordering employees OF the Navy
Department in the District to work yes
terday afternoon. Acting Secretary Darl-
Ing issued a statement, announcing the
suspension Of the rule of the DEPART
ment which grants double pay to all per
diem employees who work overtime or on
holidays.
This action was taken by Mr.. DarI-
ing to prevent any claims for double
pay arising as a result OF the recent
opinion of the Department Of Justice. in
which it was held that under the Dis
trict law, Saturday afternoon is a hou-
day The regulation is one which was
made by the Secretary Of the Navy, and
may be suspended by him whenever he
sees fit.
Might Cost Thousands.
department employees who work on
regular annual salary could not lay
claim to extra pay for Saturday after
noon work. and per diem employees had
not indicated that they would do so.
but Mr.. Darling thought It best to be on
the safe side Practically all the hun
dreds Of employees in the navy yard work
by the day. and many other Navy De-
partment employees are paid in the same
manner. The claims which might be
brought under the recent decision would
have amounted to thousands of dollars
every Saturday afternoon in case the
regulation of the department had not
been suspended.
NO change was brought about yester-
day in the closing hours OF departments
as a result of the opinion handed to Sec
retary Root by Acting Attorney Gen.
eral MeReynolds. to the effect that
District laws make hak-holiday 5f
Saturday afternoon. but that in spite of
this fact department regulations en-
power heads OF departments 10 have
their employees work after noon on Satur-
days il they see fit
State Department Offices closed up as
usual yesterday afternoon at 8 O'Clock.
Secretary Hay has never paid any atten-
uon TO the dispute concerning Saturday
afternoon closing. and has adhered To
his original statement that he lis so iz-
norant OF the law" that he cannot be ex-
pected TO know how it affects his de-
rartment-
Ruling Makes No Changes.
Ohder secretary Moody. the Navy De-
partment has always kept its Offices
open until 4 o'clock on Saturdays and
20 change was made yesterday. Secretary
Root once ordered his department to
close at O'Clock. He revoked this order
and extended the hour until O'Clock.
Il was thought he would again close at
o'clock under the decision OF the De-
Of Justice making it possible
or him to do so, but he left no order
before he started for London. and As
sistant Secretary Sanger, who is in
;harge of the department, did not see fit
o order the department to close at 3
,'clock.
Colonel Sanger went to Sangerfeld. ".
l.. Friday night where he viii remain un-
ii Monday. Mr.. Schoheld, the chief clerk
IF the department. is in charge He
aid there is no reason to believe that
my change will be made in the Satur-
lay closing hour Of the War Department
The opinion OF the Department OF Justice
vas shown TO Secretary Root before hs
eft Washington, but he made no COM
nent on it.
All of the departments except the
SaVy. War. and Commerce and Labor
losed at o'clock