The Washington times., 1903-07-12
TWenty-Four Hundred Men
and Women Who Come
and Go All Day and All
Night With Machine-Like
Regularity.
Minute Records Kept of Ar
rival and Departure of
Every Clerk, Messenger,
and Watchman in the Big
Building.

Administrations change and Cabinet
members come and go. but the Govern
ment departments are little affected by
the political movements which sweep
away their heads.
The great army Of Government en-
ployes. above the reach OF politicians
and directed by chiefs who are protected
by the civil service. moves on, indiffer-
ent TO scandals and upheavals Occa-
sionally man finds his way into the
Cabinet who brings about desirable
changes in his department others prove
70 be disorganizers But the influence
Of the man in charge Of a department is
so indirect that he seldom makes much
impression on the system which has
been developed by chiefs Of bureaus and
other men in high places who have de-
voted 4 lifetime to the Governments
business.
Secretary may direct the general
policy of his department in such a man
ner that his personality is felt. but the
mainsprings OF a department, the men
who are responsible for the proper d.
reCtion OF the energy OF the army of
clerks, do not sit in the Offices assigned
TO the Secretaries and Assistant Secre-
taries.
A Day at the Treasury.
In a great department. such as the
Treasury Department. there are many
employees whose days work does not
open at o'clock or end at {. The men
who direct the movements OF clerks and
devise plans for Fastening the work Of
bureaus do not watch the clock and
busy themselves in computing their sick
leaves 10 make sure that they do not
exceed the limit allowed by the Govern
ment.
A days visit to the Treasury Depart
ment affords an opportunity to study n
system which is the development of
years and the work of hundreds OF men
OF executive ability. Twenty four hundred
employees carry on their work daily in
the Treasury building. The time OF all
these people is accounted for TO a min
ute, and punctuality has been so thor
oughly instilled into this small army OF
employees that the average number OF
persons reported daily for hardness does
not exceed fifteen.
sible for the discipline OF the depart
ment. Under his direction chiefs of di-
visions and the captain Of the watch.
H. 4. Cobaugh. enforce rules and regu-
late the movements OF employees
Begins Work at $50 A NJ.
The days work in the Treasury De-
partment is popularity supposed to begin
al g O'Clock, the hour when clerks must
be at their desks, but several hundred
employees are at work in the great build
ing long before the arrival OF the clerks.
King Loving. a negro who fills the water
coolers and looks after CRATE fires in
season. is the first workman to enter
the building In the morning At $50 a
Waterman opens the main door on the
east front Of the building and admits
Loving.
FROM $50 until 1880 only members Of
The engineers force are admitted TO the
building by the watchmen who guard the
Governments wealth. All laborers and
nlez-~.4sers must be at their work by S
O'Clock. Many Of them report early. and
the guards are allowed 90 admit these
men after 80
LabOrers or messengers entering the
building after = o'clock 60 down on the
7vatchman's tardy list and are reported
10 the captain OF the watch The tardi-
Watchmen's tardy list and are reported
BY the chiefs who are over them
Time Deducted From Vacation.
The lists from the chiefs and the cap
tain OF the watch are in the hands OF