The Washington times., 1904-06-11
Those Doing Outside
Work Must Give
1t Up.
EDICT TO GO FORTH
Storm of Protest Stirred Up.
Has Proven a Good
Thing.
Government architects hereafter
must ,,rnrI, nnl,r for Uncle Sam

Government architects hereafter
must work only for Uncle Sam"
This Is the edict that has gone forth
in that branch of the Treasury Depart
ment where are employed 150 or more
craftsmen. and who. if the allegations
OF their chiefs be correct. have for many
years been enjoying a good thing" in
the work they have been able TO pick
up on the outside to the detriment of
the Government service.
Draughtsmen Much Stirred.
or course, the question whether or not
this practice is detrimental. Is a moot
ed point Naturally storm OF irdis-
nation Is stirred up among the employees
of the architects division at the an
nouncement of the proposed order, and
the vital question is raised by them as
TO whether Uncle Sam is not overstcp-
ping his proper authOrity-~when he calls
them to account for the WORK they do
outside of their regular hours OF Guty.
The first inkling Of the Treasury
officials. intentions in this particular
came TO the employees Of the supervising
architects division in a circular letter
which was distributed among the vari-
was an order calling on each employe
to make a sworn statement As to
whether he is or is not doing work out
side of the regular departmental duties
assigned to him, and If so to particular
ize just what this work is.
Like an Explosion.
The bursting of a bombshell in the
Treasury Building could not have caus-
ed more astonishment than the receipt
of this mtssive indicating as il did the
intentions of the department TO make
new regulations for governing the work
of the employees
MANY OF the draughtsInen were highly
indignant over 1t saying that the gov
ernment had no right TO call on them
for statement of their private affairs,
in which light they regard their move
mcnts after completing a days duty at
the Government building.
This letter was only sent out yester-
DAY, but already IT is said there has
been some trouble in obtaining the an
ticipated replies. and il is probable that
the employees viii again have to be Wig
orously reminded that the order IS one
from headquarters and will have 10 be
complied with.
New Order Awaited.
1t is upon the basis Of these replies
that the authorities will be governed in
drawing up the new order FOR limiting
the services OF employees to Government
work strictly.
Its order, II was said by n Treasury
ot ial today. Is ready to be promulgat-
60. and its provisions will be to the ef-
feet that no one IS allowed &c take out
side employment except by special per
mission OF the Secretary
In erect, therefore. the order will b.
generally regarded as entirely prohibi.
tive. since only a few Of the enploye,
viii. II is estimated. care 10 make spe.
cial application TO the Secretary for suct
permission after the departments dis
approval OF outside work, as shown ir
the present instance.
Interferes With Work.
In explanation OF the Government,
position with regard 10 the new order
Supervising Architect J. Knox Taylor
IN whose division are the employees who
Will oc affected, said today:
Yes. Il Is true that an order Is bein1
prepared prohibiting employees from do
ing outside work II IL is shown that II
interferes with their Government duties
but this order does not intend 10 worp
a hardship on the employees.
1T IS merely a salutary measure foI
tho good OF the department made neces-
sary by some laxity which has become
manifest in the work. This the chiefs
OF the divisions believe to be due e
the fact that the employees are not Civ
ing their undivided attention 20 th'
work assigned TO them. and under the
circumstances an investigation is In
cumbent to see II in reality this negli-
Cence is due 10 such cause.
''Our employees are a most faithful and
efficient body OF men as a rule, and th'
department could have no possible OBJ
lection to their doing work outside pro
z-ided always the effect does not make
Itself apparent In the KIND or work tneS
do for the Government
Inquiry among some of the chiefs OF
divisions developed the fact that at least
half OF the employees In the architects
division have been devOting part OF theii
time 10 outside work. and many OF then
even hold important positions with loca
architectural firms.
There has been some speculation as "a
what actually brought about the pro-
mitigation Of the new order. and one eX-
PLANTATION given is 10 the effect that an
employe Of the Treasury service In Bal
timOre was discovered by Government
inspectors 10 HdNt sEl w dlA NothbiAoA
ment OF his own in addition 20 the regu-
lar work which he did for the Govern
ment custom house.
When called on to explain this action
this Baltimore official IS alleged TO have
replied that the Government had no
right 10 put stop 10 his outside prac-
tice and that besides half the en-
ployes OF the Treasury Department In
Washington had a graft in outside en-
ployment"
IN order 20 enforce the rule in Balti-
more, therefore, according 70 the story
n was then up 10" the department in
Washington TO make an investigation
OF tie Outside work" system of its own
employees. Hence the letter Of inquiry.