The Washington times., 1906-07-07
Government Clerks Now
Released at 1870 On
Saturdays.
WAS LONG, HARD FIGHT
Concession Is Result of Ac-
ton Taken at Meeting of
Heads of Bureaus.

At last the Government clerks have
won out over the Administration, and.
beginning today they viii have nalf
holiday from 1880 o'clock each Sa,ur-
day. instead OF at ! o'clock, throughout
the saonths OF July, August and Sep
tember.
~he victory was won over the Admin
istration after hard and long drawn
out conflict. Several weeks ago. when
the subject was first presented to the
President and heads of the departments
BY friends OF the clerks in Congress, II
was stated that IL seemed 20 be "a case
OF give them an Inc and they demand
"a foot"
The officials looked upon the scheme
with disfavor. declaring that the en-
ployes should be satisfied with the half
holiday beginning with / O'Clock. par
ticularly since they had never regularly
been given any time or on Saturdays
previous TO President Roosevelt's eXecu-
tive order two years ago, which granted
half-holldays during the months Of July.
August. and September.
Since the extra half hour was tackled
q on at the end Of each day the clerks
particularly demanded that they should
be given a fun half-hollday on Sa:ur-
days during the heated period At pres
ent the daily working hours are from
Q 10 4.30. with half an hour for lunch
which makes the actual working time
OF the day seven hours, instead of six
and a half hours, as had always been
customary. In order make the half
holiday, they claimed they should get
out Saturdays at 1915.
For several weeks past chief clerks OF
the different departments have been
EWamped with requests and demands
that the day close Saturday at i2I5.
Most Of them took the situation up with
their respective Cabinet members. with
the result that it was brought up for
discussion at a Cabinet meeting some
two weeks ago. and finally was acted
upon at last Fridays Cabinet meeting.
the last Of the summer.
President Reluctant.
The President II develops. was re-
luctant TO alter the executive order
issued two years ago by him, giving the
clerks the first regular half-hOliday that
they had eve- hed Some OF the Cabinet
members who have the largest number
OF clerks in their departments. recon-
mended. however that the day should
be evenly divided, win the result that
it was finally agreed that although the
President would issue no amendment 10
his former order, the heads OF the de-
partments were given atIthority to do
SO. II they chose but the closing hour
should be set at 1880. and no earlier.
When the orders were promulgated
great rejoicing went up through the de-
partments although there was some
grumbling among the clerks because
they did not get the additional fifteen
minutes demanded.
All Departments Notified.
Postmaster General Cortelyou was one
Or The first Cabinet members TO issue the
order. When the word spread among the
clerks in other departments that the
Postoffice employees We're 10 get out at
1880 they began making inquiries. ana
yesterday a similar order was prOmuI-
gated ia each OF the other depart
ments.
For awhile It looked bad to the civil
service people in the Navy Department.
Secretary Bonaparte was not present at
last Frldav's Cabinet meeting, he having
been out Of the city. and for some rea-
son or oversight he was not officially
notified OF the agreement.
When demands We're made upon hin,
10 issue an order 10 close at l2:8O. IN
common with the other departments.
lie said he had no authority TO do so
and knew nothing about the action of
the other Cabinet members. This re-
suited in number Of conferences be-
tween Secretary Bonaparte and the
heads of his bureaus, during which he
took occasion 20 give some rather
strong views on the subject. If the
clerks were not satisfied with the half
holiday given them through the Eener-
Gus spirit OF the Administration. he Is
said 10 have held they should not be
entitled 10 any reduction OF hours. He
pointed out that he and Assistant Sec
Ietary Eewberry, as well as the heads
OF the bureaus and chief clerks. al
most invariably remain at their desks
nfter hours. take work home with them.
md frequently work nights and sun
days.
Heads Do AS They Please.
But the clerks argued that the Sec
-etary and other heads in the depart
ment could leave their posts whenever
those chose take a days vacation al
most any time they liked and there
was no comparison OF the cases.
The situation had developed 70 this
point yesterday morning. when SecIe-
tary Bonaparte finally decided TO ask
the President about the Cabinet meet
ing agreement. The wires were put in
use. and late IN the afternoon he was
tnformed from Oyster Bay that tho
President had given his consent. and IN
was up to the Cabinet members The
order consequently was soon published
The only exception to the closing at
1880 o'clock is ian the case of the Gov
ernrnent Printing OHCe. which will
close at i o'clock, as the printers work
fun eight hours exclusive OF the half
hour for lunch.