The Washington times., 1906-07-01
] Var

Many employees OF the War Depart
ment have been the occupants OF the
anxious bench during the past week.
The beginning OF a fiscal year Is always
looked upon with more or less dread In
many quarters Of the Government ser
vice. but IA the War Department this
year the feeling has been intensified
owing 10 the growing tendency % the
department 20 disregard precedent, 20
reward merit and TO pay the larger
salaries to those whose services are
the most valuable 10 the department.
Of course there are those who are in
clined 10 take exception to the iudg-
ment OF the officials in charge. and but
few who are not benefited Will believe
that justice has been done.
A General Shaking Up.
That there is TO be a general shaking
Up is believed in many parts Of the
building. as Il is thought that the re-
classification is 10 continue. As in every
large establishment there are always op-
portunites for change. the most expert
OF today having 10 give way 10 their
suDcTiors tomorrow.
One OF the changes will be the in
corporation into the department OF over
ter's Department. at large, as an ad-
dition TO the regular departmental
force. This action. however. will only
involve a paper transfer. as most OF
the new men have been engaged on
their present work for a year or more.
although paid from the funds Of the
department at large. They include
clerks. architects. craftsmen and others
whose transfer was provided for in the
legislative bill for 1867.
This change will place AT the disposal
of the department some Of the best
trained and most capable employees IN
the department men who have seen
active campaigning IN the field who
have been through the war with Spain
and the campaigns Ia Cuba, the Philip
pires and in the far West against tn
Indians Il Is the feeling Of the highe~
officers in the department that II would
be 10 the best interest Of the service to
have the law so amended as 10 permit
the exchange Of employees between the
departmental and the field service as the
needs Of the service might require
Another caUse for uneasiness has been
the stand taken by the department IN
the strict enforcement OF the execu-
tive order looking to the prevention of
the spread OF tuberculosis in the de-
p;rtments. The order provides for the
ascertaInment Of the names Of those
afflicted with tuberculosis and that they
be provided With printed rules as 70
their conduct in the Office. The execu-
tive order further provides that:
To Prevent tuberculosis Spread
The nonobservance OF said rules
shall. in the discretion Of the head Of
the department, be considered a Just
cause for separation from the service.
Whenever there is a doubt with re-
gard to any person IN the Government
service as to whether said person Is
afflicted with pulmonary tuberculosis.
an order shall be issued for said person
to present himself Cor herseIO at one
Of the Government laboratories for ex-
animation. and to present the depart
ment, from the director or other author
lied officer of the said laboratory, a
certificate showing the result of said
examination If a Government labora-
tory is not accessible. the laboratory
investigation shall be made at Govern
ment expense"
Preliminary steps looking TO the en-
forcement OF the order have ase.- under
way for several weeks. but It is but re-
cenuy thaI determined measures have
been resorted TO. In one branch of the
department IL is said two employees
have been given indefinite leave OF alb
sence with a view to their eventual dis
charge.
IT is interesting to note how one of the
most pronounced symptoms of consump-
tion is identical with the prevailing
symptom of the chronic rooter-hope.
However demoralized a ball team may
be its champions will inevitably find
some incident upon which to hang a
large bundle Of hope Not that these
remarks are applicable to the War De-
partment representatives in the con-
fict for the Departmental rennant, but
because it seems especially appropriate
in considering the national game IN the
Nations Capital
They do say that an extraordinarily
large o-dcr for Dennison's tags has
been couniermanded. Just why does
not appear of official record. but il is
whispered about thai some thought they
might be useful in conveying informa-
| ton 20 the twirlers upon the White