The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-02-12
HOLIDAY QUESTION
PUZZLE IN DISTRICT
Government Employees Go
to Offices and Bank
Clerks Do Likewise.

Yes. today. the Tooth birthday of Abra-
ham Lincoln. ls a legal holiday in the
District of Columbia, though there are
slII a BOT OF people hereabouts whose
minds are mos sactIy clear as 20 how
DC aU came s.auL Because the PTesl-
dent left the city without first having
signed the joint resolution passed by
Congress late Yesterday declaring today
a LEGAL holiday, confusion, doubt, re-
ergr. dismay. and other mingled emo
tiaus. filled the minds OF Federal en-
ploves. about 80 600 District school chill
Jren. bank employees. and many others
who are released from the yoke or la
Dor by the operation of "a legal day oL
F,ven when the Chief Executive, halted
on his Journey TO the Lincoln centenary
celebration al Hodgenville. KY, today,
wired his approval" Of the Congress
resolution there remained lot OF 'leEtt
authorities to throw a CLOUD over I ne
situation by declaring that 20 make me
holiday a legal one the President SIG
nature must be affixed to the act oil
Congress.
Confused Situation.
An I'm all, the beginning of the day
brought about as mixed, confused, and
District authorities. and the bankers
have had TO deal with in many a day,
The President himself is probably in
complete ignorance OF what happened,
particularly as he had prepared yester-
day. an hour OF so before he took the
train for Kentucky, a Presidential
proclamation making February j.. 1903.
a legal holiday in The District OF CO.
umbia and the Territories which was
TO issue simultaneously with the pas
sage of the Congress resolution.
When the Senate finally made up IT'S
mind late yesterday afternoon 10 pass
the Lincoln holiday resolution, II was
after the Government workshops, the
banks. and the schools had smut up Tor
the day. That Assistant Secretary orS-
ter had been appealed 10 by the state
Department and had wired TO the Presl-
dent at DeuuisOn, Ohio, and that the
President wired back his approval or the
resolution are all happenings or last
night. of which most OF the District s
poDuIation did not know about until this
morning, too late 10 halt the usual
movement toward the apartments, the
banks. and the school houses When
this procession arrived at these various
points of destination and made ready
to take up the usual daily tasks, there
naturally was considerable surprise
when the announcement was made that
the day was. after all. "a holiday. and
was 20 be celebrated as SUCH
Some Stay Home.
At the state, War and Navy, the
f Treasury. Bureau OF Printing and En-
+ craving. the Government Printing Office
and the Navy Yard the experiences were
/ in effect the same. Many OF the EN-
ployes Of these departments assumed
properly that the Presidents prOclama
+ ton was sufficient and didn't let IN,
rising alarm go Oft, bat others. not 50
/ sure, showed up as usual, and TO then
/ Iei the opportunity 10 mold the lndls
nation meetings.. The frame or nlul
+ OF some ZUJJ clerks VINO showed up
J the state. War and Navy and Treasury
/ Departments about g % clock this morn
iug was anything bun Pheasant
no q large extent LlEy were couclA
T ated by thoughts of a pleasant day ID
/ Uue open, but 10 many IL VIII long re-
/ main ueedIul OF explanation why til,
/ official word WAS LJ- sent out las
night
Down at the Navy Yard. where som,
I $3.50 employees are on the Federal pay
/ roll, This official mlx-up resulted in
/ spectacle that Is not likely to be
/ peated again iu the history 81
place. Admiral LeutZes c0mmaD[ ~ %
the Navy Yard. received tn 1Itcld
E notification OF the Presidents pr0cla
. nation by telephone yesterday evening
/ too late 90 have II communicated Z
J he employees
He was u q quandary as TO just how
( 20 get the good news properly circu
/ lated and Hually. when the hour grew
/ late, decided 90 close tho gates, pos
/ guards, and instructed them 10 inform
the employees AS they arrived for Worl
/ t4!s morning. This procedure was car
+ RED OuJ -Aat Is, as Tar AS closing la
( gates and posting tie guards Is con
Cerued.
Guards Posted.
The guards, uniformed and armed
I were there when the workers began E
. troop along, but they apparently wer
all al sea as 10 the reasons for CLOSING