Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-10-23
mo TEA? SHOCKING!
Treasury's Woman Clerks
Now Are Up in Arms.
PRIVATE BREWS DENIED
One of Luxuries of Department Job
Is No More.
ALL RESULT OLA CRUSADE
But the Worst Of It All Is, Poor
E. II. Jemison, Assistant Super
intendent, Must Face Ire.
IL RESULT Of A CRUSADE

Barrels Of trouble but no tea is brew
ing at the Treasury Department!
The storm center is at present around
Il. IL. Jemison, the assistant superin-
tendent Of the department, whose genial
nature has been clouded by orders to en-
force various and sundry sanitary regu-
lations laid down by the marine hospital
service.
When the sanitary bug got into the
heads OF Treasury officials regulations
were made preventing woman clerks from
brewing tea in their rooms in the build
ing. For many years one of the duxuries
that went with a government job. in the
Treasury and other departments. was the
making Of tea at luncheon hour. Along
with homemade sandwiches, it was fine.
Each woman clerk could have tea as
strong as she desired. Hot water for the
brewing was obtained from the boiler
rooms in the basement.
Stopped by Crusade.
But all this was stopped by the sanitary
crusade. the enforcement of which was
intrusted to man whose life was once
sunshine and happiness. but is now one
eternal worry and fret. Mr.. Jemison had
to stop tea-making and go through all
clerks deposited odds and ends for their
private use. Some of the things said
about Mr.. Jemison, who hated the Job
like poison. would not be permitted per-
manent Judgment in Sunday school
room. The clerks were willing to give up
everything. but their right to make tea.
They kept up their protests and sent in
many petitions. Then somebody discov-
cred bright idea. A 'tearoom' would
be established for the benefit Of tea
I~:v hi. h~rax Vltr
Mr.. Jemison was told to go ahead and
fix the room. This he is doing. Room 90
Is the room now being prepared, but
JemisOn wishes it was %.
Problems to Be Met.
''How are you going to have a tearoom,
with 100 women making tea in it at the
same timer" Jemison was today asked
by one of the officials who does not agree
that the tearoom is just the right thing.
Now just think of it? The clerks have
just half an hour to make tea and eat
their luncheon. Surprising 100 of them
want to get in the room during this half
hour to make tea and gossip?
What will happen? Where are the tea
pots to be kept? Who will care for
them? Who will be I'm charge of the pri-
vate packages of lump sugar to sweeten
the tea? Who is going to run away the
sweetened drops of tea that will fall upon
the floor? Who is going to clean up the
bread and cake and pie crumbs after the
feast is over? Amt it awful, Lizzie?''
Jemfson Dumfounded.
Jemison is dumfounded at the pros
poets.
Another proposition brought forward is
to permit some one already having the
privilege Of serving lunches in the de-
partment to take charge of the tearoom
and make a lunchroom out of it. where
the clerks may have tea with their
lunches. But this does not suit because
the tea will be all Of one strength, I'M
suitable to SO many appetites, and then
it will be charged for. Many of the
woman tea drinkers do not want to buy
tea.
1t was said today that so much trou-
bic is in prospect that the whole thing
may be kept for Secretary MacEeagh to
brew over when he gets back from his
vacation at his summer home at Dublin,
n. H.
''Aint it terrible. Mabel?' is the con-
slant remark Jemison overhears.