Evening star., 1914-02-08


Secretary of War last week re-
ouestins that each department promnl-
gate an order TO the effect that the EN-
cheney rating of all federal eInplo!es VINO
are members of the organized mhtla oil
tho country will not be adversely affected
bscsuse of absences upon duty OF heId
service with their organizations Tor N
Structiou-
The letter really was addressed to the
Secretary Of tire Treasury where the
matter was brousnt to 4 head hy the
tender of r-slGaatiou as a captain IN ''te
nav corF,s uf tine National Guard OF the
District If Columbia by Thomas h Ciark'
an e1upIoye of that department, on ac-
count of a decision OF former Assistant
Secretary Williams to the effect that
military Leave in addition to the annual
1eav. Of an enploye would lower MS
efficiency rating Copies of the letter
however. were sent to the heads OF other
departments.
While the Treasury Department mas not
rcpiied to the letter of the secretary OF
War. all those interested in Nauonal
Guard affairs are awaiting with nuch
interest the action of this dePaI I'lt ti,iei's'
Il was said there last week, no" ~
that II was very likely that tufs depdit
,-.,n+ viii comply with the request OF
Secretary Garrison. 49,,
The Deparfu1ent Of Labor already has
published the order asked bE seq ietd-
Garrison and inquiries at other dePdi :
msnts met with the reply that faNoraple
action would be taken The department
of Commerce already had such proVl-
SION in its regulations governing leaves
OF absence which were approved pF SET
rotary Reddeld last July.
While officers of the National Guard
believe that the easiest way OF se'tiliis lls
tie question of military leave would nave
hen for President Wilson to issue an
executive order giving members OF the
militia leave for military duties IN adul-
tion TO their annual leave without low eI
ing their efficiency rating. nevertheless
they are of opinion that the actloh OF
the Secretary Of War will have the de-
fired effect.
With the government departments
granting military leave now prac'icais "
settled attention is turned toward ti!e
business interests of w Nashlngton, ahu'
yery likely that they will follow the
action of the New York CHAMBER OF
Commerce and enact resoiuton uIsiiIs
employers to encourage their enlploSts 10
enlist in the National Guard by CIV ns
them time off with pay TO perform tnelr
military duties. and at the same tiliie
without having the leave operate against
their efficiency ratings.
Washington
is taking great interest in the National
Guard question. following an address de-
lvered before il recently by Representa-
tive Kahn Of California. who is asso
chairman of the National Defense
League Al a meeting of the Chamber
of Commerce last week the special COM
nittee appointed at the meeting at Whlcn
Representative Kahn spoke presented d
resolution strongly favoring a closer CO.
operation between the business men OF
Il he. lrT
the District of Columbia. This special
committee was composed of James r.
oyster. John +. Slaven and A Leftwlcn
Sinclair The resolution was not acted
Upon at the meeting last week. but was
referred back to the special committee
t. have certain of its clauses modified.
It recommends that the various cor
po-atfons partnerships and firms of the
District adopt substantially the following
declaration:
Every enpioye who now is, or will
become. a member of the National Guard
OF the District of Columbia will be al
lowed during the term OF his enlistment.
but not to exceed five Years. fourteen
DAYS in each year for the performance
of military duty. without deduction from
lis pay, and this time will not be
charged against his vacation 1t is our
intention to favor the promotion of men
who have secured full and honorable dis
charges from the National Guard, or
who are in course OF earning them oy
military service. All heads of Depart
nents, superintendents and foremen will
see TO 1t that the spirit of this declara-
ton is carried out and will encourage the
men under them to join the National
Guard to the extent of . per cent of the
working force of any department, shop
Or unit of organization, as the case may
be
The resolution goes d step farther. 1t
recommends that the federal and District
governments urge employees to join the
guard, with no adverse rating of stand
Ing and pay, and that by appropriate leg
islation applicants who are or have been
guard members shall be given preference
In the civil service. The Secretary of
War is requested to see to ii that the Dis
trict guard be not all called out at one
time. so that no employer may thereby
lose the services of all OF his guardsman
employees.
II is the opinion in National Guard cir
cles that a resolution along the lines ten
tativeiy outlined by the Chamber of Com
nlerce will have the desired effect. and it
Is declared that the business men Of the
city can feel assured of the cooperation
of the officers of the National Guard of
the District of Columbia.
Company X, I'd Infantry, held another
elimination drill in the manual of arms