Evening star., 1914-02-05
Department of Labor Is First
to Act on Request of Sec
retary Garrison.
MEMBERS OF MILITIA
TO BE GIVEN TIME OFF
Efficiency Ratings of Government
Clerks Not to Be Affected.
All Expected to Act.

The first government department to
take action in accordance with the recent
letter of Secretary Garrison of the War
Department asking the PRONUNCIATION OF
regulations providing that employees of
government departments, whether in the
District or outside. should be excused for
military duty without lowering their ef-
hciency ratings. was the Department OF
Labor. Secretary Wilson today directed
the preparation of an order in accord
ance with the request Of the Secretary of
War.
In addition to excusing all employees
who are members of the National
Guard Of the District Of Columbia. the
order also excuses employees of the
are members of the militia organiza-
tions of other states. These include en-
ployes Of the immigration service.
field employees of the children's bureau
and the bureau Of labor statistics.
At the Treasury Department. it was
said, copy of the letter was sent to
the chiefs of divisions asking their opin-
ION about the matter. However. it was
declared that in the end there probably
would be nothing for the department to
do but to fall into line and comply with
siAO AC4oGoI Vi Tie 5SCIctdTy O1 w dI.
Secretary Garrison's letter had been
sidetracked at the Interior Department.
but it was declared this afternoon that
the matter would be taken up immedi-
ately. and favorable action taken.
=. 1t seems e. st that - no order Will be neces-
Secretary Redfeld. in regulations gov
erning leaves of absence, which were
published July 16, 1912. inserted a para
graph covering the point which the Secre-
tary Of War has written about. This
paragraph reads:
Leave Granted by Redfeld.
Military leave may be granted to EN-.
ployes In Washington. D. c., who are
members Of the District National Guard
and to employees outside of Washington
l.. c., who are members OF the organized
militia Of the several states. The latter
may be excused from duty without loss
of pay or time, in the event they can be
spared without detriment to the service
such absence to be limited to annual en-
campments and regular parades. Appli-
cation for such leave must be made in
advance and must subsequently be sup
ported by the certificate of competent
officer Of the National Guard of which
the employe is a member
A letter in reply to that of the Secre-
tary of War has been prepared for the
signature of Secretary Redfield It is
understood that it refers the Secretary
Of War to the paragraph already in the
regulations of the Department of Com
merce.
Inquiries made at other departments
OF the government brought statements
that the letter from the Secretary of
War had not been acted upon.
Expect All Departments to Agree.
Officials of the War Department and
officers of the army interested in the well
fare of the organized militia of the coun-
try express confidence in.the co-operation
of the heads of all the executive depart
ments Of the government in the establish
ment Of general policy of providing
leaves of absence to members of the mil
itia called out for legitimate militia duty
without prejudice to their official status.
although 1t does not so appear in the
official correspondence on the subject, it
Is understood that the action of the ma
t1onal militia board in recommending such
course OF action was predicated mainly
On the case Of Capt. T. R. Clark Of the
pay department of the National Guard
of the District of Columbia That officer
recently rendered his resignation in the
District militia, in order, he explained, to
protect his efficiency rating in the Treas
ury Department. He had been notified
by John Shelton Williams. now controller
OF the currency, but then assistant sec
retary of the Treasury. that any absence
he might take for the purpose of service
with the District militia would initiate
against his efficiency record and prob
ably affect his chances for promotion.
His resignation was forwarded to Brig.
Gen. Harries, commanding the District
of Columbia militia, who directed that
no action be taken with respect to il
until he could communicate with the fed
eral authorities on the subject.
War Department Approached.
Gen. Harries wrote to the War Depart.