Evening star., 1916-10-24
ARMY LAW HEAD
FOR HALF HOLIDAY
Acting Judge Advocate Gen.
eraI Bethel Reports Favor
ably to Secretary.
1T Is LEGAL NOW

| The legal department of the army,
| through an opinion prepared by Col.
W. A. Bethel, acting judge advocate
general of the army. has reported to
the Secretary of War in favor of the
establishment of Saturday half holi-
days "in the departments of the United
States located at Washington, D. c."
"In an opinion of this Office dated
July IL, 1903,' says the acting judge
advocate general, after reviewing the
legislation relative to legal holidays
and the effect of the act of June 30,
1902, providing that Saturday after
noon shall be a holiday in the District
of Columbia for all PURPOSES it was
stated, with reference to the act, supra,
to amend section 1880 Civil Code.
D. c. by striking out in the eighteenth
and nineteenth lines thereof the words.
| within the meaning of this section
and insert in lieu thereof the words,
''for all purposes"
"As a result of the foregoing amend
ment section 1889 of the civil code is
no longer restricted in its operation to
negotiable instruments, and as a con-
sequence every Saturday. from IL
o'clock noon, becomes a legal holiday
poses to the same extent that Sun
days, Christmas, Fourth of July, Labor
and Decoration days are legal holt-
days. It is. therefore, the opinion OF
this office that If the clerks and en-
ployes of the War Department. other
than per diem employees, are required
to work after IL o'clock noon Satur-
days, such labor as is required Of them
should be obtained in pursuance of
special orders extending the hours of
labor from noon Saturdays to such
hour as may be deemed necessary in
the interests Of the public service"
Purpose Of the Act.
Col Bethel continues: TN the opinion
of the Attorney General supra, relative
to the said amendment of the District
code, 1t Is stated that:
This action of Congress appears to
have been deliberately taken with the
special intent of making the days spec
ified holidays within the District Of Co
lumbia for all purposes. and to correct
the former legislation under which
probably no public holiday remained ex-
cept for matters pertaining to nego-
table instruments. That Sat-
urday after IL o'clock noon is a ho1i-
day for all purposes within the District
OF COluHlDld anu As IuSIeIOTo one OK tn0 |
days declared public holidays by law
within the meaning Of the statutes reg
ulattng the number Of hours Of labor |
which 1t is your duty to require Of all |
clerks and other employees OF the War |
Department. You are, consequently, |
not obliged to require labor by such |
parties after the hour of noon on Sat-
urdays."
TT win appear from what has been
said" said Col. Bethel. that each Sat
urday afternoon Is a legal holiday in
the District of Columbia for all pur-
poses, and that the practice Of the sew
eral executive departments Of working
their employees to / o'clock during the
summer months and to 4:3O o'clock
during the remainder Of the year rests
on the discretion Of the heads of the
departments to require work on holi-
service require the same. It is clear
that under the law as it stands the
heads of departments may legally close
their respective departments at IL
o'clock noon on each Saturday
throughout the year.
sAs Congress has made Saturday aft
ernoon a legal holiday for all pur-
poses in the District of Columbia,
where executive departments are To-
Gated, 1t may be assumed that Con-
gress. in the light of prior legislation
respecting the hours of labor Of the
executive departments. contemplated
the closing Of the departments on Sat-
urday afternoon. For this reason. as
public service would not be impaired
by such action, recommend action in |
line with that suggested by Mr.. Com |
ners"