The Washington times., 1918-11-02
Justice to War Workers in
the Matter of Leaves!
BY BILL PRICE
MANY Clerks Are In Distress and Financial Trouble


Failure on the part of many executive officials of the
Government to literally and humaney construe the law
to annual and sick leaves for civil service employees re-
sponsb for much dependency embarrassment and mental
anguish today.
Thursday was pay day, and there bureaus where
thousands of workers found their pay envelopes
ceedngy scant owing to deductions for illness or time Loaf
nursing i'll companions, sisters others dear to them
Dozens of letters and telephone calls tell of pathetic
which would not exist had there been just reasonable
violation of law but generous interpretation
of rules which made long before dangerous epidemic
struck the town. epidemic the ravages of which were
EXTENSIVE because of unusual conditions under which
Government workers are living and laboring.
Investigation and inquiry convincing that many IN
justices have been done because of inhexbe rules which,
submitted to heads of departments and explained on
basis of fair treatment and emergency conditions would
not stand ten minutes.
For be it remembered that Cabinet officers depend upon
sensible subordnates to make recommendations and these
subordnaes should go right to headquarters like real men
and urge rules broad enough to fairly cases Of
manifest unfairness.
From President Wilson down. every prominent official
of the Government daily seeks to better working and hous
ing conditions of Government employees; create Satisfaction
and contentment No minor official has any right 70 DO
otherwise.
am in possession of the names of divisions and bu-
many employees of which failed to receive sick leave
allowance. In cases girls hnd themselves Wltnouf
money pay rent purchase meals or meet other e
pendures They must appeal others for loans and their
Liberty bond payments win soon be due
The Navy Department has rule that allows no leave
for temporary appontees who have not taken civil
service examinations and who defer doing This rule is
hitting thousands OF g00Q clerks mlgnLy asking
'why don't they qualfyi does not for minute change
the fact that they human; that they working faith
fully and patrotcay for the Government and that with
out their services governmental activities might be Grip
pied. Government bureaus daily asking for such en-
ployes ard they found to be efficient Permanent and
probationary employees of this department are allowed leave
it is stated and special consideration has been given to
meritorious sick leave in these classes.
Secretary McAdoo has directed that sick and annual
leave be given temporary and probatonal appontees from
the day of taking oath at the rate of two and days
each month"; in view of existing conditions That's the fair
and proper thing to do all this town
Ny attention is called to the case of permanent
ploye in department After she had received twenty
days of her annual leave order went around that all
leave Cancelled. She i'll from influenza for two
weeks She received pay for this time and is borrow
ing money from friend 1t not possible to borrow
easily.
This young lady to Washington more than year
ago after reading aurng pamphlets from the Civil Service
Commission to receiving thirty days annual leave and
thirty days sick leave It attractive to her. and she
left her position here and the Government
The Civil Service Commission should lose time in
taking up these questions with heads of departments The
commission, in its publicity did not to deceive ap
pican for positions But when these applicants get here
they find that matters not represented owing to
varying interpretations It is, of course often impossible
without derment to the Government to grant all the leave
allowed by law, but sick leave to the limit and should
be granted in verified cases.