Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-06-21
TODAY j. s. BEGINS
ITS HALF HOLIDAYS
Employees of Federal Govern
; ment Start 13-Week Pc
Rod of Saturday Respite.

Regular Saturday half-holidays be-
gan in the District of Columbia today.
employees of the federal departments
being excused from work at 1 o'clock
this afternoon. The holidays will ex-
tend for thirteen weeks, and the last
half holiday will be September 10.
Employees of the government print
ing Office were excused at noon. hav-
ing reported at o'clock this morn
Ing. Clerical workers at the bureau
of engraving and printing quit work
at l o'clock, but members of the me-
chanical force, including those on the
big presses. were excused at noon.
Watchmen Get No Half Holiday.
Faithful watchmen in all the de-
partments were about the only ones
who failed to get the initial half
holiday. These men. paid compare
lively small wages. which in most
cases do not reach $1,000 year. in
Guiding the bonus, are said to be the
only federal workers who do not get
the half holidays.
They have to watch the other clerks
depart. and smile cheerfully as they
see them go. Only a few lucky ones,
whose day off" falls today, are get
ting any holiday.
MelnDcTS OIL tHe L Hlteu states
ployes' Saturday Afternoon Holiday
Club will meet at 1880 o'clock tonight
at the Public Library to complete
permanent organization of the organ
ization. which win make a fight for
the extension of the Saturday half
holidays all the year round.
For Year-Round Half Holiday.
Plans will be made tonight for cir
culating pledges throughout the gov
eminent departments supporting the
movement. 1t is hoped that at least
$4,000 signers, or half the total num-
Der of federal employees here, can be
obtained. c. D. Howard Of the PEN
sion Office is temporary president OF
the organization.
A series Of Saturday night meetings,
to begin next month, will be arranged,
at VIII: oh various aspects of the Satur-
day half-holiday all-the-year-round
proposition will be presented by
prominent speakers. The advantages
from the commercial. moral and civic
bers of the Washington Chamber Of
Commerce and Board of Trade will
speak. as well as members of Con-
gress.
Will Hold Picnic July 5.
The club plans a picnic to Great
Falls on the afternoon Of July S. In
the objects of the organization it is
declared that the members Of this
club believe Saturday afternoon is a
legal holiday in the District of Co.
lumbia throughout the year, and that
federal employees should have the
afternoon off just as do employees Of
banks, the American Red Cross and all
large and well managed corporations
and institutions.
Work 4 Hours at War Risk Office.
Employees of the war risk insurance
bureau got their half-holidays today
along with other workers, being ex-
cused four hours after they came to
work. Staggered hours at this big
plant brought the first workers at
$3.50 o'clock. These got off four hours
later, at 1890 o'clock. Those who did
not have to report until $3.50 o'clock
were excused at 1880 o'clock.
The office of public buildings and
grounds put the half-holiday into ef-
feet at noon for outside workers and
at l o'clock for the clerical force.
This office did not observe the half
holiday last Saturday, owing to the
fact that il it had done so all the en-
ployes would have. lot half a days
wages.