Evening star., 1924-11-10
COOLIDGE DECLINES
TO ORDER HOLIDAY
Declares He Lacks Author
ity-Says Power Vested
in Congress.

Federal employees in the District
Of Columbia are not to have a holi-
day day.
This was settled definitely at the
White House today when President
Coolidge made it known that he will
not issue an executive order making
it possible for these employees to be
excused from their duties tomorrow.
1t was thought by many that such
an order would be issued by the
President, inasmuch as Presidents in
the past issued such orders upon sim
liar conditions, but President Cool
idge takes the position that the law
of the country does not give him
authority to declare national holi-
days, that that power is vested in
Congress, and inasmuch as Congress
has never seen fit to enact such a law
respecting Armistic day, he does not
think he should establish prece-
dent by issuing an order excusing
the employees from their work.
Firm in Opinion.
In considering this question, the
Presidents attention was called to
the fact that many of his predecessors
and he himself have issued similar
orders granting half holidays on the
afternoon before Christmas and on
other occasions. The President
failed to be Influenced by this re-
minder, however. He contends that
Congress has been in session on sew
eral occasions since the first observ-
ance of Armistice day and that it has
not seen fit to declare it a national
holiday and there is no excuse for
him to declare one.
A spokesman for the President said
that the President is of the opinion
that an executive order such as was
suggested for tomorrow, should be
issued only to meet an emergency,
and he cannot associate an emer-
gency with Armistice day. IL there
was one. Congress. long before this,
would have passed the necessary
legislation to meet the situation.
Made Thorough Study.
The stand taken by President Cool :
idge followed careful study of a
report prepared for him by Control er
of the Treasury McCarL Among other
points involved the controller is
known to have questioned the right
of certain per diem and per piece
employees to compensation if they
should take advantage of an execu-
tive order eXcusing them from work
1t has been intimated that some
of the department heads may take
it upon themselves to excuse all or
some of their employees tomorrow
irrespective of an order. but officials
at the White House doubted very
much if this would be done. They
explained that no department head
would knowingly take such an oppo-
site stand to the White House.
Secretary of the Interior Work. who
returned from Colorado yesterday
said he had not considered the matter
of closing the department tomorrow
in observance of Armistice day
Acting Secretary E. j. Henning OF
the Labor Department said he had
taken no action looking toward clos
ing of his department, but would fol-
low the recommendation of the White
House. At the Department of Com
merce it was said the department,
would not be closed tomorrow The
chief clerk of the Interstate Commerce
Commission said he had no knowledge
that the commission offices would be
closed tomorrow.
Treasury to Work.
Treasury Department officials were
in doubt early today as to what posi-
tion to assume in regard to a holiday
for tomorrow, but information that
the President had decided not to is
sue an executive order, settled the
matter before noon. At the Depart
ment of Justice, Department of Ag-
riculture, Veterans Bureau and
Government Printing Office, there hal
been no consideration of a propose
for a. holiday, and it was announced
work would proceed tomorrow as
usual.
Since no steps have been taken to
release Federal employees from work
tomorrow, Armistice day, the various
departments 1. the District govern
ment will fN ,tion as usual.
without authority to declare to-
morrow a holiday in the State, War
and Navy Departments, heads OF
these establishments indicated today
that work would be carried on with
out interruption.