Evening star., 1932-11-03
FEDERAL CLERKS
GET VOTING TIME
Most Departments to Give
Workers Part of Day Off, but
FurIough Is Involved.

tFtom the $50 Edition Of Yesterdays Starr
The majority OF Government agencies
plan to allow Federal workers the op-
portunity to vote during Office hours
next Tuesday but it appeared likely
that some, including the Department of
Commerce, might have their clerks pay
for the voting privileges with legislative
furlough.
Officials OF the Commerce Depart
ment explained they have never grant
ed leave to workers to exercise their
suffrage, and said they could not see
why the department should be called
upon to start the practice this year.
The Department of Agriculture has
made no decision, but it was predicted
that leave probably would be granted,
II charged to legislative furlough.
Treasury Gives Two Hours.
The Treasury Department. however,
took the definite position that it would
allow employees two hours off some time
during the day to vote, but any time
beyond the two hours limit would have
to be charged to legislative furlough.
The Government Printing Office, it
was predicted by officials probably will
manipulate its five-day week, by hav-
ing employees work on Saturday and
then take all day Tuesday off.
At the Office of Controller General
McCarl, who usually determines matters
of pay and leave for the whole Gov
ernment, it was said that no decision
had yet been made as to how the vot-
ing leave matter would be handled at
the General Accounting Office itself.
Time Given in 1880.
It was recalled that in 1880 President
Hoover through word from the White
House gave authority for voters in
nearby Maryland and Virginia to take
off an hour in the afternoon to go
home and vote, but this was before en-
actment of the economy act.
Among the departments where it was
said time would be allowed voters were
Labor, Interior State, Justice and
Vterans' Administration.
At the Post Office Department it was
explained that no official action had
been taken, but it was expected that
employees would be given time off to
vote, as it had been customary in the
past.
War Department officials said Moth
ing definite had been decided. that
clerks who wished to take time off to
vote would probably have their time
charged to furlough.
At the Federal Trade Commission
and Library of Congress no decision
had been reached on the matter.
Adams Gives Time Of.
Secretary Adams in a circular letter
to all naval and Marine Corps activi-
ties concerned has directed that Navy
Department employees be granted tima
off on Tuesday to exercise the right
OF franchise.
The order, distributed through the
service, except to persons serving out
side the continental limits OF the
United States. follows:
1T is directed that all registered
voter employees of the Navy Department
at Washington, D. c., and its field
service be granted a reasonable time
off on November 8, 1892, during work.
ing hours, without loss of pay, to eXer-
else right of franchise in the national
election to be held on that date; pro-
vided polls are not open a sufficient
time before or after working hours. "
Capt. Alfred w. Johnson, assistant
to the chief Of the Bureau Of Navlga-
ton, Navy Department, interpreted the
word employees" as applying to officers
and enlisted men as well as civilians.