The Washington times., 1936-12-25

and biographies today; Santa has stolen
the show. Turkey, wrist watches and
home to see MR and Pa in Indiana, or
Mississippi, or Maine. Wen skip it,.
From administrative assistants
and executive officers down to
messengers, laborers and char
women, personnel Of Uncle Sans
civilian service was at ease today,
celebrating the greatest Event in
all history.
- Washington's 114,000 Govern
ment employees were at home;
home -in the States, home in
houses they have built or bought
in Chevy Chase or nearby Mary
land or Virginia, or home in apart
ments or boarding houses.
Marble edifices along Pennsyl-
vania and Constitution Avenues
were silent, their only sign Of life
being the few guards On part time
who strolled alone, hoping their
relief wouldn't be tardy. And the
Yule's pleasure was to stretch
through until Monday, thanks to
q kindly Congress which last
summer designated tomorrow as
q specific legal holiday.
With numerous benefits re-
corded during the current year,
and the bogie Of drastic re-
trenchment nullified by Tues
days White House announce
ment that efficiency" is the
principal aim of the fOrthcOm'
ing Government "reOrganiZa-
tion"-this column wishes every
reader of The Wa ingtOn
Times the merriest Christmas
he or she ever barged into.
And here's a contribution for
today: =
"Sing q song Of Christmas
Gifts piled high to the sky.
Who among US didn't get
Too much Yuletide pie?"
The Rhymer.
Silence reigns today in the old
Patent Office building at Seventh
and F Streets, but the walls are
probably still ringing from the
carols with which Civil Service
Commission personnel drenched
their building yesterday at high
noon, an hour before they left to
celebrate the holiday weekend.
civil Service Commissioners
Leonard D. White and Lucille
Foster McMillin gave brief talks to
assembled workers, after which
the piano went into play and
everyone Joined in on Silent
Night" Jingle Bells" and numer-
Gus other Yuletide tunes. Santa
Claus, represented by one Of the
examiners in traditional costume,
gave presents to numerous chill
dren of employees who were
brought to the office for the
occasion.
At General Accounting Office
one group decided to aid The
Times Goodfellow Editor. Under
her direction, one went to an hum
be home in the Northwest Sec
tion and inquired of a 3-year-old
daughter what she desired for
Christmas.
The little lass, just out of the
hospital from a siege of diphthe-
ria, said she'd like a doll and car
riage. Upon being assured Santa
would bring it, she said:
"JuSt the same, I bet he
doesn't"
Collections were forthwith taken
up yesterday at G. A. o. and
today the young lady has her doll
with carriage to match, and
enough was contributed by EN-
ployeS to add some necessary win
ter clothing.
FunctiOning under Charles
Whitsey, the following Federal
workers have been installed as
membership committee for the A.
F. G. E. District department:
Michael D. Schaefer, Fred j. Calvert,
. ~. r.. Evans. DIR. P. Hidnert. Herbert P.
Strople, William F. Sims, John E. Para
dis, Frederick Hutchinson, HI. o. Richard
son. Thomas Breslin, Lester NJ. Sanders,
James F; Burns, Paul A. Olsen, Mary Van
SA0OcCI, 1nO1nd9 u FeeO "1lllam Greene,
F. II. Maxey, James GOOge, Helen Kerins,
Louis Bessemer, Keith T. Wood, Charles
=. Hoffman, Robert A. Rees, Bert NJ.
Stegeman. G. B. Buck, John i. Boone
At the last minute, Acting
! Comptroller General Elliott cleared
the way for per diem and per hour
workers to enjoy the holiday
assured that they will receive pay
Z for their idle day tomorrow.
- The question was put before Mr..
Elliott by Secretary Morgenthau
of the Treasury, who pointed out
that Congressional legislation had
: caused December 26 to be holiday
within the District of Columbia
| but that in past instances on such
: holidays employees paid by the
hour had not received pay for the
time they were idle. He asked if
they should be paid Saturday.
> Replying briefly in a decision
that guaranteed leave with pay for
Federal workers of every class,
Elliott wrote" the following
, Christmas present:
=, "The quoted statute consti.
, tutes December 26, 1885, legal
holiday in the District of Colum.
bia for all purposes and grants
to ALL EMPLOYEES pay for such
holiday the same as on other
=. days. Accordingly, your question
is answered in the affirma-
tive"