Evening star., 1953-12-15
u. 5. Employees
Get Two Extra
HaIf-Days0 Off
President Cuts
Work Hours Dec. "a
And Again Dec. 81

President Eisen h over has
handed Government employees a
special Christmas present in the
form of two halliday holidays
on Christmas and New Years
ewes.
The White House announced
late yesterday that Federal work.
ers. both in the Washington area
and the field service, would re-
ceive the two halliday holidays
''in appreciation of their loyal
and devoted service during the
first year under the new admin
istration."
The half holidays on Thurs
days, December "a and 81. will
give Federal workers 312-day
holidays over the Christmas and
New Year week ends.
Grateful For Teamwork.
In signing the executive order.
Mr.. Eisenhower also expressed
his appreciation to Federal en-
ployeS "of their teamwork in
helping to carry out the pro-
gram of the administration" and
extended them his best wishes
for the holiday season.
While most employees will
benefit from the two halliday
holidays, some workers such as
a number of employees and spe-
cial maintenance people will
have to work during the after
moons on the two Thursdays. In
these cases, the employees will be
paid holiday overtime rates for
the half days. The same will
hold true for employees on night
duty.
But for most Federal en-
ployes, they will get four hours
off on both Thursdays. This
means that employees will work
until their lunch hours and then
take the rest of the two Thurs
days off.
Text Of Order.
The text of the Presidents
executive order follows:
"It is hereby ordered that the
several executive departments,
independent establishments and
other governmental agencies in
the Metropolitan Area in the Dis
trict of Columbia, including the
General Accounting Office, the
Government Printing Office and
the Navy Yard and Naval sta
tionS, shall be closed one-hak
day on Thursday. December "a,
1853. the day preceding Christ
mas Day. and one-half day off
on Thursday, December 81, 1858,
the day preceding New Years
Day; and all employees in the
Federal service in the Metropoli-
tan Area of the District of Co
lumbia and in the field service
of the executive departments, in
dependent establishments and
other agencies of the Govern
ment. except those who may for
special public reasons be ex-
cluded from the provisions of
this order by the heads of their
respective departments. estab-
lishments or agencies. or those
whose absence from duty would
be inconsistent from the provi-
sions of existing law, shall be
excused from such duty on such
one-half day; and each such
one-half day shall be considered
a holiday within the meaning of
Executive Order 1O358 of June 9,
1852 and of all statutes SO far as
they relate to the compensation
and leave Of employees of the
United States"
District Heads to Decide.
In all likelihood, the District
government will follow suit. The
Commissioners are scheduled to
meet at 9:15 am. tomorrow to
decide. Arrangements would
have to be made to meet over
time costs necessitated by keep
ing municipal institutions open
and by the heavy police details
required every Christmas eve and
New Years eve. But the cost
Notwithstanding, the city heads
are known to favor the idea of
the extra halliday holiday.