SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION 
UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 
WASHINGTON, D. C. 
52 
July 22, 19^^* 
Dear Waldo: 
Have been intending to dash off a note to you before this, but 
everything has combined to prevent it and now it is a case of dash 
indeed to get this to you by the July 25 boat. 
Everything here has been in a termoil because of the various acts 
of congress and Comptroller’s decisions and even now, no one knows anything 
definitely. I called Graf the other day on a matter that Friedmann 
wanted to know and he told me frankly that he had never heard an official 
word and knew only what he had read in the papers# This much is certain, 
however: 24 working days without pay during the fiscal year; this pay- 
less leave cumulative so that you can take it all at once or by dribs as you 
prefer. If you take it all at once the entire amount is deducted from 
your pay for that month and your subsequent pay envlopes contain the usual 
amoimt. I forgot to say that for every one of the 24 working days you lose 
ij days pay so that you really get a 50 day reduction. The President 
declined to issue any definite order on the subject and so that matter was 
left to the heads of departments with instructions to put the five day week 
into effect where possible. It has- been found impossible, naturally, by 
nearly every department. 
The first of July cleaned out a number of the old guard, but Stejneger and 
Hough were retained indefinitely* Richards is on the skid s and knows it. 
Had a talk with A.7/. and was practically told that the end of his probation 
would terminate his services here. He has accepted it philosophically and 
is looking around for something. A.W. himself offered the suggestion that 
it might be possible to extend his time until he landed a job.anbihfamjbhffi I 
had a long talk with Richards after his interview with A.W. and told him that 
in view of the latter’s suggestion, I would take him up on the extension for 
a definite period, say not to exceed six months, with the understanding that 
before the expiration of that tir.e he would resign; that such a resignation 
would not militate against his future scientific career and that he should 
make that point clear in asking for the extension. Personally I doubt th'- 
six months extension, but he may get some time. You’ll get more of this whei^r 
you get home. 
Suppose you have been told of Stejneger’ s accident* It looked very bad 
for a few days but I understand he is coming along fine and will probably be 
back on the job next week. 
Sent off your tank of alcohol today and hope you get it all right. 
Richard outfit never reached him in Bermuda and we’ve had a hell of a time 
getting it back ever since. He particularly didii’t want it spread abroad 
that he didn’t make use of it after all the ruction we went through to get it 
for him but I can't recall a worse time or more letters being written about 
