I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether the old writers received a half-yearly bonus in addition to their wages; whether, in cases where such writers have been discharged in the course of a half-year, the portion of the bonus which has accrued has been withheld from them; and, if so, what is the reason that it has been withheld.

No bonus accrued under the regulations regarding copyists except at half-yearly intervals. No part of any bonus which had accrued has been withheld, so far as I am aware. On the contrary, some copyists were allowed on the recommendation of Departments to be retained for short periods specifically in order to enable them to complete the six months qualifying them for an additional half-yearly bonus.