The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1873-02-12
Il Explanation of The Presidents Office
Holding Proclamation.

| DErAniH"Nr or SriTE.
ASmiNGTHS, d e., .j,nu.r, ?S. 1913
unir,cs having h>,n n.a,;r fro,
| vaiIuLs Tr r''rS ;.$ :" :i!c :rn,ica
tiun f IT," Tx cG;lvc urti..l i>>urd oG
he l7,h Of January, rr!a,in. 10 th,
l"!dIra "f Stare .nl mrn;'irnl oIli Sc
ny pee sons hui,l,n! civil niii ,cs undo,
he Fcjcral Government, the P.csi
Gent direct, the following reply to +,
made:
1t has been asked whether Tie or
der prohibits 4 Federal officer f,ou
hoidiug a!s) the oflicc Of an .Nl,r
man: or of a Cannon Councilman i,
4 city, or of Il Town Councilman Of :
village, or "f appointment under city
town or village governments. i,
some 1t has been sugg >stcd tina, there
may be distinction made in case ;hl
oilicc be held with or w,hoat salary
or compensation. The city or town
officers of tue description referred to,
ty whatever names they may be local.
ly known, whether held by election
or appointment, and whether with or
without salary or compensation, are
Of the class which the Executive order
intends rot to he hcld ty persons
holding Federal offices. 1t has been
asked whether Inc order prohibits
Federal officers from holding POSITIONS
on boards Of education, school com :
mittceS, public libraries, religious or
elcemosy nary institutions, incorrnra-
ted or established, or sustained by
state or municipal authority.
Positions and service on snch
boards or committees and .proCeasor-
ships in colleges are not regarded a.
"oii es' within the contemplation of
the Executive order, but as employ
ments or service in which all good
citizens may DC engaged without in.
compatibility, and in many cases
without necessary interference with
any position which they may hold
under the Federal Government. on
GERS of the Federal Government may,
therefore, engage in such service,
provided the attention required by
snch employment does not interfere
with the regular and Official discharge
of the duties Of their office under the
Federal Government. The head of
the department under whom the Fed
cral otlicc is held, will, in all cases,
be the sole judge whether or not the
employment does thus interfere.
The question has also lceu asked
with regard to ofli:ers Of the State
militia. Congress having exercised
the power conferred by the Con>titi-
tuition to provide for organizing the
militia, which is liable to be called
forth to be employed in the service
Of the Unified States, and is thus, In
some sense, undcr the con:rol Of the
General Government, and is, more
over, Of the greatest value t, he pnb.
lie, the Executive order Of l7,h Janu.
airy is not considered as prahini,iu.
Federal officers from bcin. off .ers of
the militia in the S:atcS and Ttrrito-
ries.
1t has been asked whether the
order prohibits persons holding oili c
uudcr the Federal Government being
members Of local or municipal fire
depart mcnts also, whether it applies
to mcchlnics employed by the dag in
The armorics, arscnalS and navy yards,
Be-, Of the United states.
Unpaid sc.vico in local or mnni-
ciTal ilfc departments is not regarded
az an Office within the ;n,rn. Of
the Executive o,dcr, "nl nray be- per.
formed by Federal otiicrr:, provided
it does not interfere with the regular
| and efficient di-chnrgc Of the Fedora |
Office, Of which the head Of the depart
mcn', under which tho rGice is held,
Will in each case be the jnisc. Em.
ploymeht by the day as mechanics or
laburcro in the armorics, arscnala,
navy yards, &c does not constitute
an Office of any kind, and thoIe TINS
employed arc not within the contcm
plation Of the Executive order. Mas
ter wo,kmcn and Others, who hold ap-
rointmcnts from the Government or
from any department, who her for a
fixed time or at the pleasure Of the
appointing power, are embraced with,
in the operation Of the order. BY
order Of the President.
HAMILTON FISH,
Secretary of State.