The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1882-07-13
Heichhold, Mr.. Freeman and Others on


Heichhold, Mr.. Freeman and others, on
the subject Of the propriety Of levying
assessments upon Government officials
for political campaign purposes, is be-
ginning to arouse good deal Of atten-
ton.
Mr.. Curtis has published circular
letter under date Of New York, June II,
copy Of which has been sent to the
different officers now In Government
employ, telling them that they are liable,
under sec. 6, chap. 2S7 Of the United
States statutes Of 1876, to punishment
by fine or removal from Office, or both,
in the event of their subscribing to this
fund, and stating further that tho National
Civil Service Reform League proposes
to bring the matter to the attention Of
tho Attorney General and other prose-
cutting officers Of the United States,
"and until their decision is given we
would advise You prudently to refrain
from complying with the request Of Your
committed"
The statute referred to reads al fol-
lows:
"That all executive officers or en-
ployes not appointed by the President,
| with the advice and consent Of the Sen
ate, are prohibited from requesting,
giving to or receiving from any other
officer or employee of the Government
any money or property or other thing Of
value for political purposes.
Mr.. Heichhold answers Mr.. Curtis
very defiantly. Aside from the angry
expressions he uses, the gist Of his letter
is that rs Government employee he
earns his money honestly and has the
right to spend it M he pleases, the sumo
rs any man who earns money in any
other way or under any other master.
He declares his faith in the Republican
party, and says he would consider it the
greatest calamity if the Democrats
should come into power therefore, when
he contributes money to keep the Re-
publicans in, he is doing his duty cen
scientiously.
Mr.. Freeman treats the matter more
logically. He says:
/ have violated this statute know
ingly and willingly by contributing
money to the Republican Congressional
Committee, to be used for political pur-
poses. / have disregardel the statute
because it is not the law OF the land.
Among the powers vested in Congress
find none authorizing that body to pro-
hibit me from making voluntary con-
tribution OF money or other thing Ol
value for the promotion Of any lawful
enterprise. / regard the promotion oil
Republican principles as at least lawful,
if not commendable. l regret you,
committee do not seem to concur with
me in this view. If you think Congress.
has the constitutional power to interfere
with the right Of an American citizen K
make voluntary contribution Of his
own money to aid III cause he believe.
to be right, merely because such citi
zen may be holding an office to which
he has not been appointed by the Prcsi
dent, you are at liberty to proceed
against me-"
Mr.. Hubbell meets the issue face Il
face in the following proposition:
g. am willing to meet you on thi
question anywhere or ut any time, ant
20 unite with you in requesting the Pres
'dent to ask an opinion OF the AttOrne,
General. II you desire any other form
Of action in any tribunal which can Civ,
IN immediate consideration of the point
| will join you in testing the soundnes
, of the circular, and invite you to thi
mode Of settlement as both mere mani,
and more honorable than yonr attemp
to confuse the action or alarm the mind
!. Of the employees alluded to. The law i
misstated in your circular, and the alarI
you seek to create is without justification
in the law"
There is no doubt that "the officer
OF the Government have the right nnde
the law to spend their money in perpe,
uating the power OF their party thong
} it is right that should be suppressed
because it establishes the supremacy {
, | money over the men who produce it an
has the effect of morally disfranchisiA
the bulk OF the people. However,
! meet the matter on it's own plane,
comes to this: That the system OF levy
ing assessments on office. holders for can
paiEn purposes has become aside frol
the iniquity Of its inception) system {
| outl ageous oppression to many Of til
office holders themselves. Men 0
limited salaries, no matter what respor
sibilities they carry nor how diflicul
they findit to meet their family expense,
dare not refuse to pay their assessment,
In this light, then, contributions fo
campaign purposes are not voluntary
but enforced, and the whole matter be
comes system of Matchmaking on
gigantic scale.
Mr.. Curtis has come out with anothe
letter in which he puts the thing on
blackmail basis. His position is n
honest one. And whether he wins hi
case or not in the coming trial, the tria
itself will do great good by bringin
prominently before the public the fraud
ulent machinery BY which the great RI
publican party is run.