Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-10-20

Two democratic papers, The New Are and
the Argus. have been making ,hem,elve.
nappy over the belief that Mr.. Manley ha,
oeeo offending against the law in holding the
position OF trustee Of the Insane Hospital
while postmaster of Augusta. They quote
with gieeful satisfaction the following Exc.
cutive order which has the full force of Law
Tor the conduct and government of postma.-
tiers:
from and after the fourth day Of March.
a, ~ 1873, except ~ herein specified. per.
sons holding any Federal civil Office by an
pointment under the Constitution and laws
OF the United States, will be expected. while
hoidlng such Office, not to accept or hold anv
once under any State or Territorial govern
ment, or under the charter or ordinances of
any municipal corporation; and, further.
that the acceptance or continued holding Of
any such State. Territorial. or municipal
once, whether elective or by appointment.
BY any person holding civil Office. a. afore.
said, under the Government of the United
states, other than judicial offices under the
Contributions of the United States. will he
deemed vacation Of the Federal Office held
oy such person. and will be taken 10 be. and
VIII be, treated as resignation BY such Fed
ersl officer Of his commission or appointment
In the service OF the United States.
The foregoing order WAS Issued on the 18th
Of January, 1873 Several notifications of the
order were soon after found to be necessary.
and on the 18th Of January, 1873 the Secre-
tsry of State by direction Of the President
issued the following:
1t has been asked whether the order pro.
hibits Federal officers from holding positions
on boards OF educations, school committees,
pubic libraries, religious or eleemOsynary
institutions, incorporated or established or
sustained by State or municipal authority.
Positions and service on such boards or
committees and professorships in colleges
are not regarded as 'officers" within the con-
temptation Of the Executive order, but as
employments or service in which all good
citizens may engage without incompatibility,
and in many cases without necessary inter-
ference with any position which they
may hold under the Federal Govern
ment. Officers of the Federal Government
may, therefore, engage in such service, pro
vided the attention required by such employ
nent does not interfere with the regular and
efficient discharge of theduties of their Office
under the Federal Government The head
of the department under whom the Federal
office is held will in all case. be the svle
Judge whether or not the employment does
thus interfere.
This modification gave as explicit permie-
sion for Mr.. Manley to serve as Trustee OF
the Insane Hospital as though his name had
been inserted in the order. An Insane Hos
pitsl is an eleemosynary institution or there
is none.
Considering that the editor of the New
Age was Attorney General of the State and
the editor of the Argus was Reporter of De-
eisions, they both cut rather sorry
figure in their pitiable ignorance of
the Postal Laws concerning which they write
so confidently. If the editor of the New
Age will apply to Post Master Manley and
the editor of the Argus will apply to Post
Master Goddard, they will each gain some
valuable information which evidently WAS
not in their possession when they penned
their abortive editorials.