The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1884-10-04
COLONEL WEBSTER
Declines to Resign from the Republican
State Central Committee.
Civil Service Reform Committee-Re
viewing. the Law. in the Case.

n EorciDlt sstjcihuef 10 me Letter oi tht
Civil Service Reform Committee-Re-
viewing. the Law, in the Case.
Collector Webster has written the
following letter in response to the cir
Cular of the Civil Service Reform Asso-
citation, issued through Messrs. Pleas.
ants, Bonaparte and Cole, in which ii
is charged that the collector, as mem
Der OF the State Central Committee and
Il Federal of1iceholde,., IS violating the
civil service rule in soliciting subscrip-
tons from other Federal officeholders
DEAR SlR-The communication Of
Your association, signed respectively
by its president, chairman of executive
committee and yourself as secretary,
dated the 24th instant, and addressed
to me as collector of customs, Balti-
more, has been received.
You state that you have in hand "a
copy of the printed circular of the Re
publican State Central Committee, Of
which | am 4 member, ''received by
employees of the United States solicit
ing contributions for political purposes. .
You then call my attention to the act
of Congress Of 1883, known as the
civil service law, and present for my
consideration the following questions,
to which you solicit my reply:
First. Whether the action of the
Republican State Central Committee,
of which you are Il member, in issuing
the circular in question, and address
ing it to Federal otliceholders, is not
an infraction Of the law by those of its
members who hold office under the
United States? and
Second. Whether You consider that
compliance with the request contained
therein on the part of the oticeholders
SO addressed woull not be a violation
of their oath of office, and would not
also expose those SO complying to
criminal prosecution?
In the first place permit me to say
that prior to the receipt of your com
| was not aware that 4 cir
cular had been or would be issued on
the subject mentioned. Since then,
however, upon inquiry at Republican
headquarters in this city, have learned
that the following general circular has
been issued thcrefrom
HEADQU ARTEKs REP. STATE CEN. Con-.
19P. @. AVENUE. BALTIC, MD. y
DeHr .cir-The Presidential and Con
gressional elections are at hand, to insure
a proper organization Of the party in
and if possible the casting of
our electoral vote for Blaine and Logan
il is necessary that Republicans who take
an interest in our success should contrib
ute of their means To forward the good
work.
We, therefore, ask of you such a con-
tribution rs you are inclined to give.
One of the members of the finance com
lnittee will be present at headquarters
between the hours of , aud ) p. NJ. to re-
ceive your contribution, for which a re-
ceipt will be given you. Contributions
by money order or registered letter Will
be acknowledged by mail.
Promptness in this matter will greatly
enhance the value of your gift. Very
respectfully,
JAMES c. MULLIKIN, Chairman.
JAMES A. GARY, Treasurer.
| learn further that this circular was
issued without conveniag the general
committee or without consulting with,
from, or knowledge of, any
member of the committee who holds
office under the Government of the
United States.
| learn, also, that there is a Repub-
lican State Executive Committee. not
by the State Central Gem
nittee, whose duty it is to receive and
disburse money collected by means of
said circular, or otherwise, and that no
member of said executive committee
holds Office under the Government Of
the nlted States.
In view of these facts, which pre-
sumo were not known to your associa
ton, have no hesitation as 4 lawyer
in expressing my professional opinion
First. That no member of the Re-
publican State Central Committee has
violated the civil service act of 1883,
by reason of said circular having been
printed and distributed.
Second. That no United States Of
icehoIder will violate his cath of office,
Or be liable to criminal prosecution, by
contributing for political purposes to
said executive committee, or its finance
committee.
1t is proper in this connection to say
that neither before or since the passage
Of the act of 1855, while occupying my
present position, have | permitted 9th
rs or sought myself to impose political
upon any of my subordi-
nate officers, nor have known, except
n a few incidental cases, what they
may have individually contributed.
More than this, it is clearly understood
among them that their tenure of office
will not be in the least affected by their
making or declining to make political
In conclusion | wish to say that |
nave no intent or desire to violate the
act of 1883, or any other law of the
and, and that | claim TO have as high
in appreciation Of the duties of good
in this respect, and as lofty
1 purpose to perform them as any
member of your association can possess.
At the same time | claim the right
common to every American citizen, of
of my labor and means to
whatever cause | may prefer, and be
ieying that the election of the Repub
lean candidates at this time will pro-
note the best interest of the nation, |
it a patriotic duty to aid, (ac-
,ording to my ability and within the
aw), by all proper means in their sue
,ess. | am very respectfully, your
)bedicnt servant,
EDWIN H. WEBSTER, Collector.