Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-10-28

LKAoUI-THE Law IN TIE Casa PROBABLE
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. MOBILES ATTENTION
10 Bx CALLED 10 THE MATTER.
The civil service commission 10 now engaged
in collecting evidence to sustain an action for
violation of the law prohibiting the soliciting
Of political assessments from government en-
ployes A short time ago they received from a
person to whom it had been addressed a circu-
lar bearing the letter head, 'Old Dominion re-
publican league Of the District Of Columbia,
Lenox building, ~ street, Washington, D. c. :"
In one corner were the following names: c.
A. Newton, president; W. c. Elan, first vice
president; ]. D. Goodwin, second vice presi-
dent; E. N. Hill, third vice president; ]. j.
Veiser, treasurer; VIM. Brooke Smith, secre-
tary.
THE OLD DOMINION CIRCULAR.
The circular was dated September a, 1889,
and read as follows:
''As citizen of Virginia you are. Of course,
our state, which is to determine its future po-
htical status. The Old Dominion league was
organized to assist in the election Of the repub-
ican ticket, and respectfully asks your CO.
operation by your becoming q member and
making such further contribution to aid in the
ton fee 81, dues Is cents Q month"
THE LAW IN THE CASE.
W. C. Elan, chief Of division in the gen.
eral land Office, is the only Office holder men,
toned in the list Of officers as far as the mem.
bers Of the commission know. The commission
understand that this circular has been sent to
employees OF the government at their desks in
the department buildings. They consider that
this action is in violation Of sections IL and II
OF the civil service law. These sections are as
follows:
Sec: II. That no Senator or Representative
or territorial delegate Of the Congress, or Sen
ator, Representative or delegate-elect, or any
officer or employe Of either of said houses, and
no executive, judicial military or naval officer
OF the United States, and no clerk Of employe
OF any department, branch or bureau OF the
executive. judicial or military or naval service
OF the United States shall, directly or indirectly,
solicit or receive. or be in any manner con-
cerned in soliciting or receiving any assess
ment, subscription, or contribution for any
political purpose whatever, from any officer,
clerk, or employe of the United States or any
any person receiving any salary or compenss.
ton from moneys derived from the Treasury Of
the United States.
Sec. IL. That no person shall, in any room OF
building occupied in the discharge Of official
duties by any officer or employe Of the United
States mentioned in this act or in any navy
yard, FORT or arsenal, solicit in any manner
whatever, or receive any contribution Of money
or any other thing of value for any political
purpose whatever"
The law further provides that persons found
guilty OF violating these sections shall be SUBJ
ject to fine not exceeding $1,000 or by i'm
Prlsonment for term not exceeding three
years or by such fine and imprisonment both,
In the discretion of the court
II 1t had happened that the name of nc
employe OF the government had appeared on
the circulars, and that they had not been sent
into government building, the issue Of such O
circular TO government employees at any other
place than in government building would not
have been in violation of the law.
WHAT WILL BE DONE ABOUT 1T.
The Commissioners are now gathering to-
gether additional evidence which they will
either bring to the attention of the Secretary
of the Interior Gas TN employe of his depart
ment is an officer in the league) or they will
present the matter directly to the District at
torney. The Commissioners consider that il
would be an act Of official courtesy to present
the case to the Secretary Of the Interior for his
action before taking any further steps.
THE ONLY SIMILAR CASE
where steps have been taken to prosecute un-
der this law is the case Of a man named Hudson
who was the chief clerk of the post office a,
Grand Rapids, Mich. Last Fall this case
through the Postmaster General, was placed in
the hands Of the District attorney. 1t has no,
yet come to trial
TWO OFFICIALS ON THE LIST.
Another employe of the general land Office
who is one of the officers of the league is D. j
Goodwin, principal examiner in that office He
holds the position of second vice president
while Mr.. Elam chief Of the railroad division
is the frst vice president.
Commissioner Groff's attention has been
called to this circular by the Secretary of the
Interior, and he asked these officials to make
an explanation Of their connection with it,
They have complied with this re-
quest and their statements are now
before Secretary Noble. They both deny
having any knowledge of the issue OF such
circular and state that they would not have
given their consent to its being sent out if they
had been consulted. The first information
they received that such a circular had been
issued was obtained from the newspapers
Mr.. Goodwin, in talking with STAR reporter
today, reiterated this statement aud disciaimed
having taken any part in the proceedings OF
the meetings of the league where this matter
was discussed. He said that he was not aware
that such a thing was proposed. MY name
was placed on the list of officers as a matter OF
form" he said. II have only attended two o.
the meetings Of the league and have really
taken no part in their work"
Mr.. Goodwin showed a letter which he had
received from c. A. Newton, the president OF
the league. in which he says: II state mos
positively that you not only had nothing to dc
with the circular but did not know of its exist.
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