Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-03-26
COLLECTING CAMPAIGN FUNDS.
Alleged Violations Of the Civil Service
Act In This City.
TIE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSIONERS RAVE WAR
RANTS ISSUED FOR THE ARREST OF THE PREsI-
DENT AND TREASURER OF THE OLD DOMINION
REPUBLICAN LEAGUE.


REPUBLICAN LEAGUE.
Assistant District Attorney Armes, after
full and searching inquiry into the operations
of the Old Dominion republican league of the
District of Columbia, decided TO take some cases
into court, and c. A. Newton, who was presi-
dent of the league, and J.J Verser, its treasurer
we're selected as the persons to prosecute. The
prosecution. as stated in The STAR, are for al
legged violations Of the civil service law, and
were instituted by the civilservice commission
ers. The alleged violations Of the law are
charged to have occurred during the last cam
paign.
THEY WANT TO TEST TUE LAW.
The civil service commissioners are anxious
to ascertain whether the law is constitutional
or not and whether persons offending against it
can be punished. President Newton Of the
league was owner OF the Lennox house on A.
street and Verser, its treasurer was employed
IN the government printing Office. The names
OF both officers appeared on all the circulars OF
the club requesting voluntary contributors for
| campaign purposes. These circulars reached
several offices and contributions were made.
Inc law provides against soliciting funds Tor
political purposes i'll any of the rooms occupied
| as government Offices.
DISPUTED POINT,
1t is claimed that the sending of circulars ia
| within the provisions Of the act, while many
| lawyers assert the contrary and hold that the
presence OF the collector is necessary to estab-
llsh violation of the law. This il
one OF the questions that the civil SER
vice commissioners want settled in the courts.
sections III aud IL OF the law are the ones which
| 1t is alleged were violated. The penalty pre-
scrIbed for violations of these sections is fine
| OF not more than $1,000 or imprisonment not
| more than three years, or both. The law does
not mention any prison and this omission, it is
| defect in the act. There was no particular
hurry in bringing the cases to the attention of
the court but Mr.. Armes was informed yester-
day that Mr.. Newton was about to leave the
city and take up his residence in Virginia, and
| to avoid the necessity and trouble of his re-
turning here he decided last evening to have
| the warrants issued at once.
THREE WARRANTS ISSUED.
Accordingly the clerk of the Police Court
made out three warrants today. Two were di-
rected against Verser and one against Newton
The warrants against the former charged him
as an Office holder with soliciting and receiving
contributions for polical purposes.
1t Is alleged that he received IS from p. p.
Glass, who was also employed in the printing
office. and that he solicited contribution from
Mrs. Sarah Collins, clerk in the pension
Office.
The warrant against Newton was issued I'M
der section II of the act and charges HIM with
soliciting contributions in government office,
| the section being directed against any person
whether an Officeholder or private citizen, the
name of Mrs. Collins appearing as the
person from whom the contribution was
solicited. Mrs. Collins. it is alleged, handed
Mr.. Newton 81 in compliance with the request
of the circular.
Secretary John T. Doyle of the Civil Service
IN, he To aud fhaN-
were placed in the hands of Detective Carter for
service.