Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-16
IT MUST BE STOPPED.
The Levying Of Political Assess
ments on Government Employees.
VIOLATIONS OF TEE Law IN TOLEDO
Action of the Civil Service Com
mission in Such Cases.
INDICTMENTS AHEAD.

The civil service commission, through its
secretary, Mr.. John T. Doyle. has made an
into violations of the civil
service law as to political assessments at
Toledo Ohio. and as a result it has recon-
mended to the Department of Justice that
Mr.. F. w. Rickenbaugh of the republican
central committee Of Toledo be prosecuted
for soliciting political contributions from
employees. The commission has
removed Mr.. j. C. Rike, the
secretary of the civil service board Of ex-
aminers for the Toledo post Office, and also
recommended his prosecution for being con-
cerned In leyying the assessments. The fol-
lowing is transcript of the minutes of a
recent meeting Of the commission covering
the subjects:
1T appears that on or about October 26,
1872. F. w. Rickenbaugh of the republican
central committee of Toledo. Ohio. wrote to
various employees in the Toledo post Office,
addressing the envelope used and the letter
within to the employees at the post office,
requesting contribution Of 2 per cent.
Inc signature is in the same handwriting
with that in the body of the letter and
with the address on the envelope Said
Rickenbaugh also furnished at a later date
receipts to some of the employees addressed
who paid. these receipts being ON account
of political contribution '92.' The commits
sion has always held that to solicit by let
ter In a government building was to solicit
In violation of section IL of the civil service
act, and 1t orders that the papers in the
case be turned over to the Department of
Justice with the recommendation that Mr.
RlcKenbaugh be prosecuted under sections
y and 10 Of the law for having on or about
october 20. 1892. solicited political contri-
buttons in the post office at Toledo from
Messrs. Sherwood Myers, H. c. Rake. Geo.
Lathrop and other employees Of the post Of
fee.
Government Employees.
1t appears that J. c. Rike, secretary Of
the board Of examiners at the Toledo post
ONCE, and then in the government employ
took part in this solicitation. His name
appears in print on the heading OF all the
letters sent by Mr.. Rickenbaugh, MI Rick
enbaugh having sent several to many en-
pioyes. 1t is the opinion OF the commission
that Mr.. Rike can be prosecuted under sec
tions IL and Is OF the civil service law, and
the papers in the case are to be turned over
to the Department OF Justice with this rec
ommendation. Furthermore the case of
Mr.. Rike Is to be brought to the attention
OF the Post Office Department with the rec
ommendation that he be Immediately dis
missed from the public service without re-
gard to the result OF the prosecution against
him. Meanwhile 1t is ordered that ne be
dismissed from the board of examiners at
pOst Omce. Inc postmaster u
to be written to. stating that the commits
sion wishes to put Mr. SCOTT Gibbs In the
place of Mr.. Rike, and requesting his views
in relation thereto.
1T appears also that during 1898 the sscre-
tary of the local republican committee
(Squire) and the secretary Of the local demo-
cratic committee Hood both sent letters to
the employees at their residences, requesting
them to call at their Offices, where they
were solicited for political contributions
MIR. Hood and Mr.. Squire have apparently
succeeded In evading the prohibition as to
political assessments contained In the civil
service law, but their actions furnish, in the
opinion OF the commission, another arRu-
ment In favor Of the position il has always
assumed, viz. that all persons, whether in
the government employ not, should be
prohibited from soliciting political contri-
buttons from government employees in any
manner whatsoever. whether in government
buildings or outside.
Bulldoxing Not Needed.
"If employees Of the government wish to
contribute they will do so of their own &C.
cord. and when solicited in any manner by
members of the campaign committees which
have. under the present system of politics,
influence with the appointing power, the
effect is invariably to exercise a certain
duress upon the person solicited. 1t appears
that in the present case many of the indi-
viduals assessed paid money to both parties
This is in itself a sufficient comment upon
the absurdity of the claim that these con-
trfbutions are voluntary and that the clerks
like to make them. 1t is earnestly to be
hoped that Congress will amend the act in
reference to solicitations for political pur-
poses along the lines indicated"
In commenting upon this action of the
commission today, Commissioner Roosevelt
said:
II am pleased with having gotten at these
men because 1t helps me to make good
my promise of a little over year ago.
Speaking in relation to political assess
ments then / warned all persons who might
be trying to make them that even though
they might cover up their tracks for the
time / should do my best to get at them
whenever a chance arose. Later, take
this opportunity to warn all people who try
to levy political assessments now that
shall strive manfully to bring the same
fate upon their heads in the future. Next
year, when the congressional campaign is
on, there will doubtless be a much more
determined effort to commit this same Of
fense and 1t will be the duty and the pleas
ure of the civil service commission to en-
deavor in every way to publicly expose
what is being done in evasion of the law
to try to secure the punishment of those
who violate the law. and to warn every gov
ernmental employe that he need not con-
tribute single cent to any political party
unless he wishes to, and that his position
cannot be jeopardized in any way for re-
fusing to SO contribute.
other Cases Pending.
"As to the cases pending before the COM
mission in reference to alleged appoint
ments in violation of the law at the Indian
school at Chilocco. Indian territory. and to
the alleged violations of the law charged
against the collector Of the port of San
Francisco and Register Tillman, and by the
postm asters at Charlotte, N. c., Montgom-
cry, Ala, and at Rutland. VT, the commits
sion has assumed it's position upon them,
but they are still matters of correspondence
with the Post Office Department, the Treas
ury Department and the Department OF the
Interior. We will not make them public
until some conclusion has been reached,
which, however I take for granted, will
speedily be the case.
"As for the post office at Paducah KY.
the commission upon investigation found
that the postmaster had been guilty as
charged of demanding the designations of
his entire carrier force, because, as the
commission became convinced, Of their po-
litical affiliations. The commission brought
the case to the attention of the Post Office
Department, which took prompt action in
the matter. The request of the postmaster
for the removal CT the carriers was disal.
lowed, the carriers are now In the service
and will be kept there as long they per-
form their duties without delinquency OF
misconduct, and the postmaster has been
reprimanded for his action and warned
hereafter to rigidly obey the law. 1t is bu,
just to the postmaster to say that the COM
mission feels that he acted in the first case
L., .,f fhr laxrt hat =.