The morning call., 1894-10-20

requires, the following circular met the
eyes of Custom-house employees yesterday
morning:
UNITED STATES CIVIL SERvICEl
COMMISSION, WASHINGTON. ID. C..{
October II, 1894.
Information has been received by the United
States Civil Service Commiss ion that n circular
has been sent TO the employees OF the Custom
house and PostOffce requesting subscriptions
for campaign purposes.
The employees of these offices are hereby
notified that they are under no obligation
whatsoever TO make a subscription to any cam
paign committee for political or other pur-
poses, and that they cannot be moested IN any
way for failure 10 subscribe.
Political assessments in any guSe are pro-
hlDiled by law. The commission will do all in
its power To see that any one attempting to
coerce employees into making subscription is
punished. IL he is in The Government service
(or. If not in the Government service, he takes
part In soliciting IN a Government buildIng),
the Commissioners may employ any available
means to secure his prosecution and punish
neDf.
The commission earnestly advises Federal
employees not to pay dollar TO any political
party unless of their own free viii and because
they desire TO do so. and IT assures them that
II VIII do everything 1t can 10 see that they are
not jeOpardized for refusing to contribute.
1t invites prompt complaint OF any Govern
menL official who directly indirectly en-
deavOrs 10 force them 10 contribute, or seeks TO
have them punished in any way for not con-
trlbuting. and il will at once take action TO
punish lie violation of the law.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT, Acting President.
Collector Wise passed by, read the cir
| cular and nodded his head in approval.
"Mr. Roosevelt must have found his
! spectacles," he remarked. Under Harri-
| sons administrat on the law was flag
rantly violated, but MIR. Roosevelt was
mute. This year, | am told. the Demo-
cratic campaign committee has asked
| Custom-no house employees 10 contribute,
! but it sent its appeals to their homes.
| When MIR. Harrison was President the
| Republican campaign committees demand
| for contributions was laid ON the employees
| desks, and Mr. Roosevelt, who is Re-
publican, had nothing to say about the
matter.
Il approve the circular. however, and no
man under me shall be assessed if | eau
help it."
s. Postmaster McCoppin had not seen the
circular. nor had he heard of it. 81 will
permit no one TO be assessed" he declared
ga week ago one of my clerks paid S25 to
member of the Democratic campaign
committee thinking, no doubt. that he
would win my favor by doing so. | saw
the gentleman who obtained the money,
and told him that if he did not return the
money l would discharge the man who
| gave it. The money was returned, and
! the clerk Will not try to gain my favor
! that way again.
"And do you know" said the Postmas-
ter, smiling at the picture presented by
his memory, "that [ had a clerk who
actually tried to play me for a sucker?
| Well. it's a fact The man was j. F.
| Solomon, who was head clark at Station b.
! One week ago | was shown card puo.
| lished by Solomon. in which he asked his
friends to vote Tor Curry, the Republican
candidate for CountY Clerk. discharged
him because it was a clear violation Of
law. Well, he came back the next Cay
and showed me cards signed with his name
in which he asked his friends to vote for
w. j. Bryan and Judge Levy. Democratic
candidates. He asked me if | had been
shown those cards by the person who
showed me the card in which he asked his
friends to vote Tor Curry, the Republican.
/ told him that [ had not seen them. and
said that instead Of dischargipg him [
would permit him TO resign. After ne
went away Judge Levy and MIR. Bryan
asked me TO reinstate him, but | shall do
n othing of the kind. / believe that after
had discharged him for publishing his
appeal for Curry he had the Democratic
cards printed.
''VeriIy. this is a sinful world" the
Postmaster sighed; "but that fellow didn't
play me for a sucker"