The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-08-30
MR.. ROOSEVELT l.
Work of the C%iyiI-Service Commission
in Enforcing the Law.

WASHINGTON. Aug. g. - Civil-servics
Commissioner Roosevelt to-day. in an in
terview on civil-service matters, said that
the commission was now in far better
shape than ever before. This was due to
the fact that the commission, under legis-
lation pushed by Senator Lodge, of Massa-
chusetts, and Senator Cockrell. of Missouri,
hereafter would have its own force OF
clerks instead of being dependent on clerks
detailed to il by the several government
departments. The Civil-service Commis-
sioner denounced the Bynum bill for the
reinstatement of the Democratic railway
mail clerks dismissed prior 10 the ciassln-
cation of the railway mail service under
the civil-service system IN l&S as a
thoroughly vicious partisan measure, say
ing: nj 1t should become a law AZ would
be a precedent for the enactment of SINH
lar measures whenever a change OF admin
istration took place. IL Is introduced pure
ly in the interest OF the sp~oiisnonger, ard
is a thoroughly vicious bill in every way.
Then" Mr.. Roosevelt went on. Il wish 10
call attention 10 the recent decision OF the
Acknowledgements which permits solicitation
for political purposes by letter in govern
ment buildings. If this opinion holds the
commission must Immediately request the
passage of a law TO prohibit such soliclta-
lion. The commission has always insisted
that solicita ton for political purposes was
illegal, whether done in person or by let
ter, i'm a government building. 1t was ow-
ing TO this Interpretation that we were
able to very nearly break up the practice
during the last presidential campaign, and,
as the aftermath of that campaign. we have
procured the conviction of two government
officials. one a postmaster In Ohio and the
other a deputy internal revenue officer Of
Kentucky. but we have never had a case
tried in the courts where the accusation
was that the solicitation was by letter.
"Nine-tenths of the good done by the law
will vanish if solicitation by letter is al
lowed, and although the commission viii,
OF course, do all IL can 10 protect EN-
ployes IL they are molested I'm any way for
refusing TO contribute. it is imperative that
We should be given power TO prosecute any
attempt at political assessment I'm a gov
eminent building, either by letter or other
wise. The statute is SO broad, inasmuch as
1t prohibits any person from soliciting IN
any manner whatsoever in a government
building. that we have taken il for granted
that il must mean by letter, and that, we
know, was the meaning of the gentlemen,
both in Congress and out, who saw TO the
passage of the bill"
The Commissioner expressed the hope
that there would be a great extension OF
the classified service. and that there would
places now excepted on one theory or an
other from the operation OF the civil-service
rules, including not only the departments
but the posrofiice and custom houses
throughout the country, and In this con-
nection he called attention to several in
stances in which old and efficient employees
had been gotten rid of by Indirect meth
DDS. The commission, he thought, should
have power to interfere in these cases Of
removals and to require that reasons for
dismissals be given In full and In writing.