Evening star., 1898-11-02
Effort of the Civil Service Commis-
sion to Secure Evidence.
VIOLATIONS OF TEE Law SUSPECTED
Clerks Believed to Have Been So
Iicited at Their Office.
WHAT MR.. PROCTER SAYS

The civil service commission is making
an effort to secure further information Ie-
lating to the recent actions of certain poll
tcians in soliciting subscriptions for cam
paign purposes from clerks in the various
executive departments.
Recently the chairmen of Two republican
state committees, those of Ohio and PenI-
sylvania, have communicated with num-
Der of government clerks asking that they
contribute to the funds of the org lnlza
tions for the prosecution of the campaign.
The solicitation of these subscriptions is IN
open violation of the law when tne com
munications are addressed to clerks ut
their places of employment in the =overn-
ment buildings, and the commission IS
anxious that the clerks who have necI ini-
pOrtuned thus shall inform it of all the
facts.
The law bearing upon this offense has
never been tested for the reason chat the
commission has been unable 10 prove that
similar letters in past campaigns have
Deen addressed to the government build
ngs. The commission, however, is contl
dent that if it can secure this PROOF the
matter can be successfully tried i'll the
courts.
he chief difficulty in the way of the
prosecution OF the offenders is the Inability
of the commission to locate the CLERKS who
have been asked for contributions. In
every case where the letters have been
made public the names of the recipients
nave been withheld for reasons anexplaina-
bic to the commission, and it is extremely
deSrouS that some of these clerks Shall
disclose their identity, so that ample
ground can be secured for criminal prose-
cutfon of those whose signatures the Iet-
GERS bear.
What Mr.. Proctor Says.
In discussing the subject with Star re-
porter Mr.. Proctor, president of the civil
service commission, said:
IF these clerks to whom letters are be-
ing sent would come to the commission and
aid US by giving US their names and relat-
ing all kne circumstances we woul1 be able
20 acc e.piiSh Il great deal toward putting
Il stop 81 these violations of the law. The
trouble we have experienced, ho Tever, IS
mat the clerAs, while making public somL
Of The facts in each case, refrain from COM
ing out i'll the open and preferring charges
against the writers of the letters OF
course, ii Is useless for us to attempt to
prosecute any one until We can Identity
,he recipients of the communications. and
mus lar We have been unable to locate
any one who has received them.
In discussing the subject the other day
some remarked to me that perhaps the
clerks refused to disclose their identity for
the reason that they would be prosecuted
py politicians and perhaps lose their posi-
tions. Now l will guarantee any govern
ment clerk who comes to the commi SSiOn
charged from his department as a conse-
quence, to give him employment in our
office or in some of the other government
departments But he will not lose his
place neither will he be prosecuted. The
commission will protect him if any attempt
is made to harrass him or GUST him from
the service. 1 wish that some of these
clerks who have been receiving letters ask
ing for contributions. provided of course.
they have beeen addressed to the recipients
Al their departments and not at their
places OF residence. would come to the
commission and tell US all about it. Then
We could accomplish something looking to
the abolition of TINS practice. The law on
the subject should be enforced, and if
proper proof could he obtained it could be
enforced strictly and the guilty persons
punished. The clerks ought to help u.s.
The Inv and Penalty. s-.
The law relating to the solicitation of
campaign funds from government employees
is section II of the civil service act which
provides:
mo person shall in any room or building
occupied in the discharge of official duties
by any officer or employe of the United
States or in any navy yard fort arsenal
SOHClt in any manner whatever or receive
any contribution of money any other
thing of ValUe for any political purpose
whatever.
The following penalty is provided for a
violation of the law:
THAT any person who shall be guilty Of
violating any provision of the four forego-
ing sections shall be deemed guilty of a
mIsdemeanor, and shall. on conviction
thereof, he punished by fine not exceed
ing $1,000, by Imprisonment for a term
not exceeding three years, or by such fine
and Imprisonment both, in the discretion
of the court.