The times., 1899-11-05
SQUEEZING EaE cLERAs.
New York state ErnpIoyes Asked for
CnmnniEn Eunaa.


ALBANY, ~ Y, Nov. 3.-There is ru-
NOR here that Governor Roosevelt has re-
ceiyed several communications rslat.ve to
campaign assessments. ana t1at he is like
ly to look into the matter on his return
10 the executive chamber These com
/ muniCatiCns are believed TO have Lean due
chiefly to the Governors own declarations
against the system Of assessments ln MS
/ New York city speech. which was dr5c,ed
particularly against the assessment Of Ju-
/ dietary candidates
1t is an open secret that all those who
owe their places to political inHuelce, anu
even those who are so-Ca,led civil ser
vice appoiutees. must regularly confirm ste
to the election funds or stand in the had
ow of partisan displeasuTe. In the State
Department the clerical force, as rue,
( denies that it is assessed, but a circular
letter which has reached clerk mere
/ shows beyond denial that the appeal mas
| been made just as emphatisa'iy this year
as ever.
This letter is on the le.terhead of the
Republican State Committee, and Is signed
E. A. NcAlpiu, Treasurer 1t reads;
take the liberty Of asking you for a contribu-
tiou 90 help carry the Republican campaign
Just opened in this State
The Importance Of Republican victories M every
3
control OF the next Assembly and viii have a
direct bearing on the naJouai campaign next
year.
1t is the intention of the Republican State
Committee 10 employ every legitimate means 10
awaken an interest In the campaign and bring
out every Republican voter IN the State oh regis
tration and election days and tins task VIII IN
volve constant and energetic work no MANY i"lS
/ to overcome the lack of interest due to the fact
that no national or State officers are to be chosen
We earnestly request you TO assist the COM
HrT4 4FsfFF ION
that the canvass may be made effective in every
county.
please make checks payable 70 F. A. NeAlpin,
Treasurer Republican state Committee.
A State employe who received this "ap-
peal although appointed as the result of
a competitive examination, saw the neces-
sity for complying with the request" from
the Republican managers and added his
mite to the fund
There is ample reason to believe that
similar letters have reached every man and
woman whose name is on the pay rolls in
any State department, and the general
feeling among them all is that they must
pay up if they expect 10 retain their
places
The average assessment among the minor
State employees this fall has been 2 per
cent of the annual salary received by each,
while the executive officers of the depart
ments, whose salaries run from $4,000 up,
have in many instances thought it best TO
fill out checks for larger sums. As the or
dinary pay roll of the State is about 800.
600 a month, the returns from these letters
necessarily amount TO a considerable sum,
especially since it is said that the total will
easily reach per cent Of the annual pay
roll when large and small contributions
are averaged together.
The hardship resulting from the system
in many cases can be readily seen when it
is understood that the assessment does not
spare the laborcr with meagre pay any
more than it does the official drawing a
large salary