New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-10-30

SOLICITATION OF FUNDS FROM FED
ERAL EMPLOYEES DECLARED
AN OFFENCE.
CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION STRIKES AT
CAMPAIGN MANAGERS - CIRCULARS
SENT To GOVERNMENT CLERKS

Washington oct pa long official state
ment reviewing the legal phases Of the political
assessment question. and holding that the So
Letting Of campaign funds by letter comes clear
~ within the remedial provisions Of the civil
Service law. was made public by the civil Ser
vice Commission tonight The Commission
made the statement because Of circulars sent
out by W +. Burdell as treasurer Of the Finance
Committee Of the ohio Republican state EXecu-
tive Committee. soliciting contributions from
Federal employees. The Commission says the
Ohio circulars bring up clearly the question so
long awaiting judicial determination as 70
whether the soliciting Of contributions for polu-
cal purposes by means Of letters addressed 10
Federal officers employees at their offices con
stitutcs an offence under the twelith section oi
the Civil Service act. The Commissions ruling or
brief now made public. was submitted by Presi-
dent Proctor Of the Commission to ex-senator
George f. Edmunds Of Vermont. who was
chairman OF the Senate Judiciary Committee AT
the time the civil Service act was passed. The
latter In his opinion. 10 which the COMMISSION
gives particular significance. says:
entirely agree with the conclusions stated In
the brief. I think II is clear that the Sohcln.b
of such political aids by means oi the posi-
office IS distinctly within the prohibition ol &c
tion - of the act 10 which refer. lhe ldii-
guage ~ the section IS. THAT no person snail IN
any room or building" etc, Solicit IN any man
nor whatever" etc II IS not that no P'ls',
being in a room or building shall solicit pul II
is that no solicitation shall be made I'm any Such
place, no matter where the person MAKING 'li,
solicitation may be- II. for instance p'lsoi.
on the street outside the Treasury Depdi 'lne"'
should send n written offer to some person en-
ployed within the building I" pay price ior
robhnc the vaults or committing any otheF
wrong IL would he clear that his onehce W. -
committed within the building. Tor the "illlnS
of the offer would he entirely incomplete unI'' UNI,
delivered TO the person to whom IL W|as | az -
dressed think II impossible, therfl"'e' -
maintain that such acts as you reter 10 are ~.
within both the letter and the spirit ot the ao'
Of Congress.
After quoting this letter, the Commission re-
views AT length legal decisions opposite 10 'he
question under consideration. and says tha'
from them the conclusion is unavoidanie 'ha'
"wrifing and sending through the OnlteH S'"'''
mails of n letter addressed 10 officer or en-
plcye Of the Government at this office asking
for contribution Of money for any political
purpose constitutes solicitation OF money io'
that PURPOSE" and that since such solicitation
has its fun effect only upon the delivery Of such
letter 10 the addressee which delivery occurs
within a Government building. 1T is an act OF
soliciting done In Government building, and
hence comes within the meaning Of the express
terms Of the statute. Continuing. the Commis-
sion SAYS:
The intention of Congress as expressed in the
twelfth section ~ the civil Service act was To-
protect Federal employees In the discharge on
their official duties from political assessments
10y any one. The mischief to he suppressed was
tho official and quasi-ouicial tohcltatlon Dl
clerks for political purposes; official when oiii-
GERS used their stations tO intimidate suh0I-
dinates. quasi-o1icial when outsiders made
use n Federal buildings for purposes dcmoraliz-
ing both to the efficiency and discipline Of the
service The statute does not deal with the mode
,ff iD