The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-09-03

The National Civil Service Reform
League has addressed letter to Senator
Hanna, Chairman of the Republican Ma
tional Committee with respect to the So
licitation of political assessments or con-
tributions from public employees during the
pending campaign. 1t is intended as a
timely memorandum of the provisions OF
the law on this important subject. The
United States Civil Service Commission
has already pronounced such solicitations
as that recently made on behalf of the
Republican State Committee in New York
10 be a violation of these provisions, pun
ishable as a misdemeanor.
The letter to Senator Hanna follows:
Hon Marcus A. Hanna. Chairman Repub-
| lfcan National Committee:
sir: on behalf of the National Civil
I Service Reform League. We ask your aid
| to prevent the levying of assessments for
| political purposes upon public servants
during the present campaign. The preva-
/ lence of this abuse had awakened such gem
eral Indignation that Congress, in enacting
the Civil Service law. inserted special safe
| guards against its recurrence in the Fed
| eral service. Sections II. l.. and Ii of
that law are as follows:
Sec. II. No Senator or Representative
| or Territorial Delegate of the Congress,
| or Senator Representative. or Delegate
| elect, or any officer or emplOye of either
| of the said houses. and no executive. ju
| dicial. military, or naval officer of the
! United States and no clerk or empiOye
Of any department. branch or bureau of
the executive judicial. or military or naval
service CT the United States shall. direct
| ly or indirectly. solicit or receive, or be
in any manner concerned in soliciting or
receiving. any assessment. subscription. or
| contribution for any political purpose
| whatever from any officer, clerk, or en-
| rloye of the United States, or any depart
ment, branch. or bureau thereof, or from
! any person receiving any salary or COM
| pensation of moneys derived from the
| Treasury CT the United States.
Sec. u. No person SHALL in any room
or building occupied in the discharge of
official duties by any officer or employee
of the United States mentioned in this act,
or in any navy yard. fort or arsenal so
licit in any manner whatever or receive
any contribution Of money CT any other
thing of value for any political purpose
whatever.
e Sec IA. That no officer. clerk. CT other
person in the service of the United States
shall, directly or indirectly. give or hand
over to any other officer. clerk or person
in the service of the United States, or TO
any Senator or Member of the House OF
Representatives, or Territorial Delegate.
any money or other valuable thing on
account of or to be applied TO TIE promo
tion of any political object whatever
These provisions of law testify to the
solicitude .sheFewith it was then sought
to protect all those in the service of the
United States from the injustice and OPP
preston involved in such assessments, and
there is the more reason to note in this
connection the terms of section II because,
like the Chairman OF the National Demo-
cratic Committee, you are Senator of the
United States, so that any solicitation or
even any receipt Of contributions from
Federal public servants by either commit
tee, no matter whether directly or 'ind-
rectly,' that is to say. through the agency
OF any subcommittee or representative
would constitute plain violation of law.
In fact, any officer or employe of the
United States asked to give an assessment
or contribution for political purposes 'di-
rectly' or indirectly to a committee OF
which a Senator of the United States is
chairman is solicited to commit crime
We cannot question your desire 10
secure obedience to this law on the part
OF all who are required to respect and
enforce it; but II is, nevertheless, true
that in previous campaigns attempts have
been repeatedly made to evade its 5alu
tary provisions: - indeed alleged offences
OF this nature are even now the subject
OF official enquiry by the law officers of
the Government II is in no wise cur
purpose, however to confine what we now
say TO assessments on Federal officehold-
ers or to acts made unla siul by particular
statutes. We believe that in a free coun-
try, the collection of such enforced con-
tributions from public servants Of any
grade or kind, whether Federal State or
municipal, who may make them through
fear lest refusal be followed by injurious
consequences TO themselves and their
families. is 4 grave scandal; we have
no doubt that such is the belief OF hon
orable and patriotic men. whatever their
politics or party. throughout the Union
and we request you. as a good citizen TO
join with us in a protest against tEese
wrongs.
We ask from you. therefore. a public
declaration that you recognize the ight
of every man, whether in public or pri-
vate employ, to the wages of his labor
without such molestation and tina 80 far
as may be in your power. you will zee
shat no one suffers because of refusal TO
comply with any demand for contributions
made professedly on behalf OF your COM
mittee or OF the great party which you
represent.
I'VE remain. sir, yours very respect
fully,
CHARLES J. BONAPARTE,
''WM. DUDLEY .FOULKE,
DTTIINAnNrn