The evening times., 1900-06-16

The Civil Service Commission is not in
receipt Of any recent complaint Of viola
tion of the Civil Service act by the So
licitation Of campaign contribution. Ii
was said today at the offices OF the Com
mission that that branch of the Govern
ment does not in all cases wait for for
NAL charges to be preferred. but that it
sometimes acts without
In the matter of the requests made by
Mr.. Schroeder. formerly assistant Secreta-
ry OF the Republican Congressional Com
mittee. to employees at the Capital to con
tribute to the Republican campaign fund
part Of the extra months pay voted them
by Congress. it was said that technically
the law could not reach the alleged offence.
Section IL of the Civil Service act pro-
vides:
That no Senator. or Representative, or
Territorial Delegate Of the Congress. or
Senator Representative, or De egate-elect.
or any officer or employe of either Of said
houses, and no executive. judicial. militia
~. or naval officer of the Uaited States.
and no clerk or employe of any depart
ment branch or bureau of the executive.
judicial or military OF naval service of
the United States, shall. directly OF indi-
rectly. solicit receive. or be in any
manner concerned in soliciting or receiv-
ing any assessment. subscription. or con-
IributiOn for any political purpose what
ever. from any officer. clerk. or employe
of the United States. or any department.
branch. or bureau thereof. or from any
person receiving any salary or cOmpensa-
ton from moneys derived from the Treas
ury Of the United States-'
Section IA provides that no officer,
or other person in the service of the Unit
ed States shall. directly OF indirectly. give
or hand over 10 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 ac-
count Of or to be applied to the promotion
Of any political object whatever"
Agent. Not Employee.
1t Is not contended that Mr.. Schroeder.
not being a Government employe, would
fall within the inhibition of the law. The
question has been raised that Mr.. Schroeder
was an agent of the Republican Congress
siOnal Committee and that the members
of that committee would be liable for the
ects OF the agent
az would be difficult o find any jury"
said one Of the Civil SerTiUe Commission
ers. which would convict on the facts
in his case as we understand them. The
members Of the Congressional Committee
deny all knowledge of the solicitation
complained or The agency might be a
most difficult thing to prove"
The Civil Service Commission has OBJ
tsined few legal victories in its efforts TO
uphold the Civil Service act
IL the latter part OF the year 1895 the
Commission was advised Of the levyiRS Of
political assessments upon the employees
OF the postCflice at Toledo, Ohis These
contributions were solicited by means OF
letters addressed to the employees of the
TostCfice. The matter was investigated
By the Commission and the facts laid be-
fore the Attorney General. with the re-
guest that the persons implicated be pros
eruted under sect,Cn Z of the Civil Serv-
1cs act. The Attorney General held that
as 10 money was receiver in the post
Office. the only offence which could be
shown was that CT soliciting cOntribu-
items" and as this soliciting had been
done by letter. such sol. citing had been
dCue where the letter was posted. and
hence not in any room or building oc-
eupied in the discharge of official duties
by any officer or employe Of the United
States" and was. therefore. not an Of
fence under the act
1t was subsequently agreed. however.
by the Department OF Justice that the
question whether the solicitation by means
of a letter. which was delivered to an off,
Ger or emplOye at the place occupied by
him for the discharge Of his official duties.
constituted an offence under section y Of
the Civil Service act should be presented
for judicial determination upon the event
Of a suitable case arising
In the opinion OF the Commission such
a case arose when. during the Presiden-
1ial campaign of 1896 it was informed of
the receipt by a number Of the employees
Of the customs service at the port Of New
York of circular letters. signed BY James
G. Truman. Chairman of the Democratic
State EXecUtivt Committee. as follows:
Dear Sir: Relyi upon your known interest in
Democratic success at the forthcoming Presidential
election the undersigned takes the liberty of So
liciting from you such financial aid as You may
be able and willing TO give toward meeting tac
legitimate expenses OF the campaign
In this contest the Democratic party IL compell-
cd 90 wholly rely upon the voluntary contributions
of the plain people for means with which to de-
fray the cost Of meetings. printing and distribut
fng docume ents and literature, postage and the
other expenses of Official organization Our
opponents have their side the concentrated
money power Of the country Every trust, every
monopoly, every millionaire corporation. every
syndicate Is supporting the Republican candidate.
and these abhouent forces are pouring into the
more colossal than any before known in the
politics OF the United States
We have neither the means nor the disposition
90 meet the expenditures of the opposition. but
must urge friends to see 10 II. 50 far as
they can that this cor1mittee does rot lack the
funds to carry efficient hut honest cam
paign-
Will you not help Ts2 The need is urgent and
immediate. and no matter how small your cOntri-
button may be. it will be gladly rec>ived and ac-
knowledged. Every dollar contributed will be
used for purely legitimate purposes
We should be pleased to you at these head
quarters or. IL more convenient contributions may
be sent by mail to Elliot Danforth, chairman