The age-herald., 1901-10-20
BOOKER I. WASHINGTON TALKS
 OF DINING WITH THE PRESIDENT

- - - - . ment service he would seem to have vio- lated section Il of the civil service act
 ?. R. E. s. Rives received, while in the postoffice building, the contributions of Postoffice Clerks Gilbert and Jones. This would render him amenable to section F, civil service act
 3. The papers indicate that the assis- tant postmaster probably deducted cer- tain amounts from the salaries of em- ployes to be used as contributions or as- sessments for political purposes. This seems to constitute a violation of both sections Il and 12 of the civil service act
 4. The postmaster, by permitting Rives to solicit or assess employees and by furnishing him with headquarters In the postoffice for that purpose was "concerned In soliciting or receiving an assessment, or subscription, for po- litical purposes" In violation of the Civil Service Act.
 5. Possibly the fact that the letters of solicitation were addressed to the em- ployes at the postoffice might constitute violation. It is understood that this question has not been definitely settled.
 Vaughan Told to Prosecute.
 The attorney general upon the receipt of this information referred it to District
 
 prosecute the persons concerned in the violations.
 District-Attorney Vaughan in compli- ance with instructions laid the case before the grand jury, which failed to find a true bill against the parties concerned. though the case against Rives seemed to be clear, as outlined above.
 The Civil Service Commission then in- formed the Attorney General that Mir. Vaughan had summoned neither one of It's inspectors to testify and that in view Of the quasi judicial character of MT. Vaughans connection with the case a special attorney should be appointed.
 When his attention was called to the Civil Service Commission letter on the subject District Attorney Vaughan indig- nantly denied that a fair and complete investigation was not held In addition the Assistant District Attorney informed the department that the proceedings of the grand jury were perfectly regular and every effort was used to sift the matter to the bottom.
 In view of these statements the Civil Service Commission, while not satisfied. temporarily dropped the matter. but as has been stated. 1t will again urge the Attorney General to take the case out of MT. Vaughan's hands.
 pr. Hughes Connection.
 
 the case to the extent that it is alleged he allowed Rives to solicit in his office which Is violation of the Civil Service laws.
 There are no charges against Post master Hughes at the Postoffice Depart ment. On the contrary the statement is made that he has proved a most efficient postmaster, and administered the affairs of the office in a highly creditable man. ner. There would be no doubt of his ap- pointment if it were not for the fact that President Roosevelt entertains strenuous views on civil service and may conclude to exercise them on this case. Postmaster Hughes who is now in Washington de- clines to discuss the civil service feature of his case. He has the Endorsement of the two Alabama Senators, and the Re- publican organization generally and his friends believe he will be reappointed.
 In this connection 1t is interesting to note what President Roosevelt wrote on political assessments while Civil Service Commissioner. It is stated that the President has not changed his Views on the subject.
 Roosevelt's Views.
 There can. of course, be no more of- fensive coercion than to make a public servant who happens to belong to one party contribute out of his salary for the success of the other party, yet this is exactly what is done by this species of blackmail, and 1t must necessarily be the result of allowing contributions to be so- licited from government employees at all. The solicitation Is always made by some person standing high in ene councils of the party to which the head of the office belongs. The men of the opposite party who are in the office feel little nervous about their positions anyhow. They know that the politicians of the party opposed to them grudge them their places and want to turn them out, and they know that in too many cases advantage will be taken of any slight fault or misstep on their part that can serve as an excuse for them They are therefore very anxious not to give offense, and they pay simply with the hope of escaping future trouble. This is done again and again in all these offices. A law should undoubt- edly be passed to prohibit the soliciting from government employees at all. More over, I believe that postmasters, collect ors of customs and other public officers should be required to post up in their offices before elections statements to the effect that none Of their employees need to contribute a dollar to any party fund, and that no man will be jeopardized in