Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1901-12-04
U. S. oIsIeIsI. sa..s. b q 81.

The United States officials are ex-
ercised oyer an order from the De
partment of Justice prohibiting en-
ployes from participating actively in
politics.
The order is in the form of q circu-
lar letter addressed to United States
MarshalS and District Attorneys, and
it generally is believed that similar
orders will be sent to officials in other
departments. There is considerable
speculation about what the order
means.
While the officials are not saying
anything for publication, some think
it is a movement to place them under
the regulations of the civil service,
while others believe it is to relieve
the president of the pressure brought
to bear on him by friends of men
looking for re-appointment. Still
others have an idea that the presi-
dent wants to prevent officials from
using their federal pull for the con-.
troll of local affairs.
In this circular letter the attorney
general of the United States called
attention to the regulations regard
ing conspicuous partnership. Con-
-spicuous partnership is the charge
preferred against Pension Agent Cy
Leland, and those who are protesting
against his re-appointment feel that
the order just issued, while it does not
include officials in Leland's depart
ment, indicates the views Of the presi-
dent on the subject. The order is as
follows:
''To all officers and employees Of the
Department OF Justice: Your atten-
| ton is directed TO d circular OF this
department., issued August 20, 1900,
in which section , OF the-civil service
act Of Jan. Is, 1883, forbidding any ex-
ecutive officer or emplOye, among 9th
ers, to solicit or receive political con-
tributionS from any officers Or en-
plOyeS of the United States, was quot
ed, and all persons serving under this
de partment were required TO observe
strictly the prohibitions Of this law,
and were recommended to refrain
from service on political committees
charged with the collection and dis
bursement Of campaign funds. [ Now
repeat the injuncLionS of that circu-
lar, and add the following further
directions on that subject:
"Rule No. OF the civil service rules
provides that 10 person in the eXecu-
tive civil service shall use his Official
authority OF official influence for the
purpose of interfering with an cleo
tion, or controlling the result there
of. The spirit of the civil service
laws and rules renders it highly I'm
desirable for federal officers and en-
plOyeS to take an active part in pOliti-
cal conventions or in the direction Of
other parts of political machinery.
Persons in the government service
under this department should not act
as chairman of political organizations,
nor make themselves unduly promi-
nent in local political matters. 1t is
expected and required that all officers
and employees OF this department shall
act in entire conformity with the
views herein set forth.
Omitted States attorneys md Unit
ed States marshals are hereby direct
ed to post conspicuously in their re-
spective offices d copy OF this circular,
and otherwise to use every available
means to direct the attention OF their
SubordinateS and all OF those who are
in the government service under this
department to the injunctiOnS of this
circular.-P. @. Knox, Attorney Gen
eral.