New-York tribune., 1902-10-19
WARNED BY PRESIDENT.
Federal OFFICEHOLDERS MUST OBFe
THE LAW REGARDING POLITICAL
CONTRIBUTIONS.

Washington. Oct. 1S.-President Roosevelt to-
day issued the following executive order. warn
ing all officers and employees in the federal SER
vice that the law in regard to political con-
tributions must be obeyed.
On request of the Civil Service Commission
the attorney General has submitted to me the
following opinion:
Your note of the 10th inst requests me tn adj
wise you relative to the subject of political con-
trlbut9ns. as shown by the respective cor
respondence which you inclOse between the
Civil Service Commission and officers of the
and Ohio.
I'm the Pennsylvania case it appears that re-
cenIiy circular letter was issued by the Re-
Puolcah state committee. signed M. S. Quay.
chairman stating that financial assistance is
needed in the coming Congressional and State
election, and that the committee will be greatly
OoLsed IL the addressee Will aid to the extent
of his ability and inclination. This circular let
ter bore in its caption as well the name Of
Senator Quay chairman, and Of W n An
drews CLERK to the Senate Commi++aa on I'm,
mtgrattonb, as secretary. and was sent bv mail
to various federal officers and employees at their
home addresses. Upon advice from the
commission that because of their official re-
lations, neither Senator Quay nor Mr. Andrews
could properly serve upon a committee con-
cerhed IN soncitng and receiving political con-
tribUtOnS from federal officials or Darp,it +bair
names 70 De held forth IN letters making such
SoIlcltatlon the circular letter. so far as adj
dressed 70 federal officials was v.ftbdrav-D ~,
inedlateiy thereafter another circular letter was
issued IN ldentlcally the same form exCeDt that
1T bore the signature OF the frea as,lre, of The
committee who is not federal of1ceh0Ider
The commission pointed out the iIIegaIitv oe tbis
circular because IT carried on it's heading the
names or senator QUAY and Mr.. Andrews and
tested by Mr.. Andrews ~
In the ONO case a circular was issued bv the
republican State Executive COMMITTEES bearfns,
the names of the Hon Charles Dick (men,bar
of COngTessl. and Of vario1Is fa5srsI fts iY
and stating that any assistance which tbe -
tS q CdI. give as one or those directly inter-
esteu IN party success in Ohio will be grateflII,,
acknowledged II seems that This ciret,Ts~ -a.
sent TO certain federal officials. that tbe con1-
mission demanded it's withdrawal and that En-
executive committee declines or na-sIsl,ts = oi.o @
cede to this demand ies'eo'S 20 ac-
=, The question presented is covered bv sec+io,
II oi 'he CiVll Service Act, which provides.
t, mat nat no Senator or Representative or Terrific
ploVe of aftbe- ~ tI EJECT or any officer
5jsI etehgT or said houses and executive i-
St-ssL or miHtaTy or naval officer of ths Unifed
branch or bureau Of the executive iI1icfsi ~ Iii.
Jirc, %r naval serv-e Of the United States shall
ne IN any manner concerted in SOLICITING or
trihutton for any political purpose Vbsteyar fT
an any oIncer, clerk or employe OF the United States
49,, - aHg @ uePaItnent t branch or bureau thereof or
Ia9T any person receiving any salary or cempen-
the United States '--7 i'eas"iS OF
Whatever the particular form, % ,,or5,
adopted in such circulars iE order to show a re-
quest rather than demand and to give TO re-
sponses quast-vOluntary character. the explicit
and comprehensive words of the sratute forbtJ
ding those barred by their public relations 70
o'ltlt IIoiH ieueral OulCldIS, directly or indi-
tevtIS, OF 20 oe IN any manner concerned in
soliciting or receiving any assessment subsrrt1-
uOn or contribution for any political purDOss
Whatever unqUestiOnably condemn all such
circulars. They should net be sent TO federal
officials, or else they should not bear the names
of the public officers and employees designated
IN the act. N II Op 500 Attorney GeneraFsE4ar~
mon said:
All VINO are in the government service are thus
protected against the possibility of actual coercion
ttoh uI tht person S0Iicttug or receiving TO the
government or implied in solicitation or receipt in
Prohlot sohcltation by or payment to persons not
In the government service otherwise than gov-
ernment Offices
1t is also pertinent to notice another section
of the act. viz:
That no officer. clerk or other person in the
vice of the United States shau. directly indi-
reCty, give hand any other officer, clerk
person In the service OF TN, United States to
any Senator or member of the House Of Repre-
sPntativcs, Territorial Delegate, any money or
other valuable thing on account of or 10 be applied
TO the promotion OF any political object whatever
Your power to direct, by appropriate order,
under the mandates Of these sections. all per-
sons in the executive service Of the United
States. is clear"
and employees in the federal service to the
regOfnls opinion. aud warn them that the
provisions of law therein construed are
to he by them Obeyed and enforced.
Amy official i'm the federal service may
without jeopardy TO his official standing
contribute not, exactly pIeases,
rOVided he obeys the sections of the Civt,
Service act above referred 10.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT
White House. Oct. Is. 1892.
nET1 1ST1TEn ct TTECENT