The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-10-20
POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS
The President Issues an Order Re-
garding Them.

Washington, Oct. 20.-President Roose
welt issued the following executive order:
ION request of the civil service commits
ion, the attorney general has submitted to
me the following opinion:
Your note Of the 18th inst requests me
to advice you relative to the subject Of
political contributions as shown by the res
spective correspondence which you inclose
between the civil service commission and
officers of the republican state committees
Of Pennsylvania and Ohio.
I" In the Pennsylvania case it appears
that recently a circular letter was issued
by the republican state committee, signed
m. S., Quay" chairman, stating that
financial assistance is needed in the COM
ing congressional and state cleo lion, and
that the committee will be greatly obliged
II the addressee will aid to the extent of
his ability and inclination.
This circular letter bore hits caption
as we'll the name of Senator, Quay las
chairman, and Of w R. Andrews a(clerk
to the senate committee on immigration)
as secretary, and was sent by mail to
various federal officers and their employees
at their home addresses.
Upon advice from the commission,
that because Of their official relations nei-
Their Senator Quay nor Mr. Andrews could
property serve upon a committee con-
cerned in soliciting and receiving political
NIT their names to be held forth in let
ters making such solicitation, the circular
letter, far addressed to federal Off
Gals, was withdrawn. sr...t...
Immediately thereafter another: CTR
cular letter was issued in identically the
same form, except that it bore the sigma
ture of the treasurer of the committee,
who is not a fedenal officeholder.
The commission pointed out the lille
gality of this circular because it carried
on its heading the names Of Senator Quay
and Mr.. Andrews and directed its recall;
and this ruling is now contested by Mr..
Andrews.
In the Ohio case a circular was is
sued by the republican state executive
committee, bearing the names Of Hon.
Charles Dick (member Of congress and
Of various federal officials, and stating
that any assistance which the addressee
"can give as one Of those directly inter-
ested in party success in Ohio, will be
gratefully acknowledged
1t seems that this circular was sent
to certain federal officials, that the COM
mission demanded it's withdrawal and
that the executive committee declines or
neglects to accede to this demand.
Act Covers Question.
1.-The question presented is covered by
section III of the civil service act -
'Ihey should not be sent to federal
officials, or else they should not bear the
names Of the public officers and en-.
ployes designated in the ac,.
1T is pertinent to notice section II of
the act, viz: THAT no officer, clerk or
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 State
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 promo
ton of any political object whatever
Your power to direct, by appropriate
order, under the mandates of these Sec
lions, all persons in the executive service
of the United States is clear
Il hereby call the attention Of all Off
GERS and employees in the federal service to
the foregoing opinion, and warn them
that the provisions Of law as therein con-
strued are to be by them obeyed and
enforced.
ANY official in the federal service may,
without jeopardy to his official standing
contribute or not, exactly as he pleases,
provided he obeys the sections Of the civil
service act above referred to.
Theodore Roosevelt.
white House, Oct. 1S, 1902