The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1904-09-02
FEDERAL LAW INVOLVED
THE ATTORNEY GENERALS RUl-
ING SHOWS CHAIRMAN PAL
MER AT FAULT.
Specific Statement, Endorsed by the
President, Covers His Offense-
He Is Liable.

In an opinion delivered by the at
tornev-generaI on October II, 1902.
and which at the time was given wide
publicity. a distinct ruling was made
on campaign assessment letters mailed
to federal office holders. This opinion,
quoted in the regular monthly bulle
tin of the postoffice department, was
shown by the postmaster general to
apply to employees of that department.
This opinion. together with a letter
written by President Roosevelt on the
same subject at the time the attorney
general rendered his opinion, has been
cited by the civil service commission
in the circular just issued, warning all
persons against assessing federal office
holders for campaign purposes. The
attorney generals opinion shows clear
ly that Chairman Palmer violated the
federal statutes when he attempted
to levy tribute upon the postmasters
of this state. The opinion reads:
"Whatever the particular form of
words adopted in such circulars in
order to show a request rather than a
demand and to give responses a quasi
voluntary character, the explicit and
comprehensive words of the statue,
forbidding those barred by their pub
lie relations - solicit from federal of
1icials. directly or Indirectly or to be
in any manner concerned in soliciting
or receiving any assessment, subscrip-
ton or contribution for any poiti al
purpose Whatever unquestiOnably
condemn all such circulars. They
should not be sent to federal officials
or else they should not bear the names
of the public officers and employees
designated in the act"
Notification and Warming.
AT the time Of the rendition of the
opinions above cited President Roose-
Welt issued the following notification
and warming:
Il hereby call the attention of all
officers ana employees in the federal
service to the foregoing opinion, and
warn them that the provisions of the
law as therein construed are to be by
tnem obeyed and enforced. Any Off
cial in the federal service, may. with
out 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-"
The president, in letter of June
-. 1902, said in part:
- In consideration of fXity
of tenure and of appointment in no
way due to political considerations
the man in the classified service while
retaining his right to vote as he
pleases, and to express privately his
opinions on all political Subjects
should not take any active part in 20
ltlcal management or in political
campaigns. for precisely the same rea-
sons that judge. an army officer, a
regular soldier or "A policeman is de-
barred from taking such active part
This, of course, applies even more
strongly to any conduct on the part of
such employees 50 prejudicial to good
discipline as is implied in Il public
attack on his or her superior officers
or other conduct liable to cause scan
dal Office holders must not
use their offices to control political
movements, must not neglect their
public duties. must not cause public
scandal by their activity"
To All Office Holders.
The attorney general in a letter.
dated November -, 1901. addressed
to all officers and employees of the de-
partment of Justice. said:
The spirit of the civil service law
and rules renders it highly undesir-
able for federal officers and employees
To take an active part in political con-