The Washington times., 1908-11-15
Civil Service Commission
Proposes to Demand Strict
Accounting.
CAMPAIGN FILLED
WITH ALLEGATIONS
Number of Important Officials Dis
missed for Too Much
Political Zeal.

In "a statement just issued by the Civil
Service Commission regarding the in
VesUgauOns into peTniCiOus political
activity on the part of certain govern
mental officials, the assertion is made
that the commission Is now able to Sc
cure more strict enforcement of the
rules against this practice than ever
before
The campaign that has just closed
was rich with Investigations of alleged
Oneuses against the order Of the COM
mission and OF President Roosevelt for
bidding undue political activity. The
commission saw tit to exercise its juris-
diction to the extent of dismissing a
number of important officials for too
much political zeal
Text Of the Statement.
The statement is as follows:
''The Civil Service Commission has
been able to secure a much more strict
enforcement OF the provisions against
political activity on the part of Gov
eminent ofhcehoIders during the Presi-
Dental campaign just closed than at
any time in its history.
The President Incorporated in she
civil service rules on June 10. 1907, a pro-
vision embracing the substance of va
nous expressions on the subject made
by the President and heads OF depart
menJs al different times. which gave
the commission jurisdiction over politi-
cal activity on the part of persons who
are in positions TO which appointments
are MADE as the result Of examination.
The Jurisdiction OF the commission hay
ing been clearly defined, IL was able
10 secure practical results when in
yestigatiOn showed that any emplOye
in the competitive service had been pO-
iiUCdIy active.
"a large number of complaints from
various parts of the country were in
Vestisated. II some Of the cases the
complaints were not sustained by the
evidence, but where they were sustain
ed, punishment by removal reduction IN
salary. suspension, or reprimand was
melted out by the appointing officer up
on recommendation of the commission
in almost every case. Investigation in
some OF the cases has not yet been
completed. but up to the present time
ten removals have been made as well
as a number of reductions and sus-
pensions, while in sixteen cases reprI-
mands were administered, and the per-
sons directed TO withdraw from further
activity.
Port Huron Case Cited.
Perhaps the most prominent case
was that al Port Huron. Mich, where
Lincoln Avery, the collector Of customs,
and Charles A Bailey, @ special agent
in the customs service, were removed
The other employees affected were in
various departments Of the Government
service and the result Of the publicity
attending the punishment Of them for
their activity has been to cause en-
pIoyes who in the past have been ac-
customed to take active part in cam
paIgus, 20 refrain from doing so this
year
in a few cases it was found that
there had been violations of the law
regarding the solicitation and colIec-
tiou OF political contributions. and In
these cases reports were made TO the
Attorney General for prosecution Up
10 this time one conviction has been
secured. I'm the case of A. O.. Smith, of
ClaatOn, Ala, who was found guilty Of
soliciting political contributions in
Government building. Smith was not
III the Government service, but his VIC
latiCn of the law consisted in soliciting
the contributions in a Federal office.
In another case an assistant post
master. who was an applicant for the
vacant position of postmaster, had been
engaged in soliciting campaign contTi-
buttons. His Ease was referred TO the
department o. Justice for prosecution
and the facts presented TO the Post
master General, who withdrew his nom
iuation for appointment to the position
of postmaster