The Washington herald., 1908-04-01

mat the administration is making ef-
forts 10 meet the cry Of the opponents Of
Secretary Of War Taft that his strength
for the Republican nomination lies largely
in the activity Of the Federal omceholaers
is becoming more apparent daily.
The opponents Of the War Secretary
claim that the Federal machine is ruth
lessly running over practically every state
and district convention which meets to
select delegates. and that the allies are
lucky TO have as many convention votes
as First Assistant Manager Hitchcock is
willing to concede them. They are in
sistent that ifsthe ohiceholderz can be
made to keep hands OF Taft cannot win
the nomination. and they say that the
banefuI influence Of the Federal machine
has already thwarted the win OF a ma
jority Of the conventions which have
acted.
Complains TO President.
The complaint has become 50 broadcast
that the Civil Service Commission has
written a letter TO the President. whether
upon its own initiative or acting upon a
hint that it would be acceptable is not
known, 10 the effect that It is the inten-
ton Of the commission TO go after Office
holders in the classified service who are
getting TOO busy politically
Just at this critical juncture the letter
would almost make out a case Of Iese
majestic against the commission, but in
stead Of this the President has had copies
OF il sent TO the heads OF his department.
without written comment. and they. in
turn. are notifying the subOrdinates.
The commission declares IN its letter 70
/ the President that a sufficient time has
elapsed fer employees 10 understand the
civil service rules and that the time
/ has also come for a somewhat greater
| degree Of severity for The penalty in
hieted, AZ least in aggravated cases"
issued as Formal order.
/ The letter was issued yesterday by the
/ Postmaster General as a formal order.
Il is as follows:
once O.. the Postmaster GensraI-
Washington. y. c. 3isrch S. l9ls.
I Order No. l2I
Tie attention of an officers and e-rployes ~ ths
/ Post-0fice Department and postal -riyice is d.
lected o. the following letter addescd 20 thc Pres-
[ dent by the Ciyl Service Commission.
United States CiTI Service Commission
Washington. D. C.. March 9 lels-
The PsJsi5eut:
The commission in recoumeuiin- uuni>rnsauts
for violations u Subdivision of Cirl service Ruls
has heretofore been guided by the fact thar the
Tule was one only adoUted in June. lsl-, ard thar
while the Presidents Instructions prohibiting r1t-
zeal activity on the Iart of competitive classified en-
Iicyes haFe been pahlic since 1872 yet In acz1si
practice the Elective and th0TouEbScng enforcement
oi The Preldents Instructions In tins connection has
I only dated from ths adoption Of the mle IN June
last. whic2 gave the CiTil Service Commission the
night 90 investigate and report On charges Of in
Irogr political activity the part Of thosc II the
commission has heretofore been leaient in recon-
I mendirg uunishneuts But sufficient time has nov
elapsed ioT TO assume that the cTi-serTcs rules
I arr understood Throughout the serice. and we be
heve therefore that the tine hss also cume for a
somewhat greater degree q severity for the penalty
inflicted. 20 least in aaETaTated cases We recon
mend therefore that the several departments be re-
! queSted 90 publish % their employees IN the com
DctitUo classified service the fact that any mar rio-
iatng the provisions 0f the rule IN question renders
himself liable 90 punishment hy removal. We desire
that the slhcrdinates IN the several departments be
Z acquainted with this recommendation. 50 that ID
the event q any misconduct by them in the future
/ the commission may feel at liberty 10 recommend
| their removal We have the honor % be very re-
{ spccuully. JOHN g. BLACK
HENRY T. GREENE.
John 4 McILHENNY
] ssfrr-1-rf f-sio-ers