The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-11-25
Government Has Affidavits That
Local Federal Employees
Were Assessed.
BEING MADE
CONSERVATION at Federal Build
ing-Itnportan. Officials May
Lose Their Jobs.

Afhdavits that there has been perni-
clous activity among Federal employees
IN richmond in Republican party poll
TICS. and that employees under civil
service have been assessed a proper
lion OF their salaries for contributions
TO the party campaign funds. have been
1lied with the United States Civil Ser
vice commission in Washington, fol-
loving an extended inquiry made in
Richmond by L. H. Fisher special
agent OF the commission, who spent
| three days here examining witnesses
IN the post office. customs and Internal
revenue departments. Many of these
1 witnesses were examined at Mr..
flshers rooms at the Richmond Hotel
IN order that the inquiry might be
conducted with perfect secrecy, and
that pressure might not be brought to
suppress facts until full statement
was in the hands of the government.
Mr.. Fishen left for Washington We'd
nesday night. filed number of sworn
anldaVits with the commission yes
teruay, and will later submit written
report covering conditions in the Fed
eral service in Richmond
Went to Slemp's Fund.
me action of the government is be-
iieVed to have been precipitated by a
meeting OF the colored employees OF the
reuerai building. held previous to the
CONGRESSIONAL election. The colored
men, Notwithstanding the fact that
.hes are civil service employees. had
peen told to come across" for the
campaign fund of State Chairman
siemp, IN the Ninth District, and their
wal was loud enough to reach the ears
-. the civil Service Commission in
ashington. The afldavits of !, num-
YET Oh these colored men that they
We're practically assessed arbitrarily IN
p.o ,,, to their pay for the Re-
punlican party campaign fund is now
IN the hands of the government
notwithstanding direct acts of Con-
sress Intended to prohibit IT. II IL
iuatter or common knowledge that civtI
service employees in Richmond have
oeeh active In Republican party noli-
.ies' In fact. well-known Repuhlicans
nave openly charged that there Is in
" SiitS city and congressional district an
oiice-holders' trust" Certainly some
o, those who hold positions under
eiFli service have taken part in The
.aptional hgssts to control the nomina-
ION OF Republican for Congress and
IN tactional fight which is still noir,.
ON 10 control the party in the ssIectinn
OF delegates to the next NatIona, GO
Nentton and the appointment OF The
uistrlct committee, The law on rha
subject is particularly plain. Fm-
proves under civil service are forbidden
20 take active part in party conven-
uons or 10 attempt TO dominate tba
anatrs of their party, and this law on
she admission. of leading Republicans.
has been ignored in Richmond in n
manner almost Wholesale
IRVING to Control Organization.
In View OF the ridiculously small vote
poiled by Republican Candidate FOR
Congress yawter recently-less than
one-third OF the known Republican
strength In the city-there seems an
ahsurdtiy In charging "pernicious ac
ttNity' on the part OF any Republicans
In this section High government Off
ctals explain that the alleged perni-
cious activity was in connection with
the control of the district committee.
the selection of chairman and the
nomination OF Republican for Con-
gress II is admitted by all that there
was no activity. pernicious or other
wise, displayed In any attempt on the
part OF Republicans to elect Mr.. vaw-
ter.
1t is an omen secret that whatever
assessmen, was paid In by the Federal
ottieerholders in this district was spent,
NOT in support OF Mr., Vawter. but In
aid OF the candidacy OF Congressman
6. Basoom Siemp In the Ninth. Mfr
Siemp is State chairman of the Repuh
iican party and has the handling OF
the party FUNDS and It has been a
known TACT FOR wears that ne has been
assessing for party purposes practically
all Republican or'ee-hoiders, whether
under civtl service or not. And II is
also known fact that money was
poured out like water In the recent
Ninth District contest hs.wsen AR,
Siemp and Henry c, Stuart and that
nraotically nothing was spent IN the
Repunltcan campaign here.
Fractional Issue Sharp.
While Postmaster Edgar Allan, IT.
Collector Of Customs Is, 3, Arnold ard
internal Revenue Collector NJ. X. Lowry
arc preSi6ertigl apno;atees and so are
not subject - the regulations Of civil
service as regards pe-nioious activity
II sS,knowp that all three took active
part n The recon; district convention
which practicslly ouste6 John G, Luce
Com thc chSirnauship and put In his
olaco CITY Chairman, q, Ridseway
Moore, who while NOT uader civil seq
Vice held the lucrative aopoiriment
~ census Surervisor for This district,
Tie election 81 Moore over I4ace was
hatlea D; tho slime as an evidence Of
the strsagth az the ~ot,leahniders,
'~WStN and X Is stated 10 nc a fact
,Aat many civil service employees in
;lis Richmond; Federal Bmssains st;end-
81 ;ha, convention sna took active
part inside ana outside 81 the meeting
praNev
ope lsaasns Ronus,scan, Instead 81
m$irs ihc asgsal EXPRESSION Of ''per.ai-
ejn0s ACTIVITY in parsy politics, saeasSs
~ certain civil service employees as
having been 'sotfeRsive tn politics, The
leNieS on enssale~es, ID Is SAID, ware In
saeetlN usaae i1 order shat ii woeat
lao' apNear that the head Sf q de-
'aaT;utent dirett2y assessed his own
pfoMloNo$ F'roaa comments aronneSs II
/ IS believed that Mr., Fisher ehn@sas
this q lame defense since Instead OF
cel1satips Prom his own employees q
8elNartiAsat eapSsS would merely 80 next
door Sa5 WORK, while mis- aeisMAeV as