The Washington times., 1911-05-12
IMMUNITY PLAN
FOR CLERKS WHO
GIVE TESTIMONY
Bathrick Offers Resolution
to Protect Informers at
L Coming Inquiries.
Continued from First Page.)

OF the United States of America In Con-
gress assembled, That II is the purpose
or the Congress of the United States to
AFFORD protection to any and all em-
ployes of the Government who may FUR
nish information or give testimony to
the committees of Congress or to any
member or agent of said committees
who may be conducting duly author
That hereafter no employe Of the
United States shall be superseded or
reduced in efficiency rating, denoted, or
discharged by reason of or In conse-
which said employe may have given to
committee of Congress or other pro-
scribed authority. II any emplOye hav-
Ing been so superseded or reduced In ef-
fiCiency rating, denoted, or discharged
shall deem the cause thereof Que to his
having given said testimony or in
formation. he shall be permitted to
make affidavit to the facts of his case
and submit the same to the chairman
of the committee before which said tes-
timony was given or information fur
nished.
Chance for Redress.
said chairman shall promptly bring
the matter to the attention of the COM
mittee. which shall summon witnesses
and examine them as to all the facts in
the case, and If it shall thereby appear
that said employe was wrongfully su-
perseded or reduced in efficiency rating.
denoted, or discharged by reason of the
order or influence of superior officer,
the head of the department shall there
upon reinstate such employe to his
original status in the department of his
employment, and said superior officer
shall be declared in contempt of the
Senate or House. as the case may be.
and punished according to proceedings
in other cases of contempt"
Declaring that there are more than
100000 civil service employees. in the
irregularities that may never come to
the attention of the head of the de-
partment, Mr.. Bathrick made the fol-
lowing statement today as to the neces-
sity for the adoption of his resolution:
The object Of my resolution is to
notify every employe of this Govern
ment that the Congress of the United
States, elected to protect the rights OF
all the people, will protect the en-
ploye's rights when he gives testimony
looking to the protection of the Gov
ernment of the people. Having taken
an oath of office to protect the Gov
ernment against domestic and foreign
enemies, ! believe it to be the en-
ploye's duty to expose all shortcom-
tngs, delinquencies, or crimes which
may come under his observation.
Otherwise his oath is mockery.
Covers AL Cases.
My resolution specifically covers
those cases where employees are sub
jected to persecution or loss Of en-
ployment because of their having given
testimony before an investigating COM
o5airs Outraged to expose fraud. incOm-
petence, and wilful neglect of duty. If,
because of their exposures, they are
prosecuted, there is no better place Tor
them to present affidavits of such facts
than before the committee where their
testimony was given, and which, being
cognizant of all the circumstances, can
render speedy justice. This resolution
declares such persecution to be in con-
tempt of the Senate and House, and
is fair parallel with an assault upon
a witness outside the court house,
which undoubtedly is contempt OF
court.
pIoyes Of the Government Ninety
per cent of these occupy subordinate
positions, carry the routine and de-
tail, handle all the goods of Govern
ment consumption, and are In close
touch with the operation of the de-
partments. They know much which
their chiefs do not and cannot by rea-
son of the vast magnitude of the GOV
ernment's business. A patriotic COM
plant carried to a subchief may new
er reach the head of department
and. If it does, may be distorted to
shield a delinquency.
MANY of these employees are ac-
uuainted with their Congressman, and
naturally would go to them with
portance. /. therefore, have stated in
the resolution that 1 consider it a
subversion of discipline rather than
an encouragement to 1t that employees
are not permitted to reveal to those
names of transgressors. and there
after feel that inefficiency and infidel-
ity TO a trust were recognized factors
in the operations of Government"