The Washington times., 1912-04-11
REMOVING THE GAG RULE.


for an efficient civil service and decent treatment Of
Government employees, has been demanding the re-
moval of the gag" Executive order which forbids
these employees petitonng or soliciting Congress
sional influence in behalf Of better conditions.
Today announcement is made that this order had
been annulled by President Taft. II is Withdrawn
and in its place is substituted order that Govern
ment employees may petition Congress, transmitting
their communications through the regular channels;
that is, through the department heads.
This is great victory for The Times campaign.
1t has been won only by dint Of persistent hghtng
by arousing the civil service people to realization
Of their humating position, and determination to
USE THE POWER OF THE BALLOT, IF NEED
BE, AT THE COMING ELECTION, IN BEHALF
OF THEIR OWN EMANCIPATION. g..
Today is great day in the fight for the Govern
employees. II brings two announcements, either
of which marks great forward step.
First, the President removes the gag, untes the
hands, and gives the employees the right once more
to try to help themselves
Second, the Senate Committee on Civil Service
announces that after full consideration II has been
agreed to report the Cummins bill for reorganization
of the civil service, retirement Of the aged and
inefficient employees, provision OF annues retire.
rnent bonuses and reorganization of the promotion
system to give greater opportunity Of advancement
| inside the service.
This Cummins bill marks long advance toward
victory in the arduous struggle for JUSTICE justice
to the service, to the workers Of all ranks to the
taxpayers who are compelled under present condi-
tons to pay for civil service establishment not so
effective as it ought to be-.
The mere fact that the chairman of this COM
mittee had interested himself to the extent of devot
ing months to thorough investigation Of conditions
and preparation Of comprehensive bill to reform
tal Ior0 p,,ffI
agreement of the committee to report that measure
is far more important 1t that after two years
Of fighting under the most serious handicap, the
question has now reached the point where it is bound
to command the early attention of Congress.
These things signally emphasize the recent insis
tenee Of The Times that RIGHT NOW is the time
for the civil service people to renew their activities
Whether the issue shall be success or failure viii
depend largely on them.
!. That this legislation will pass at the present
session is hardly to be expected. Congress is tryinl
to close up the session before the national conven
TONS
Therefore it is the more important that the civi
service people should adopt The Times suggestion
Of sending delegations to both national conventions
tc press for platform declarations in favor Of these
measures.
Senator Charles Dick director of the civil service
betterment campaign in Washington, today declare.
in favor of this plan. He says his committee viii
send such delegations to the conventions and fore,
the issue in every way possible.
The civil service people themselves, independ
emily and on their responsibility, should do tht
, same.
In this great fight, victory is fairly in sight. Their
remains but to reach out with firm hand and craps it
fruits. There must be no delay, no uncertainty
Action must be prompt to be of any avail >