The Washington times., 1912-04-11
HOUSE Determined
TO REVOKE RULING
Of GAG ON CLERKS
Revision of Executive Order
VIII Not Affect Plans
of Congressman.
BY THEODORE TILLER.

The eleventh hour revision of the ex-
ecutive gag order which prohibits
persons employed In the civil service
from petitioning Congress for redress Of
grievances, will have no effect upon
the plans of the House to revoke by
legislative enactment the Objectionable
order.
The House will proceed to assert, first
In the postoffice appropriation bill and
later In a general bill. that Govern
ment empioye Is not TO be deprived Of
free speech by executive order
President Taft last night modified the
original gag order" by granting to
| civil service employees the right TO
petition Congress Through the. heads
heads are required to submit the CONF
munications OF employees without un-
| seemly delay. but with such comments
ss &C. they ,nsyrsy may deem requisite In the pub
This so-called concession. which
leaves to the head OF a department tho
power of practically nuliifying any pc
| titlon presented BY his Bubordinates ts
now pending I'm the House, and which
| will bring real relief TO those employees
who seek the right 70 acquaint Con-
gress with their needs.
Affects Postal Service.
| The postoffice appropriation bill, which
will be passed by the House within the
next week. contains sweeping pro-
vision nullifying the gag ORDER" no far
as 1t affects the postal service. The
House Postoffices Committee has in
corporated in the bill q protes. against
| such clotures In the following language:
| Provided. however, that member
shin I'm any society. association, club,
/ - tGAR - ak.a NtTs nN nf..l
employees having for its objests, among
| other things, improvements In the con-
dition os labor of it's members. includ-
ing hours OF labor and compensation
| therefor and leave OF absence. bv any
person or group Of persons in said pos.
| tai service, or the presenting b. any
such person or group of persons OF any
4 grievance or grievances 10 the Con.
| rot constitute or be cause for reduction
| In rank or compensation or removal OF
such persons or group CT persons from
A separate section provides that
hereafter no employe OF the postal-serv-
| ice shall be removed except for the
son slated for dismissal shall receive
a written notice CT the charges agains,
him. and shall he entitled 20 hearing
With the Postoffice Committee takin.
from the mouths OF, the clerks and sm en-
ployes OF the postal service, the House
Committee on Reform in the Civil Ser
vice is expected to report the Lloyd bill
or measure similar to that Introduce
by Congressman Lloyd. which will ap
ply to all departments This bill give,
all civil service employees the right &
petition Congress, and specifically pro
vides that membership in any union OF
for dismissal.
Forbids Joining Organization.
The Lloyd bill was introduced follow
ing the issuance of the executive gag
order, which was supplemented by 4,
departmental order in the Postoffice De
! tpartment forbidding postal clerks from
joining the American Federation o
Labor or any other body having 70
its object the better of working condi
tons.
Chairman Goodwin. Of the Committe'
on Reform In the Civil Service, will cal
his committee together within a few
: days TO take up the Lloyd bill and ;
favorable report on the measure seems
l assured. ..
In presenting the Postoffice appropri
alton bill TO the House, Chairman
ferred to the Executive gag order a
having deprived the civil service EN-
ploye "of the most sacred right of ap
pealing to his representative in tn
surprise that employment in the Gov
ernment had come to mean the aban
donment OF certain inaIienable rights
such as the privilege of petitioning Con
, gress or Of affiliating with organlza
tions formed to bring about bette
working conditions.
Although the Presidents revision o
the original cloture rule Is presumed I
accord the Government employe IN
right Of appeal. the House probably wi
/ take the position that the word
Through the heads of their respectiv
departments" makes the relief NOR
imaginary than real and the lowe
: branch of Congress will continue 4
plan to put the stamp OF disapprova
upon all gag" rules.