The Washington times., 1920-08-27

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Civil Service Commission Sends
Drastic Warning TO Employees
Regarding Politics.

Sensational and drastic in the ex-
treme Is the warning" which the
civil Service CO mini ssion has sent 10
the enerc; Employees Union with ref
rrence 10 political activity
Tho g max Is reached in thts para
api'
THE commission fears that en-
ployes removed from the seat OF Gov
ernnIent may be indulging the false
hope that the organization or it's Of
icers will be able to deter action
against members OF the Organization.
Nothing could be further from the
truth. The rules apply to individual
employees. The commission has Juris
diction over individual employees.
Guilt wilF be individual. The penalty
will be individual.
mo defense will be available by or
ganized or official action: there Will
be no spectacular features to the
proceedings; no room will be found
for heroes or martyrs and no offer
of vicarious suffering can affect the
orderly administration OF the law
CRISIS AT HAND.
The commission also declares that
"the present situation constitutes
distinct crisis in the development OF
the merit system OF selection for and
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fate Of that system is in the hands of
the Federal employees, and the com
mission earnestly hopes that they Will
choose their course only after careful
onsideration and deliberation.'
The text of the letter follows in
part:
In the July 81. 1920, issue of the
Federal Employe. official magazine OF
the Federal Employees Union, there
was republished from the Savannah
Morning News, with comment, an ar
ticle criticizing Senator Hoke Smith
because of his opposition to the john
son-Nolan minimum wage bill, which
was under consideration at the recent
session of Congress. Senator Smith
being a candidate for denomination.
an attack upon him in the public
press is political activity.
Under the circumstances, the COM
sion owes a duty to Federal employees
in the competitive classified civil serv.
ice ito whom alone this letter relates)
that may be best performed by the
publication of this letter in the same
official organ.
VIOLATES FIRST RULE.
ITO make public attack on a
candidate for public Office is to take
active part in political campaign.
Such action by an employe is viola
tion of Rule l, and may subject the
offending employe TO separation from
the public service. II the attack is
made by the joint action of several
employees, the guilt is still personal
and attached to each employe separ-
ately and seyerally. for the purpose
of the administration of the civil
service law.
ha of ha Nv he
employees through the instrumentality
Of an open organization Of employees.
proof becomes readily availab BILE.
After a few typical and well-con-
sidered cases, the enemies OF an en-
pioye or one desiring to supplant him
in the public service VIII find his re-
moval to be almost a matter Of
routine. Thus the employe will suffer
personal loss and the public service
will be demoralized.
THAT an attack upon a candidate
for public office by Federal employees
is a violation of law, is too clear to
call for more than a simple statement
Of the fact.
MAKE FATAL MISTAKE.
when the commission has called
attention to the fact that such action
is unlawful, it has probably done its
Iuil present IL ventures sub-
gest, however. that such action by en-
ployes is also a fatal mistake. II it
be permissible for Federal employees
to take active part in a political cam
paign to elect one candidate and de-
feat another, by the same token the
successful candidate, must be accord
ed the right to dismiss from the pub
lie service whom he will. and fill the
vacancy by the appointment of whom
he will. 1t is childish to assume that
the protective provisions of the
civil service law can outlive the full
and impartial enforcement of it's re-
strictive provisions. The latter alone
make the former possible, and the
nullification of the latter will destroy
the whole law.
OUTSIDERS SEEK JOBS.
The commission has evidence of
tho fact that persons now outside tho
Federal service desire to enter the
service. They arc Interested i'm pros
pectivc or possible vacancies Many
other motives may prompt he Ming
Of charges. 1t is certain that charges
will be filed. In each case the com
mission will be required to ascertain
the facts and apply the Law, which il
will, of course, do without fear or
favor, as IL has always done.
"The commission is informed and
believes that substantial majority