The Washington times., 1920-11-15
BACK.
ON Jobs HERE.
I'D cIamped Down Like In War
Times at Government
Departments.

An official censorship lid, bring
ing back unpleasant reminders OF
war days. is being clamped down on
public news in the various depart
ments OF the Government
Orders have been issued In vari-
Gus departments. particularly the so
allied political" bureaus, enforcing
,ncient rules safeguarding depart
uent heads against news items De-
ng given out through under officials
'ithout the sanction Of those higher
up."
GEssF0RD AD0Prs RULE
That this policy IL spreading to the
District Government IL Indicated py
Major Gessford. superintendent Of
the Washington Police Department
who called the attention OF captains
Of police at q conference last week.
to the order In the police manual
which prohibits the talking for pub
lication by members Of the force.
This order. the major said. had not
been lived up to by some members or
the force, who are saying things Tor
publication which are causing en-
barrassment to the head OF the de-
partment. and to the District oniciais.
Some of the members Of the force,
rajor Gessford declared. have been
talking for publication with the OBJ
ject Of furthering their own tndivid-
ual ends. and that II was not fair to
other members OF the force. All mat
ters intended for publicity hereaf-
ter, he declared would come from
the office Of the Major and Superin-
tendent.
LID FITS TIGHT.
Following the national election.
there appears to have been q growing
tendency in various bureaus OF the
Government to put a lid on legitimate
news concerning Government activi-
ties.
This was brought out strongly to-
day when inquiries to get informa-
tion from the Government clerks re.
tirement division at the Census.
Those who made inquiries were in
formed by John 8. Beach. the clerk
in charge. that they would have 10
go to the Secretary OF the Interior
for news. He stated that an old rule
Of the depar rtment had lately been
invoked, and that no news will be
given out except on formal applica-
ton.
Department heads have. given no
sorship rules being applied almost
as strictly as durin gthe days when
the Committee Of Public Information
sat on the lid.
MAY FEAR FOR JOBS.
1t is noticeable. however. that the
lid was not screwed down until the
results of the election gave warning
Of a general exodus Of official WASH
ington after March 4. Whether the
rules are being enforced for fear that
heads Of the bureaus will jeopardizc
their chances of being retained in
office under the new administration
by giving out injurious statements,
or whether the cabinet officers wish
to prevent any leaks" during the
final days OF the administration, was
not made known for publication.
First indications Of censorship
came from Prohibition Commissioner
Kramer several weeks ago but con.
ditions in that office have improved
during the last week.
Chief Clerk Ayers OF the Interior
Department protested that there was
nothing unusual about the censorship
lid, and that II was meant merely to
guard the department against wrohg
statements being given out to tie
newspapers.
STRICT IN WAR DEPARTMENT.
Following the lead OF the lntar!or
Department, bureau chiefs of The
war Department recently gave strict
orders to all employees against talk
ing for publication. Offices where
news formerly was easy to obtain now
maintain a strict silence.
Apparently there Is no intention cf
letting up on the censorship. and. II
any thing. the rules are being more
strictly enforced.