Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-07-17
FEDERAL EMPLOYEES
TOLD TO KEEP OUT
Of ACTIVE POLITICS
"UnWise and Unlawful" Civil
Service Head Advises Re-
classification Advocates.

Warning to government employees
to keep out of active participation in
the fall campaigns was voiced by
President Martin A Morrison of the
Civil Service Commission at i meet
ing held in the Interior Department
auditorium last night in the inter-
ests of Reconsideration of federal
workers
Aside from the fact that it is I'M
lawful it is unwise," Mr.. Morrison
told the clerks who had assembled
under the auspices of the joint con-
ference on reclassification. The pres
ident of the Civil Service Commission
warned his hearers not to explode
the whole institution from within.
Citing rule l of the rules of the
civil service as promulgated by Pres
ident Roosevelt April Is, 1908. which
declares that no employe of the gov
ernment shall use his official infiu-
ence to interfere with an election.
Mr.. Morrison said he had heard that
the classified service is going TO
organize a political party
states Hypothetical Case.
suppose John Doe and Richard
Doe decide TO elect a Congress of their
own TO get this Redistribution. said
Mr. Morrison. then they form the
Anal gamated Reconstruction Boost
erS.' Then they make a real CAIN
paign. Where are they?
They're outlaws. that's where they
are-outside the pale of the law
continued President Morrison The
law is still the law. Think OF this
nonsense. this effrontery. that would
purpose of electing congressman
Grant that they win, grant that
they get Redistribution, grant that
their salaries are doubled. Then any
man may file his charges And the
politicians will get busy. And the
charges will be easy to prove.
What does 1T mean? Separation
from the service. Why am 1 saying
these things? Because the newspa-
pers indicate that is what is gong 10
the civil service employees for thirty
years has restricted them. too
Cites Possible Results.
Before the end of the fiscal year
salaries may be doubled. but the men
who draw them tonight won't be
drawing them then. The enemies
w bout the civil service could not
destroy it in thirty years. But the
friends within can destroy 1T within
the year. l hope they wont do 1t.
Mr.. Morrison took care to explain
that he was in no sense sounding his
berS of the joint conference on re-
ella ssification, whom he knew were
proceeding in proper fashion to work
up sentiment for Reconsideration legis-
lation.
Mr.. Morrison prophesied that the
proposition to reorganize the depart
ments will take precedence over re-
classification of positions and sal
aries, but declared that the commits
sion, of which he is president. is
heartily in favor of reclassification OF
the service There is, no Office, he
said, in which such high grade work
is performed by such ighgrade peo-
pie on such low salaries as the Civil
Service Commission.
"TrOubles of the Commission"
Troubles of the commission were re-
lated by Mr.. Morrison. who. before
coming to the former body. was
representative in Congress from In
diana Congress thinks the commits
sion is trying to boost salaries. Mr..
Morrison said, when it is merely try
ing to perform it's functions as re |
cruiting officer" of the government !,
I'VE can't do work well unless the |
salaries are at the zone of desirabi1ity |
of positions is a |
joke, anyway. for they never were |
classified and you can't reclassify /
what has never been classified"
Mr. Morrison began to tell of the |
letters he has received from dissatis- /
fed employees of the government
charging favoritism in promotions. At
this point in his address a woman in
the audience declared loudly, Its
true"
Mr.. Morrison said that Congress
probably will call upon the Civil Serv-
ice Commission for plans ito meet that
unrest" and when it did he was going
to present a plan as follows:
Every three months supervisory Of
fcials. from the ouwest t othe higest,