Evening star., 1924-02-23
CLAIMS ROOSEVELT
BARRED PETITION
Appeal to President Says
Navy Employees Were De-
MED This Right.

Loren II. Whittner, chairman OF the
departmental classification protest
committee, today appealed to Presi-
dent Coolidge from Il decision he
charges was made by Assistant Secre-
tary of Navy Roosevelt, refusing the
right of petition to employees of the
Navy Department.
After calling on Col Roosevelt with
q letter formally requesting that the
petition, which asks that all govern
ment personnel matters be placed un-
der supervision of the Civil Service
Commission, be allowed to circulate
in the department.. Mr.. Whittner an
nounced the request had been refused
He Immediately drafted 4. letter
to President Coolidge. asking his
opinion las to the circulation of this
petition, which reads: We, the under
signed government employees do
lcreby publicly petition that person.
mel classification and efficiency rat
inSS and all other government per
sonnel matters be placed under the
supervision of the Civil Service Com
mission ="
The Presidents engagements made
L personal interview Impossible, but
Mr.. Wittner was assured that the
letter would be placed before the
1h1ef Executive.
The formal request to Col. Roosc
relt stated that "a copy of our petit
tion is submitted for decision as to
circuia RIA tion in your department,
that all government employees may
voice their sentiments or Il question
of vital Importance treated every
day" Then followed i copy OF the
petition as quoted i'll the letter to
President Coolidge. 1t was also
pointed out that the petition supports
resolutions offered by Senator Nc
tormick and Representative Lehlbach
and announced its usefulness as "a
means Of showing public approval Of
= plan favorable to the employees"
Since the right to petition public
fy to Congress is granted under the
civil service laws, | hope you may
see fit to allow the petition to be
ment," concluded the letter to Col
Roosevelt.
II talked TO Col. Roosevelt this
morning and he refused the request"
Mr.. Wittner said.
Text of Letter.
The text of his letter to President
Coolidge is as follows:
'The sentiment against the tenta-
tive classification methods, efficiency
ratings now under the control of the
personnel classification board and the
bureau of efficiency, is shown by d
petition which was deemed advisa bic
to indicate the employees believe that
the Civil Service Commission is the
logical agency for handling all SOW
eminent personnel matters.
Unless d petition Is presented,
Congress can know but one side of
the question of classification since
the committee on reform IN the civil
service has decided to hear only
those connected with the personnel
classification board.
Aside from the pertinent reasons
for the petitions by the government
employees. the right OF persons en-
ployed in the civil service of the
United States, either individually or
collectively, to petition Congress, or
any member thereof, or to furnish in
formation TO either House OF Con-
gresS, or to any committee or men,
ber thereof. shall not be denied or
interfered with (37 Stat. j.. 55J,
act. of Aug. "A, 1922. The Constitu-
tion also guarantees the inviolable
right
prevent the circularization of the
petition the expression of which
would secure for the employees i'm
proved conditions, the law, as above
stated, Will be denied and lnterfcred
with.
'T1e Navy Department feels that
this petition of personnel interest to
every government employe should
not be circulated in that department.
Tho law being SO specific, l would
like to have your opinion as to the
decentralization of this petition, which
reads: We. tie undersigned govern
7nent employees, do hereby publicly
petition that personnel classification
and efficiency rating and all other
government personnel matters be
placed under the supervision of the
Civil Service Commission
You can see how futile it would
be for isolated individuals to initiate
the petition carrying enough sigma
lures to show yourself and Congress
the feelings Of the employees in this
,natfero