Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-27

Continued from First Page)
them to express an opinion concerning
their Governments policies in a great
political campaign? What has occurred
to justify great bureau of the Govern
ment to point the finger of suspicion
to such a body of worthy men and
Women?"
Here in Washington the display of
automobile tags for, Hoover and for
Smith is small in comparison with the
display of such tags in other cities today,
when taken in consideration with the
number of automobiles. The warning
issued by the Civil Service Commission
probably has much TO do with this, since
thousands of the Federal employees here
own and drive automobiles.
Chairman Demming said that so far
as he knew there were few violations
of the rule of the commission regarding
automobile tags. Some attractions OF
the rule had been called to the atten-
ton of the commission, he said, and
when they were they were rectified.
Questions Spending of Money.
Attacking the warning issued by the
Civil Service Commission from another
angle, Representative Smith says in his
letter:
1T would be rather interesting to
know why the Civil Service Commission
feels warranted in spending public
money in this manner There is GER
tainly no regular appropriation for
printing and circulating of such a
screed." @~
In conclusion Mr.. Smith says:
This attempt to diScredit and humil-
late those who are employed by the
Government in minor positions should
be resented by every patriotic citizen,
and an executive order issued giving
assurance that no classified employee
shall be dismissed if this warning is
ignored"
Thousands of the Government en-
ployes in Washington have retained
their residence in the States in order
to vote in elections. Thousands of them
will cast their votes in this election, and
the Civil Service Commission makes it
clear that they have full liberty to vote
as they wish. But when it comes to
campaigning in any way the bars
are up.
The full warning issued by the COM
mission to the classified employees fol-
lows:
With the near approach of presi-
Dental election, inquiries are made as
to what political activity of classified
employees is forbidden and what political
action an employee may take.
"A classified employe, of course, may
vote as he pleaseS. That right is
fundamental
He may express privately his views
on all political subjects.
HE may voluntarily contribute to-
ward a political campaign, provided he
does not do so in a Government build
ing. No Federal officer or employe may
solicit or receive a contribution from
another Federal employe
THE following is the civil service rule
on the subject:
mo person in the executive civil
service shall use his official authority
or influence for the purpose of interfer-
ing with an election or affecting the
results thereof Persons who by the
provisions of these rules are in the COM
petitive classified service, while retain
ing the right to vote as they please and
to express privately their opinions on
all political subjects, shall take no
active part in political management OF
in political campaigns
Activities Placed Under Ban.
"Some of the forms of activity held
to be forbidden by the rule are:
Service on or for any political COM
mittee or other similar organization.
Serving as officer of a political club
as member or officer of any of its COM