Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-25
Senator Warns of Inquiry
Into Charges Federal En-
pIoyeS Are CoerCed.
DISTRICT HEADS PLAN
CONFERENCE FRIDAY
Legion May Withdraw From Com
munity Chest in Row Over
Administration.

Senate investigation of charges that
Federal employees ARE being dra-
gooned and otherwise intimidated. to
subscribe" to the million-dollar relief
fund being raised in connection with
the Washington Community Chest, was
threatened today by Senator Cousens,
Republican. OF Michigan.
The Senator based his action on q
statement yesterday by j. B. Gordon,
sanitary engineer for the District, who
said non-contributors would 0e marked
men,"
At the same time today, the District
Commissioners, taking cognfSance of re-
ports that coercions had been resorted
to in order to obtain subscriptions in
the District Government, called spe-
cial meeting for 10 o'clock Friday morn
ing, when heads of departments are to
be warned that anything smacking Of
compulsion will not be tolerated.
Legion May Quit Chest.
Concurrently, trouble loorfed in an
other quarter, when 1t was announced
that the American Legion is proposing
to withdraw from the Chest because
officials of the latter propose to take
over relief work among ex-service men
at present administered by the Legion
with its quota from the Chest budget.
Still another development today
came when Thomas E. Campbell, presi-
dent of the Civil Service Commission
and chairman of the general commit
tee in charge Of the fund raising, also
took cognizance of reports of dissats-
faction among Federal workers who felt
they were being compelled to contrib
ute. and repeated a previous statement
that subscriptions are to be voluntary.
Will Welcome Protests.
Recalling that Gordon had said that
"ofhcially" the contributions were to
be voluntary, but that "unof1icially" it
was evident all who did not give would
be marked men," and citing Gordons
views as to the ways in which off,
cial displeasurep could be visited upon
those who failed to contribute, Couzens
said the statement was the most cut
rageous" he had ever seen in print.
1T Is purported to be based on in
structions from the President through
the Civil Service Commission, and that
much doubt" Couzens said In a
formal statement.
However, as a member Of the Civil
Service Committee Of the Senate I
tenn, bludgeoning employees to contrib
ute to the Community Chest or other
charities, when in many instances they
themselves are relieving these chari-
ties by taking care of their own rela-
tives who are unemployed or in finan-
cial distress.
THE Government must not lend It.
self to such procedure, regardless OF
how worthwhile these charities are. II
sufhcient protests are presented, will
ask the Civil Service Committee of the
Senate to make investigation, and. If
necessary, to enact legislation to pre-
vent the use of Government employees
for such purposes"
1t was recalled today that Gordon
himself had not proposed reprisalS on
such OF his workers as did not give,
but only warned workers Of what could
happen.
Commissioners Stirred.
Gordons statement served, however,
to spur action by the District Commits
sioners on complaints they had received
OF coercive tactics, and meeting this
morning in special session they decided
to bring the department heads together
Friday to impress upon them lin words
OF one syllable" that all subscriptions
must be voluntary
1t was emphasized that any employe
who does not wish to give, or who is
not able to give, must not be impor-
tuned In any way to join In this move
ment.
The Commissioners also corrected one
statement by Mr.. Gordon to the effect
that in those months when the gifts are
to be made - January, February and
March-copies of the pay roll are TO
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