Evening star., 1932-09-02
White House Inquiry Into Civil
Service Rules Brings Fight
for Free Speech.
VETERAN ACTIVITIES
DECLARED NOT BANNED
Brown Reinstates Man Who Intro
duced Resolution at Legion
Meeting in Indiana.

A White House inquiry into civil serv-
ice rules banning political activity"
by classified employees was closely fol-
lowed today by reinstatement Of postal
clerk who advocated full payment of
the soldiers bonus and denial by the
Civil Service Commission of reports
that bonus activities by employees had
been tabooed
Postmaster General Brown notified
President Hoover he is directing revoca-
ton of the order dismissing w. H. Kerr,
postal clerk at Gary. Ind. because the
incident raises the right of postal en-
ployes freely to express their views upon
public matters, right to which there
should be no question"
The dismissal of Kerr and the gen.
eral question Of restricting public"
expressions by Federal employees on con-
troversial topics are understood to have
been discussed at today's cabinet meet
ing
Believes in Free Speech.
Following this meeting Brown an
nounced that Kerr,s job would be re-
stored to him, and declared the Post
of speech for all citizens.
In letter to the President the Post
master General said:
Replying to your letter of the and,
instant. relative to the dismissal of
Clerk w. H. Kerr from the postal serv-
ice at Gary, Ind, I have the honor to
inform you that the file in the Kerr
case discloses several serious infractions
of the postal laws and regulations war
ranting severe disciplinary action.
However, since the record raises the
right of postal employees freely to ex-
press their views upon public matters,
a right as to which there should be no
question, I am directing the reinstate-
ment of Clerk Kerr"
II believe In taking a liberal view in
this connection" Brown told newspaper
men at the White House. This is q
free country and am Of the personal
opinion that every man should have the
! right to speak his own mind. OF course,
the matter Of good taste Is involved In
considering this question. !"
The Postmaster General said it was
extremely difficult to interpret the scope
of the civil service rules governing po-
litical activity, but emphasized that his
department intended to apply them
/ from liberal standpoint.
At the same time Chairman Campbell
Of the Civil Service Commission In an
interview said that while no def
mite order has been issued respecting
the bonus, since the matter has not come
up for official decision. there Is q gen.
eral prohibition on public discussion Of
any subject relating to pending or pro-
posed legislation.
Prohibition Talk Banned.
Under this ban on legislative topics
has come prohibition, Campbell pointed
out, a specific ruling having been made
in a case brought before the commits
sion for action some time ago. A SINH
lar ruling against publicly taking sides
in questions concerning State or local
,, legislation, particularly bond issues for
roads or schools, has been adopted, he
There were indications that as re-
suit of the consideration given to the
problem during the cabinet session de-
partmental heads will be left free to use
their own judgment as to strict inter-
probation of civil service rules regard
ing political activity"
Brown explained at the White House
that while the Indiana clerk probably
would have been discharged for general
! delinquencies, the dismissal had been
widely interpreted as being chiefly due
| to Kerr's action in an American
Legion meeting. and 1t had been de-
| cided, therefore. to disprove this by
restoring his job. Kerr was dismissed
by Arch Coleman, First Assistant Post
master General
No formal blacklist of "verboten"
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