Evening star., 1932-09-03
Authorities Agree Federal
EmpIoye Has Right to
Express Own Views.
HOOVER LETTER BRINGS
ACTION IN INDIANA CASE
Postmaster General Brown and
President of Civil Service
Approve Retention of Jobs.

1He IdcI CnaC ClV1l service employees
differ with the views of the admins
tration on political questions "does not
necessarily constitute political activity
under the law whic hforbids such &C.
tion," according to President Hoover.
This opinion was expressed yesterday
by Mr.. Hoover in letter to Postmaster
General Brown regarding the case OF
w. H. Kerr, Gary, Ind, postal clerk
who was dismissed recently for alleged
serious infractions of the postal laws
In introducing a resolution at an
American Legion meeting favoring pay
ment of the soldiers bonus
The Post Office Departments state
ment of Kerr's "delinquencies" said his
bonus activity was contrary to the ex-
pressed wishes of the President, who
considers such legislation harmful to
the country at this time"
Kerr was reinstated yesterday follow
ing correspondence between the Presi-
dent, Postmaster General and Thomas
E. Campbell, president of the Civil
Service Commission.
Presidents Letter.
The Presidents letter follows:
MY dear Mr.. Postmaster General:
In the press this morning It Is
stated: Government employees and their
families are prohibited from expressing
publicly their views on the soldiers
bonus under new regulation promul-
gated by the Civil Service Commission
Upon seeing this have addressed
the attached letter to the chairman OF
the Civil Service Commission and have
the incloSed reply from him. 1t is ap-
parent, therefore, that no such action
has been taken by the commission.
THE press article further states that
in removing one Ben H. Kerr from the
post office at Gary, Ind, the charges
made against him that he introduced
a bonus resolution at a meeting of the
American Legion at Crown Point, Ind.
on March 6, contrary to the expressed
wish of the President, who considers
such legislation harmful to the country
at this time
'AS you are aware, I have never made
any such suggestions as to this or any
other public question in its relation tc
the conduct of Government employees
The fact that they differ with my views
does not necessarily constitute political
activity under the law which forbids
such action.
In order that there may be no mis-
understanding or Misrepresentation in
this matter, I consider that Mr.. Kerr
should be reinstated in the post office
service at once.
Yours faithfully,
HERBERT HOOVER"
Letter to Campbell
The letter from President Hoover to
the chairman of the Civil Service Com
mission and the latter's reply read:
Hon Thomas E. Campbell, president,
Civil Service Commission,
Washington, D. C.
"Mr. Dear Mr.. Campbell:
II notice in the press this morning a
statement that Government employees
and their families are prohibited from
expressing publicly their views on the
soldiers bonus under a new regulation
promulgated by the Civil Service Com
mission
"I cannot believe that this Is true
and will be glad to have a statement
from you upon it.
Yours faithfully,
HERBERT HOOVER"
Mr.. Campbell's reply, dated Septem-
Der 2, said
MY Dear Mr. President:
II, too, noticed in the paper this
morning the statement quoted by you
in note of even date that Government
employees and their families are pro-
hibited from publicly expressing their
views on the soldiers bonus under a
new regulation promulgated by the Civil
Service CommiSSon'
"On behalf of my colleagues, wish
to state that the commission has not
promulgated a new regulation in this
matter, and that. in fact, there has been
no submission to the commission of any
case which would require decision as to
whether activity by Government EN-,
ployes at American Legion meetings in
favor of bonus legislation would fall
within the regulations originally pro-
mulgated by President Roosevelt against
certain classes of political activity by
classified Civil Service employees of the
Federal Government. I have the honor
to be, respectfully,
THOMAS E. CAMPBELL"