The Washington times., 1936-06-29
MCCARL' GIFT
HELD LEGAL
At 6. 40.
BY J. EARLE MOsER


McCarl scheduled to
end his colorful 15-year term as
car of the General Accounting Of
flee and the Governments spend
ing routine by the end of tomor-
rows working day, considerable
controversy has arisen over the
farewell gift" members Of the
G. A. o. intend to present to him.
Because a considerable sum Of
money has been collected from
personnel during the past week,
Of the gift was questioned
because Section 1884 of the Civil
Service Statutes expressly forbids
collections. The section reads:
''No officer, clerk or .emplOye
in the United States Govern
ment employ shall at any time
solicit contributions from other
officers, clerks or employees in
the Government service for q
gift or present to those in a
superior official position; nor
shall any such officials or cler-
ical SuperiOrs receive any gift OK
present offered or presented to
them as q contribution from
persons in Government employ
receiving . less salary than
themselves; nor shall any Off
Ger or clerk make any donations
as gift or present to any off
cial superior"
DISCHARGE AS PENALTY
Summary discharge is cited as
the penalty for any violation Of
the law, which was adopted Feb
ruary /, 1870.
At General Accounting Office
however, the collection is de
Tended on the ground that the
gift is to be presented to Mr.
McCarl after he is no longer in
public office. Backing for this
opinion has been received from
the Civil Service Commission.
While the law forbids gifts tc
officers in the Government, it is
held that the collection is being
taken up for a man who is q
private citizen, or will be when
he receives the token. Some
canny G. A. 0. folk, however. are
holding back their contributions
until the Comptroller General
actually steps out.
Before the collection was al
lowed to begin, high G. A. o. Off
Gals took the precaution to ask
Civil Service whether such action
would be permissible and were
told to go ahead. Upon inquiry,
officials at the commission veri
fled their assent, stating that the
spirit of Section 1874 is aimed at
prohibiting gifts to bosses who
are remaining in the service, thus
baking such methods of currying
favor in the Government.
Common Habit
Civil Service officials pointed
out that gifts are given almost
every day. to retiring clerks
chiefs, division heads and high
officers who are leaving the
service. They expressed wonder
why Mr.. McCarl's token of ap
probation from his subordinates
should create controversy.
The Comptroller General has
been more than popular with his
personnel-he has actually become
a revered myth due to his policy
Of remaining within his office and
refraining from public appear
anceS or press conferences. Most
of his workers idolize him because
of the vast respect he has com.
for G.. A. o. among other
agencies. While there have been
complaints occasionally, his per.
sonnet policies in general have
been unusually we'll handled by
Mr.. McCarl's personnel aides,
James Baity and w. W. Richard.
son. Thus, most Of the workers
have been glad to contribute to
the gift fund.
It is believed, however, that the
illegal" charge arose from hints
of minor straw bosses to their
clerks that failure to contribute
might prove inadviSable. Such
hints naturally caused just re-
sentiment, despite being groundless.
Dinner Rejected
The gift, an idea which was
adopted after suggestions for hold.
ing a dinner and reception were
abandoned, has not been decided
upon. It won't be an automobile,
it is said. because Mr.. McCarl
has one. 1t might be a set of
office furniture. however, if he
goes into law practice, and would
probably include a legal library.
The retiring official began
wholesale farewells to his workers
Saturday, shaking hands with
workers from the old Post Office
division and from 119 D st. N. e