Evening star., 1939-09-13
Hatch Law Held
imperative. in
State Agencies
Ruling Made Permits
U. S. Fund DisbursoIs;
D. c. Opinion on Way

The Justice Department took an
other step today to clear up the
confusion caused by the Hatch Act
by ruling that the law does not
apply to strictly State agencies which
also disburse Federal funds.
. This Interpretation of the law,
passed by the last Congress to ban
Government employees from political
activity, clarifys the status of en-
ployes of such agencies as State
highway departments and social Sc
curity boards. They receive and dis
burse annually millions of dollars
of Federal funds.
The ruling, one of several specific
interpretations of the act made by
the Justice Department, was given in
response to numerous requests
from different States, it was said.
Under the ruling, employees of the
Maryland and Virginia State high
way departments, social security
boards and similar agencies are not
affected by the law. However, the
ruling does not apply to the social
security agency in the District Of
Columbia.
Rushing Ruling on d. c.
Justice officials explained that
the District of Columbia is differ
ent problem and susceptible to a
different Interpretation. The JUS
tice Department is considering the
status of employees of the District
under the Hatch Act, and ruling
likely will be made within week
or 10 days, Justice officials said.
The ruling was requested by the
District officials.
In another ruling yesterday, the
Justice Department held that the
legislation does not forbid Federal
employees from taking an active part
in the District Suffrage Association.
This ruling was made in letter
to Wilbur S. Finch, president of
the association. Mr. Finch asked
for a ruling because many members
of the association are Federal en-
ployes and feared they would
jeopardize their positions by par
ticipating in the affairs of the as
sociation.
The department notified William
E. Warne of Alexandra, Va, that
participating in the affairs of
citizens associations, including hold
ing office were not prohibited by the
act.
Need Not Resign at Once.
Another ruling affecting numer-
Gus communities in the Washington
area was that Federal employees who
also hold municipal positions as
councilmen, mayor or similar Office
are not required to resign if they
were holding Office when the Hatch
Act went into effect However, un-
less some amendment is made to
the act, they are banned from run
ming for reelection.
Senator Hatch. Democrat, of New
Mexico has announced that he will
seek an amendment exempting such
municipal officials.
St4'VoA AAoOSii dIoO Will CO-OpeTdIe
IN efforts to exempt Arlington
County residents from the act, the
Arlington County Civic Federation
was informed last night.
The federation was told that the
author of the new law has given
representatives of that organization
assurances that he will sponsor the
necessary amendments if they are
not introduced in the House bv
Representative Smith, Democrat. of
Virginia.
A special committee which at
tempted to have Arlington excluded
from the bill before its enactment
recently was directed by the civic
group to continue work along that
line after Senator Hatch's stand was
outlined. Between so and 70 per
cent of the county's wage earners
are said to be Government workers.
Albert A. Carretta, chairman of the
Hatch Act Committee, quoted Sena-
tor Hatch as declaring that the effect
OF the act on such a large group of
residents as the Federal employees
living in Arlington comprise was
"unintentional' and that he favored
modifying the law to exclude them.
Mr.. Carretta said he had been
assured by Representative Smith
during discussions on the Hatch bill
at the last session of Congress that
the bill would be amended to take
care of Arlington's large contingent
OF Government job holders, but that
the amendments never were in
troduced.