Evening star., 1939-07-03
The Hutch Bill Moves On


has finally reported to the House the
Hatch bill, designed to put an end
to political activity by employees of
the Government. That, at least,
has been accomplished. But the
committee first pulled the teeth of
the bill, which is tribute to the
pressure which has been brought by
the powers that be. As passed by the
Senate, the measure made it a viola
ton of the law for any Federal en-
ploye or officer of the Government,
except officials like the President,
members of the cabinet and men,
bers of Congress, to manage political
campaigns or to engage in them ac-
lively. Any official or employe who
failed to comply with the law would
lose his or her job.
The House committee knocked out
these provisions and substituted for
them merely a prohibition against
these officials and employees of the
Government using their official au-
thority or influence for the purpose
of interfering with an election or
affecting the results. Under the
House provision, internal revenue
collectors, United States attorneys
and marshals, postmasters, relief ad-
ministrators, etc, may continue to
act as delegates, for example, to
party conventions; may even become
party managers in their own States
while still holding their Government
positions.
1t was to put an end to such po-
litical activity that Senator Hatch of
New Mexico, and his colleagues, Sen
ators Sheppard of Texas and Austin
Of Vermont, drafted the so-called
Hatch bill.
The purpose of the bill was to make
1t impossible for any administration
to use the vast army of Federal en-
ployes and officials as political or
ganization to perpetuate that ad-
ministration and party in power
For many weeks the Hatch bill was
held in the House committee, largely,
1t is said, at the instigation of high
officials of the Government. It was
only when Senator Hatch threatened
to offer his bill as an amendment to
the relief appropriation bill when it
came before the Senate last week.
that a promise was made to him
that the Judiciary Committee of the
House would report the measure and
place it on the House calendar.
The Rules Committee of the House,
according to Senator Hatch, will
give special rule for the considera-
tion of the bill at the present session.
After all, this is as much as could be
expected. The House will have an
opportunity to go on record for or
against the original provisions of
the bill. Amendments to restore
them will be offered from the floor.
1t is the hope of the Senator from
New Mexico that they will receive the
support Of majority of the House
itself.
A civil service-all the civil en-
ployes and officials of the Federal
Government except those in policy
making" positions-free from poll
tics and political activities would
promote efficiency and honesty in
government administration. The
Hatch bill deserves support. If it is
turned down, there is no slightest
doubt that officeholders will be used
as key men and women in the po-
litical campaigns that will be waged
next year and the years thereafter
What happened in 1898, after Sem
ator Hatch's amendment to a relief
appropriation bill banning the use
of the w. P. A. in politics was de-
feated, is a matter of history-un-
savory history-as revealed by
Senate investigating committee. Con-
gress was shocked into placing dras-
tic prohibitions against the use of
relief and relief workers in political
campaigns in the relief appropria-
tiOn bills that have since been passed.
The Hatch bill would make these
prohibitions permanent law.