Evening star., 1939-07-28
BY ]. RUSSELL YOUNG.

President Roosevelt declared him
self today in favor of the objectives
of the Hatch bill to curb political
activity of Federal. officials, but
would not commit himself in any
way as to whether he will sign the
measure in its present form.
The President made it clear at
his press conference that he would
have to give the bill considerable
more study before taking any ac-
ton, because of the uncertainty re-
garding interpretations of some Sec
tions of the bill and the vagueness
of their language.
He added, however, that in broad
sense the bill certainly would pro-
hibit such officials as John B. Col
poyS, United States marshal for the
District of Columbia, from partici-
pating in any political campaign.
Mr.. Colpoys long has been an
active Democrat party leader in
Washington.
To Take Bill on Trip.
Mr.. Roosevelt said that he has re-
viewed the bill with Senator Hatch,
Democrat, of New Mexico, sponsor
OF the legislation, and that he will
take 1t with him this week end on
fishing cruise in the hope of find
ing time to give it further study.
He said the bill is not being con-
sidered from any political phase, and
reminded newsmen that he has been
following a policy of attempting to
extend the civil service to include
other Federal workers wherever pos
sible and practical
One neWSpaperman remarked that
Representative Ramspeck, Demo-
crat, of Georgia is sponsoring a bill
designed to accomplish much the
same purposes as the Hatch measure
by amending the civil service laws.
On that point, Mr.. Roosevelt said
only that he had always gone along
with Mr.. Ramspeck in extending
civil service.
No Mention of Nearby Offices.
Under an existing executive order,
civil service employees living in near
by Maryland and Virginia are per-
mitted to participate in municipal
elections, even to the extent of hold
Ing Office, and there has been some
speculation that enactment of the
Hatch bill, which includes no such
exemption, would supersede this
order.
The President warned his news
paper listeners not to make the
mistake OF going out on limb and
concluding from anything he had to
say on the measure just what his
decision would be when the time
comes either to approve or veto the
bill
One principal point raised by the
President regarding uncertainty of
the bills Interpretation is the oues-
ton dealing with voluntary cam
palgn contributions.
Some one in the room spoke In
that Senator Hatch thinks voluntary
contributions can be made under
terms of his bill, but the President
suggested that many different opin-
Ions could be given after the Ian
guage of the measure is read care
fully.
An official of the Democratic Ma
tlonal Committee has commented
that the bill undoubtedly will make
solicitation of funds from Federal
workers much more difficult"
Many Phases Considered.
Asked what phases of the legisla-
ton he had talked over Yesterday
with Senator Hatch, the President
replied that they had considered q
great many phases.
He described as most interesting
the language on what a Government
employe can do and can't do, and
said the language was very vague
There is problem, too, he said
OF who would enforce the bill and
another problem of what would be
done with State and other Govern.
ment employees who are not Fedora
workers.
When a reporter remarked that
his statement appeared to be some.
what discouraging toward the bill
(See HATCH BILL, Page A-3D