Evening star., 1939-08-04
Arlington Group
Seeks Hatch Act
Civic Federation
Plans to Continue
Campaign

AS the Justice Department studied
means for the proper administration
Of the Hatch law and guidance of
Government employees, the Arlington
County (Va) Civic Federation an
nounced TO-DAY it will conduct a
strenuous" campaign to retain for
Federal workers their rights to en-
gage in local political activities if
the legislation is interpreted as de-
nying them that privilege.
While Attorney General Murphy
discussed the new law with reporters
yesterday a proposal to restrict po-
itical activity of State employees paid
In part by Federal funds won ap-
proval of the Senate Civil Service
Committee.
Senator Nicely, Democrat, of West
Virginia, said he had no hope that
Congress would act on it at this
session, but predicted it would be-
come law before the 1910 campaign
got into full swing.
Mr.. Roosevelt suggested such leg
1slation to Congress when he signed
the bill by Senator Hatch, Democrat,
OF New Mexico, against political ac-
tivities of Federal jobholders.
Study Now Being Made.
At his press conference yesterday,
the first he mas held since the Hatch
bill became a law, Mr.. Murphy said
study was being made of the legis-
lation and he would endeavor by
proper means to apprise Govern
ment employees just what limitations
the act imposes upon them and
what rights they are free to exer-
else"
Mr.. Murphy said the Justice De-
partment has been flooded with re-
quests for opinions on specific appli-
cations of the far-reaching legisla-
ton which bans Federal workers
from political activity. Many of the
requests were from Federal workers
mere who also hold municipal posi-
tons in nearby towns.
However, Mr.. Murphy declined to
answer specific questions.
Mr. Murphy said that all the con-
fusion about the application of the
act Is just lone of the problems that
went along with the law-and. he
ADDED emphatically, "it is a good
law He reiterated his belief that
the law is constitutional. In re-
sponse to question he said he
thought quite surely" there will be
some test of the acts constitution
aity.
Murphy Outlines Procedures.
Mr.. Murphy indicated the proper
prodcedure for Government en-
ployes possibly affected by the act
to obtain an official ruling.
Mr.. Murphy said he would rather
not comment on the application of
the act to those already holding
Office.
To Continue Efforts,
DR.. Victor Meyers. president of
the Arlington Civic Federation, said
the Executive Committee and
special committee of the organiza-
ton will continue efforts begun
several months ago to determine ef-
feet OF the legislation on Federal
workers in nearby Virginia and
Maryland.
DR.. Meyers recalled that the Fed
Grafton was the first proponent of
the executive order of May 20. 1881.
exempting Federal workers in Ar
nngton from the political activity
rule OF the Civil Service Commits
sion.
The Federation began a study of
the original Hatch bill on June 6,
1889, after Senate passage. The two
civic committees were Immediately
appointed for the study and author
lied to take any action necessary to
protect the exemption extended in
the executive order.
DR.. Meyers said Representative
Smith. Democrat, of Virginia sent
the committee copy of a proposed
amendment to the bill. but no
amendment was offered by the Rep
resentative to preserve the existing
exemption. Representative Smith,
shortly after passage of the bill. said
the amendment as proposed by the
federation was unnecessary after
objectionable language" had been
removed.