Evening star., 1940-03-03
Senate Reopens
Hatch Bill Fight
Tomorrow
Measure to Extend
Act Will face
Strong Opposition
By ]. A. O'LEARY.

6y j. A. OLEARY.
The stage is set for opening Of Q
fight In the Senate tomorrow over
the new Hatch bill, to extend to
thousands Of State employees and
workers In the District government
the ban against political activity
already imposed on Federal per-
sonnel.
While Senator Hatch, Democrat,
of New Mexico made preparations
yesterday to defend the measure as
a logical sequel to the original law,
Senators Minton, Democrat, OF
Indiana, and Lucas, Democrat, Of
Illinois were making known their
continued opposition.
Senator Lucas called the bill an
invasion of the States by the Fed
eral Government, and challenged
the constitutionahty Of the pro-
posal.
Senator Minton asserted the meas
ure seeks to coerce the States, and
contended it would 60 so far as to
prevent the State employees affected
by it from making a political cam
paign contribution.
Hatch Armed With Decisions.
Senator Hatch, on the other
hand, is ready to cite a number of
court decisions in support of the
right of Congress to take this step.
The bill attempts to deal only
with State and municipal employees
paid In whole or in part from Fed
eral funds, and, with the exception
Of one provision, the only method of
enforcement proposed is to with
hold Federal grants or loans from
State agency when any of its en-
ployes Is found taking an active
part in political campaigns.
The exception is the paragraph
making it a violation of law for
these State or municipal employees
to use their Official authority for
the purpose of interfering with or
affecting the election or nominal
ton Of candidates in presidential or
congressional elections. This is an
extension of a similar provision in
the original law, applying to Fed
eral employees, and makes possible
q penalty of fine or imprisonment
for violations.
Voluntary Gifts Held Allowed.
Senator Hatch does not agree
with Senator Minton that the bill
would prevent State employees from
making q campaign contribution
The New Mexico Senator said the
Civil Service Commission, which will
administer this measure, has had
similar regulations for years gov
erning civil service personnel which
have been construed as permitting
voluntary contributions.
Senator Minton said he would 20
."as far as Senator Hatch or any
one else in preventing coercion in
politics" What he objects to, he
said, is attempting to prevent an
employe from discussing a political
campaign with his friends and
neighbors after his days work Is
over.
In order to avoid having each
Federal agency that allocates funds
to the States setting up its own in
depreciation of what constitutes
political activity. Senator Hatch is
proposing to make the Civil Service
Commission the central agency to
administer the State Hatch Act.
Would Decide Punishment
Upon receipt of complaint of
political activity by State employe,
the commission would determine
how much Federal aid should be
withheld from that State agency,
depending on the scope of the viola
ton and whether the aid should be
withheld permanently, temporarily
or conditionally.
In applying the act to the person.
mel of the District Government, the
Commissioners would be exempt, in
accordance with the rule which ex-
empts policy-making officials in Fed
eral departments. This exemption
will make it unnecessary for Com
missioner Allen to relinquish his
position as acting chairman Of the
Democratic State Central Committee
for the District.
If the bill passes the Senate 1t
probably will be referred by the
House to a subcommittee of the Ju-
dietary Committee, which already
has given some study to the subject.
When the original Hatch Act was
being enacted less than a year ago it
was argued by some in the debate
that If such restrictions are to be
applied to Federal appointees, they
should also apply to State personnel.