Evening star., 1941-10-05
u. 5. Employees
Free 10 Discuss
Brookings Plan
Civil Service O.K.'s
Debate Activity in
Montgomery Issue

gates to the Montgomery County
Civic Federation may participate in
study and discussion of the Brook
ings Institution report without vio-
lajng the political restrictions of
the Hatch Act or civil service rules,
the Civil Service Commission an
nounCed yesterday.
Noting that the changes III the
county form of government proposed
IN the BrookingS report may become
an important issue in the next elec-
ton, the commission added how
ever, that Federal employees par
ticipating in the Brookings study
and discussion. shall not engage i'll
the campaign "as advancing or op-
posing the candidacy of any in
dividual"
The commission S decision was in
answer to request from Joseph B.
Matre, president of the Montgomery
County Civic Federation.
Hull Rendered Opinion.
william A. Huh, executive assist
ant of the commission. rendered the
opinion. which said in part:
''As you have pointed out, the
broad changes in your local govern
ment. as recommended by the
BrookingS Institution. will III all
probability be an important issue
in the next county political cam
paign Therefore. whether or not
Federal employees. as individuals or
as representatives of a specific group.
may take part in the advancement
of 1hiS controversial question de-
perlds entirely on whether or not the
activity in question comes within
the% specific exception set forth in
Section 18 of the Hatch Act"
1T will be noted that one of the
exceptions set forth in section l8
deals with issues not specifically
identified with any State or ma
tional political party. This would
apparently be broad enough to in
clude a general issue such as
drastic change in the form of the
local government which would nee
essarily have to be submitted to
the voters for their approval or
diSapproval.
Election Rules Cited.
IN connection with these ques-
tionS of broad public interest such
as constitutional amendments, ref
erendums. approval of local ordi-
nanCeS and others of a similar
character, which section 10 deems
not to be specifically identified with
any State or national political party,
it is a recognized fact that such
general questions are at times at
issue in a general election in which
officers are to be elected from among
candidates who are representing the
major political parties. In such
cases Federal employees subject TO
the provisions of the Hatch Act
are required to so govern their aC-
tlvities in connection with the gen
eral issue that they deal only with
the question to be decided and do
not in any way become a part of
the campaign of any OF the. candi-
dates
Therefore. in answer to your
general question it can be said that
Federal employees affiliated with
Montgomery County Civic Fedora
ton. may serve as officers. chair
men OF committees, members of
committees and delegates of
Montgomery County Civic FEEDER
alton and as a part Of such
service may participate in
study and discussion of the Brook
ings report on the government of
Montgomery County, Md, without
violating the political activity re-
strictionS of section 9 a. of the
Hatch Act as amended and the
civil service rules provided that
such Federal employees either as
individuals or as officers or dele
gates of the fedora ton do not en-
gage in the campaign OF political
party either as advancing or op-
posing the candidacy of any of the
individual candidates for public Of
fee
Was Leader in Movement.
The county civic federation was
an inStigator of the movement TO
have the BrookingS report under
taken Since its completion the
federation has appointed a special
committee for its study.
Mr.. Matre said he was pleased by
the stand of the Civil Service Com
mission. and hoped it would be con-
ducive to freer and fuller discussion
Of the institutions report
Many Federal employees had
raised questions in connection with
the proposed study group sessions.
he said. 7 believe the statement
will reassure these workers that par
tiCipation in the discussions will be
entirely within proper bounds
Meanwhile the list of speakers in
the first six of series of meetings
scheduled to be held weekly be-
ginning October 16 at the Rockville
High School to consider the Brook
ings report, were announced yeSter-
day by Mrs. Aldo L. Rata OF
Bethesda.
Mrs. Raffa Is Chairman.
Mrs. Rata is education and pub
lcity chairman of a county wide
study group organized last month to
sponsor study of the report issued
last spring by the Brooklngs In
stitution.
The speakers and their subjects
are:
October 16-Frederic P. Lee
Background of the Report"
october 23-Mrs. Dean DinWoodey
vino will discuss the reports findings
on the county educational system
and Mrs. Donald Roberts who will
speak on Public Welfare"
october 30-Dr. Lewis Merriam o.
the Brookings Institution, Per,
sonnel and Civil Service
November 6-W. Paul Walker, pro.
fessor at Maryland University
County Financial Administration
November 13-Daniel P. Selko
Revenue"
November l7-CharleS L. Dearing
"Roads and Streets"
Mass Meeting Scheduled