Evening star., 1941-12-02
Tells Of Potential Danger
OF Hatch Bill II Passed.
To the Editor of The Star.

To the Editor of The Star.
The Presidents press conference re-
mark on Friday, apparently indorsing
the principle of the Hatch bill relating
to transactions Of former employees with
the Government, focuses attention on a
serious threat to every person in the
Federal service. The Hatch bill is so
extreme in its provisions that it could
never pass if given thoughtful considera-
ton, but a Congress preoccupied with
defense matters and stirred by agita-
ton concerning fragrant cases of abuse
of influence by certain former high ofh-
cials may pass this supposed cure-all
without adequate study of its provisions.
The bill would punish as felony
0wo years in prison, $4,000 flne) the
receipt of compensation by any former
Federal employe for services rendered
in connection with prosecuting, negotiat-
ing, or otherwise handling before or with
any court or agency Of the United
States" within two years after leaving
the service, ANY claim, contract, or
other matter in which the United States
is an interested party Such a pro-
vision affects far more than the few ex-
officials with sufficient influence to
sway the Judgment of their former as
sociates. 1t strikes at every honest en-
ploye who leaves the Government
the young lawyers and administrators,
the clerks and auditors, and even the
typists. Their chance for gaining
livelihood outside the Government will
be substantially curtailed when they
must hold aloof from all matters in
which the United States in an interested
party" with which their duties bring
them In contact Every business and
the great majority of lawyers clients
today, in this era of big government,
will have problems of priorities, wages
and hours, labor relations, home loans,
securities regulation taxation, social
security, and many others. A lawyer
whose whole training and experience
may have fitted him for fields in which
the Government is inevitably interested
would be reduced to ambulance chasing
and divorces for two years after his
Federal service.
While employees now in service can
not protect themselves from the pro-
posed provision, it surely will deter
others from entering the Government,
for they will know that, II ever they
leave the service, their means OF llvell-
hood will be seriously impaired for two
wears. It will most discourage those
emergency defense employees who know
that their tenure is short. But the most
sincere career man, who expects to
serve long and faithfully, must recognize
that he may some day have to leave
the service, through dismissal, change
in personal circumstances, or the ac-
ceptance of an outside opportunity when
lack of appropriations has made his
position a dead end. The ideal OF
Federal career service. with the en-
ployes well enough paid so that they
will remain for life, is a highly desirable
one. But it has not yet been established
and until the advantages of such
system are made available the imposi-
tion of disadvantages in the form OF
club that discourages departure can
result only in making Government serv-
ice unattractive.
No one can condone the abuse Of
influence which has occurred In the
case OF certain former officials. But
we do not forbid driving because . few
may drive recklessly. A law which
strikes at the power of every former