The Chronicle-star combined with the Moss Point advertiser., 1948-06-18
Whot II Means :.
Ban On Federal Employee In Politics
BY ROBERT E. C

WASHINGTON - This being a
campaign year, the government
is warning about 100000 fed
eral and other public employees
not to play politics.
Signs posted in government
buildings in Washington and
throughout the nation are head
ed by the word Warning" in big
black letters. Underneath this
word the signs say Political ac-
tivity of federal employees pro-
hibited by law" and political
activity of certain employees of q
state or local (city) agency pro-
hibited." The United States Civil
Service Commission is distribut-
ing these warnings and telling Of
ficials to post them conspicuously.
In a town like Washington,
where politics are the vitamins
of social life, this may sound like
the pot calling the kettle black.
The big shots can play politics
but the little people can't. But
there are good reasons for the mo
politics" rules. They are written
into the civil service regulations
and are contained in a federal
law, the Hatch Act. A proven
violation is punishable by dis
missal from the federal service.
One reason for the rules is to
prevent the building of a great
political machine" among feder-
al employees and the hundreds of
thousands of other persons en-
ed by state or local authorities
on projects sustained in whole or
part by federal money. The g.
100000 federal employees and
their families alone represent
100000 or more votes. If each
was for the same candidate and
persuaded only a friend or two
concerning his vote, the total
number of votes involved, or sin
fluenced," might be over 10000
900. This would have been a big
chunk of the 5000. 900 votes cast
in the 1914 Presidential election.
The law doesn't forbid en-
ployes to discuss elections and
candidates privately with their
families and friends. But it does
forbid outright electioneer1ng,
like making a speech.
The danger of operating a for
midable federal machine was ap-
parent as long ago as 1901, when
a presidential directive by Presi-
dent Thomas Jefferson forbade
non-elected federal employees
from engaging in. politics. The
civil service rules have contain
ed a mo politics" clause since
the commission was established in
1883. Briefly the rules are.
l. Civil service rules apply to
all civil service employees in Wash
ington and other cities. The great
majority of federal workers, out
side teh military, come under
them. 2. Most other government
employees come under the Hatch
Act. 8. Neither the law nor the
civil service rules apply to the
president, vice president, cabin
ct officers or other top officials
who set government policies. Also
exempt are the people of the law
making (congress) and law-inter-
preting Judges, etc. branches of
government. 4. The Hatch Act
also covers employees of state or
local agencies, like highway de-
partment. 4. The Hatch Act also
covers employees of state or local
agencies like highway depart
ments, that obtain all or part OF
their funds from the federal gov
eminent. 5. In general, an en-
ploye can't serve in any official
political capacity or make cam
paign speeches or solicit politi-
cal funds. He can't run for politi-
cal office if party politics are
involved. 6. The employees are
permitted to take part in local
elections not run on a party basis.
AS an instance, one might be a
candidate for a school board if
none of the candidates was run
ming as a member of a political
party, and no party issues were
raised. 7. The rules and the law
do not forbid individuals from
expressing a polical opinion at
a private gathering such as a
bridge party.