Evening star., 1948-04-28
Ease Hatch Act
In Local Politics
Leadership
Sosscer, Smith Ask
Civil Service Agency
To Change Stond

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The Civil Service Commission to.
day was urged to permit Federal
employees to participate in local pol
itics in nearby Maryland and Vir-
ginia as Democrats or Republicans
Representatives Smith of Virgins
and Sasscer of Maryland, both Dem
ocrats, headed a group Of Maryland
and Virginia political leaders who
testified at hearing that the com.
missions Interpretation Of the
Hatch Act is unfair both to Gov
ernment workers and to good gov.
ernment in counties.
The commission has ruled under
the Hatch Act-which limits po-
litical acstivity of Government en-
ployes-that workers can partici-
pate in purely local elections, but
they must do so as independents
Commission members explained
that this is authorized by section
is OF the Hatcth Act. which allows
he act to be relaxed in localities
where the majority OF residents are
federal employees.
Candidates Handicapped.
Mr.. Smith contended that the
ection without any doubt gives
ou the power to allow workers to
participate in purely municipal poll
les" as Democrats or Republicans
In some areas. man cannot be
elected as an independent" he de-
Jared. When you say man must
run for the county board in Airing
on as an independent. you are cut
ing his feet from under him. 1t
means he has no chance Of election. "
This, in turn, deprives counties of
ONE of its best manpoWer, he added
A commission counsel agreed that
cction Is of the act gives the COM
mission power to do what Mr.. Smith
osked. Commissioner Harry B. Nit
Chel, however, said he was uncer-
tain about the intent of Congress
as to how far the commission should
60. He said the order authorizing
employees to participate as independ-
ents has been granted as far away
from Washington as Alaska.
Sasscer Backs Stand.
would We have to grant this
right to workers that far away or
Just to those within SO miles of the
District?" he asked.
Mr.. Smith answered that he
thought the commission should
issue an order naming counties near
Washington, and giving employees
in them the right to run for purely
local Offices under the banner of
their own parties.
Mr.. SaSscer indorsed Mr.. Smiths
argument and added, I'D like to
see all parts Of the Hatch Act-ex-
cept those dealing with corruption
repealed"
Mr.. Mitchell put in that he has
asked Congress to give the commits
sion more discretion in determining
penalties under the Hatch Act.
Talmage Wilcher. president of the
Northern Virginia Republican Club,
warned that If the present situation
continues, eventually We will have
a third party in Arlington, consist
ing entirely of government workers" "
Asked About Amendment.
The commission counsel asked
Mr.. Smith whether he did not at
one time introduce an amendment
in the House to provide what he
now wants done and whether it was
not turned down by the House
Mr.. Smith said he did not remember
But these people now are very
much afraid to open their mouths
on anything political" the legiSla-
tor added. This is situation which
should not exist in a free Nation.
j. Bond Smith, chairman of the
Montgomery County State Central
Committee, told the commission that
the present requirement that Fed
eral employees may participate ac-
lively only in So-called nom -parti-
san elections or as independent
candidates, ignores the realities and
Is being used as basis for Sug-
gesting the abandonment of the
two-party system in county govern
ment.
The Democratic Party In Mont
gomery County" Mr.. Smith said
has repeatedly condemned the in
Justice of present civil service re-
strictions which prevent Federal
employees from active participation
IN political campaigns in Montgom-
cry County.
Thousands Seen Affected.
Thousands of the countys most
substantial and intelligent citizens
are thus denied the right either to
run for local county Office as candi-
dates Of their party or even to be
active in behalf of such candidate
in such local county election"
Mr.. Smith said he had been au-
thorized by Senators TydingS and
OConor, both Democrats of Mary
land, to say they both favor re-
moval Of these restrictions and that
they would have attended this hear
ing except for conflicting committee
engagements"
Harrison Mann, Arlington County
Democratic chairman, told the COM
mission that even when a Govern
ment worker runs as an independent
he engages in partisan politics. The
reason, he explained, is that as an
independent he must campaign
against Republican or Democratic
candidates.
The commission heard indorse-
ments of the liberalizing proposals
from Harold Schilz, delegates to the
Arlington Civic Federation, and
Harold A. Ward, president of the
Fairfax Federation of Civic Asso-