Evening star., 1949-10-08
Proposal 70 Lift
Hatch Act in
Fairfax Studied
| Civil Service Asks
For Views in Reply
To Citizens Requests

A proposed regulation to permit
Federal employees living in Fair
fax County to actively particle
pate in non-partisan politics for
local Offices is being considered by
the Civil Service Commission.
The commission announced to-
day that persons wishing to ex.
press their views on the matter
should submit statements in writ
ing to it's executive assistant Will
liam C. Hull, before Sis pm.
October "a.
The proposal is in response to
request by Fairfax County Fedora
tion of Citizens Associations which
argued that about so per cent
of the county's population is en-
ployed by the Government. The
federation seeks to include the
unincorporated areas of the coun-
ty under provisions of Section
l6" of the Hatch Act. The COM
mission already has used this
section to permit non-political
activity for local Offices in Ar
lington and Falls Church as we'll
as the incorporated towns OF
Herndon, Vienna and Clifton in
Fairfax County.
Other Positions Affected.
In addition to the six elected
members OF the County Board of
Supervisors, the following ap-
pointive positions could be af-
fected by any change made by the
commission:
Board of Fire commissioners;
Regional Planning Commission;
Finance Board; Board of Land AS
SCISSORS; Board of Zoning Appeals:
Planning Commission, School
Trustee Electoral Board; School
Board; Library Board; Police Ad-
visory Committee: Board of Public
Welfare; Public Utilities Commits
sion: Board of Road Viewers. Hos
pital Survey Committee: Electro
cal Board; Board of Health and
Jury Commission.
So far, the commission has ex-
tended the privilege of nom
partisan activities only to the
communities already brought un-
der provisions of Section l6. It
has not granted partisan privi-
leges to these areas and. in fact.
the Fairfax and Arlington County
Civic Federations have gone on
record as opposed to active parti-
san politics for Federal workers.
Democratic leaders. however.
have advanced the argument that
the so-called "non-partisan"
groups are in fact partisan" be-
cause their candidates must run
against other candidates bearing
political labels. Thus, a Govern
ment employe. running for office
as an independent. by provisions
of Section Is. may oppose Demo-
crat for Office. The independent
would thus become partisan IN
the sense of being "anti-Demo-
cratic" by opposing the Demo-
cratic Party's candidate. it is
argued by some. The same would
be true for Republican candidates,
of course.
A House-approved bill to lessen
penalties for Hatch Act violations
now is held up in Senate
committee and no action seems
in prospect before the present
Congress adjourns.
Conditions Listed.
The commission listed the fol-
lowing conditions Under which it
has permitted Federal workers in
Washington area communities to
participate in politics:
They must not neglect official
duties and must not engage in
non-local partisan political activi-
ties"
They must not run for local
Office as candidates representing a
political party or become involved
in political management" of
party candidatea
| 1ney muSC run as lnQepeQQent
candidates and conduct their
campaigns in a purely non-par-
tisan manner" and they can not
enter party primary.
They must resign their Govern
ment jobs if appointed or elected
to full-time local office The
agency employing the worker is
the sole judge" of whether part
time elected or appointed Office
holders let their jobs interfere with
Government work.
Privileges granted by the COM
mission to any community may
be suspended or withdrawn.
illll "a