Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-08-21
Primary Bill Veto
President Gives
Reason for Action

President Gives
Reason for Action
FOLLOWING is the teEt OF Prest-
dent Eisemtomer's message to the
Senate yesterday uetoing the Dts
trict primary bin providing fOr
election OF delegates to national
political conventions:
I return herewith without my
approval s. 1911. an enactment
entitled IAN Act to regulate
the election of delegates repre-
senting the District Of Column
bia to national political conven-
tions. and for other purposes
This enactment regulates the
election of national committee
men and committeewomen and
delegates and alternates from the
District Of Columbia to all COM
ventions Of political parties nom-
mating candidates for the Presi-
dency and Vice Presidency Of the
United States.
The enactment further pro-
,vides for o Board Of Elections,
composed Of three members
appointed by the Commissioners
OF the District ;of Columbia. The
board would maintain q perrna-
nent registry Of electors, conduct
the elections. certify nominees
and the results of elections, and
perform other functions incident
to the conduct of such elections.
Section 9 Of the enrolled bill
exempts the qualified electors OF
the District of Columbia from
the Hatch Act.
cannot approve the pro-
visions of the enrolled bill which
would enable a very limited
number of Federal employees to
engage in partisan political ac-
tivities, a privilege denied to all
other Federal employees by the
Hatch Act. The bill would
amend this act by permitting
Federal employees living in the
District of Columbia to actively
participate in the nomination
and election Of delegates and al
ternates representing the Dis
trict at national political con-
ventions and in the selection Of
members Of the national COM
mittees Of political parties. It is
estimated that of the approxi-
mately 2.180,000 Federal en-
ployes in the United States. only
160, 200 or Z per cent work in the
District OF Columbia. It is i'm
possible to determine how many
Of the $4,000 live in the District
Of Columbia and would be privi-
legged to actively participate in
elections Of party national COM
mitteemerl, but the number
would be extremely small COM
pared to the total number Of
Federal employees.
Thus q tiny percentage of Fed
eral employees would be per-
mitted to be candidates for,
and to serve In, the political
party Offices Of national COM
mittemen. They also would be
allowed to engage in such parti-
san political activities as serving
on campaign committees. max
ing public addresses in behalf OF
candidates. soliciting funds, and
q variety Of other duties incident
to political campaigns. If addi-
tional political privileges are to
be extended to Federal employees
it should be on q Nationwide
basis. No apparent reason exists
for singing out q limited num-
Der Of Federal employees living
in the District Of Columbia and
permitting them to participate
In partisan political activities
while all other Federal employees
throughout the country are de-
MED this privilege under the
Hacht Act.
!. take this action with consid-
cradle regret. Were it not for
this wholly unacceptable exemp-
ton from the Hacht Act. this
legislation would represent q
constructive step toward obtain
ing suffrage In the District Of
Columbia. Fortunately. the first
election under procedures au-
thorized by this bill would moi
take place until April. 1856.
Therefore. there is still ample
time for the Eighty-fourth Con-
gress to consider this matter
again. / recommend such &C.
ton, and ! shall be glad to ap.
prove q bin from which the de.
fects Of the present measure
are removed.