Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-06-20

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The State legislators rem
FEDERAL worker taking local
once was made IN an answer
70 q question BY Subcommittee
Chairman Ashmore. Democrat
Of South Carolina.
~ Before 1851 Federal workers
had served on the Arlington
County Board. However. three
Federal workers were ousted
from the board that year by a
court decision which held that
the State constitution barred
them from serving.
II would take an amendment
70 the State constitution 70
allow them 10 serve.
Senator Fenwick told the
subcommittee that he favored
amending the Hatch Act to
allow Government workers TO
participate In local politics
with either major political
party. Under the present regu-
lations. this privilege Is ex-
tended only TO Federal work.
ers who are campaigning for q
nonpartisan organization.
Penalty In setup
Senator Fenwick's testimony
drew q comment from Chair
man Ashmore that the present
setup kind Of penalties you
II you are q Democrat or q
Republican"
Executive Committee chair
men for the Democratic and
Republican Parties urged re-
peal Of Hatch Act provisions
that prevent Federal employees
from taking part in local cam
paigns.
An opposite view was ex-
pressed by Representatives Of
the Arlingtonians for q Better
County. who asked that the
ban be retained.
Their statements reflected q
struggle by the two regular
political groups to eliminate
the alphabetical political or
CARNATIONS which have domi-
mated county board elections in
recent years. ABC at present
Is the only remaining active
coalition.
Factor In Coalition
The subcommittee held a
similar hearing in Hyattsville
yesterday to get the views Of
Maryland residents.
Most Of today's witnesses
came from Arlington, where
the Hatch Act has been q key
factor In the formation Of CO.
alition groups. The other coali-
ton was the Arlington 1nde-
pendent movement, which re-
Gently suspended activities.
David L. Gordon, @. o. p.
county chairman, said that un-
der Hatch Act provisions the
Federal workers "are second
class citizens"
II revisions are made, Mr..
Gordon said. the bans against
contributions and the holding
Of public offices should be re-
tanned.
Any legislation which the
committee may propose, he said.
should give the Federal employe
the right to take part in local
political activities but not TO
the extent that he is serving
two masters"
In his statement, Mr.. Cor
don also suggested that the
committee ask the Federal
Government to poll its workers
who live in Maryland end Vir-
ginia on their viewpoints TO-
ward the acts limitations.
Ernest L. Lyons, the county
Democratic chairman, said the
Arlington party has never ia
vored "the present discrimina-
tory restrictions" Under the
current setup. he said. Gov
eminent workers are allowed
to take an active role In eoali-
ton campaigns while the vast
majority are deprived Of this
simply because they are Dem
ocrats or Republicans"
He went on to urge that Fed
eral workers ''be permitted TO
participate IN local elections
with the party Of their own
choice, whether it be national
or otherwise"
An opposite request was
contained in q statement by
Mrs. Ruth o. Cox, q co-chair-
man Of the ABC coalition. who
asked that the Hatch act ban
be maintained.
Abolishing the restrictions.
she said, would be "a back
ward step in our progress for
better local government and
Q stronger Federal career
service"
Mrs. Cox said that expert
ence has proved the wisdom
Of the principle followed for
generations" in many parts Of
the Nation Of non-partisan