Democratic Sentinel, Volume 2, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 June 1878 — Campaign Assessments. [ARTICLE]

Campaign Assessments.

• In response to inquiries from a clerk, Secretary Schurz has written the following letter : Dear Sib : I have received your letter submitting to me the following questions connected with the circuler received by you from the Congressional Campaign Committee, asking for contributions to the campaign fund : Whether you are obliged to pay such contribution ; whether you are permitted to do so; and whether your doing so or not doing so will affect your official standing and prospects in this department ? 1. You receive your salary as an employe of the Government for certain services rendered in your official capacity, not as a member of a political party. The salary so earned belongs to you, and, unless taxed by law, it is in no sense subject to any assessment for any purpose whatever. In return for it you are expected to perform your official duties faithfully and efficiently ; nothing more. In this connection I have to call your attention to the following statutory provision (19 stat., p. 169, sec. 3): “That all executive officers as employes of the United States not appointed by the Presiww4la. 4L® wl-riao a*wl n.xnoont o# fho flan. ate, are prohibited from requesting, giving te or receiving from, any other officer or employe of the Government any money or property or other thing of value for political purposes; and any such officer or employe who shall offend against the provisions of this section shall be at once discharged from the service of the United States ; and he shall also be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and, on conviction thereof, shall be fined in a sum not exceeding SSOO. 2. You are as free as any other citizen to spend your spare money in any legitimate way you please, and as your political principles or your public spirit may suggest, provided you do not violate the above-quoted provision of law, either directly or indirectly. 3. Your contributing or not contributing, as above stated, will not affect in any manner whatever your official standing or prospects in this de-

partment.

C. SCHURZ.