Democratic Sentinel, Volume 7, Number 32, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 September 1883 — CIVIL-SERVICE LAW. [ARTICLE]

CIVIL-SERVICE LAW.

Clerks May Be Invited to Give Political Contributions, but Not Competed, Dorman B. Eaton, President of the CivilService Commission, was asked if ho regarded the circular of Thomas V. Cooper,, Chairman of the Republican State Committee of Pennsylvania, calling on the Federal office-holders of that commonwealth for contributions to the campaign fund as a. violation of the Civil-Service law. “1 do not think,” he said, “that it is within my province to render an Interpretation of thelaw “What is your opinion?” • “Well, to vio.ate the civil-service clausa prohibiting political assessment!, a personal appeal must be made, and the amount de- • tired mentioned. You will observe that Mr. Cooper does neither. There is a wide diUerence between his circular and others of seeming like character that have been lasued, especially the one sent out by Jay Hubbell last year. It is simply an invitation to contribute, and is in no sense an assessment. Tne circular avoids a violation of the law by its phraseology and manner of distribution.” “Isn’t the result the same?” “No, Sir. as the fear of punishment for refusal to contribute has been removed.” Mr. Eaton then demed the report that h» had said that none of the vacancies in the departments above *'.KO clerkships could be> tilled except by promotion. “The question,” he’said, “will be decided when the President returns. I can see no reason why a clerkship of the *1,209, *1,400, or *LtOO class, should not be filled under the law by appointment direct as weil-as one of themwer gradea The law makes no distinction. ”