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Postmaster General Payne offers guidance to postal employees regarding political activity in the classified and unclassified service. Relevant sections of the Postal Laws and Regulations are printed after the letter.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-10-01
President Roosevelt has demanded the resignation of Edward F. McSweeney, Assistant Commissioner of Immigration at New York. Henry Loomis Nelson argues that this demand is a great injustice and reviews the McSweeney case.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-04-05
President Roosevelt’s intervention led to the withdrawal of the Civil Service Commission’s request for the removal of Postmaster McMichael. He asks Representative Bingham to make sure that McMichael “understands that there must be no violation or evasion of the law and the rules of his office.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-12-30
The Civil Service Commission has determined that the three postal carrier were transferred due to improper political considerations by Postmaster McMichael’s subordinates. President Roosevelt does not believe that McMichael was aware of the political pressure being used against the carriers but he approved the transfers at the suggestion of his subordinates. The carriers will be returned to their previous routes. The reasons for transfers will now be kept in a written record, and special care must be taken to ensure that transfers are not influenced by political or religious considerations.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-12-30
Ernest Thompson Seton relays details on his recent meeting with C. Hart Merriam discussing Merriam’s “magnum opus” on North American mammals. Merriam, being a civil servant, cannot take more than six months’ leave to work on his research. If Secretary of Agriculture James Wilson were to request a list of mammals in North America beneficial to agriculture and commerce, this would cut Merriam’s work by at least one-third.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-01-20
James Bronson Reynolds recalls that President Roosevelt has offered Daniel J. Keefe his choice between the position of Labor Secretary to the Panama Canal Commission and Commissioner General of Immigration. Should Keefe choose Labor Secretary, Reynolds recommends that the salary be increased to $8000 per year. If he chooses to become Commissioner General, Reynolds asks Roosevelt to change the law to give Keefe more power so that he can enact change.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-02
Senator Platt asks President Roosevelt if it is possible for Commissioner of Patents Frederick Innes Allen and his wife to receive invitations to the Diplomatic Reception on December fourth. The Allens were planning to take guests to the reception, but their guests have been invited and they have not.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-11-23
Collector Dowe informs customs employees that they are not required to make campaign contributions to candidates for the Fifteenth Congressional District of Texas. He advises against making campaign contributions to any candidates.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-09-30
Edward F. McSweeney asks John B. Pine to provide a statement concerning their conversation in 1898, in which McSweeney informed Pine of Terence Vincent Powderly’s violations of Civil Service regulations. McSweeney is coming under scrutiny for alleged abuses and is seeking vindication.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-03-16
John B. Pine believes that Edward F. McSweeney has been within the Civil Service rules but President Roosevelt might want to make a “clean sweep” of the office. Pine and several others have told Roosevelt that McSweeney is free from blame. Pine believes that an investigation will acquit McSweeney from blame and give him the credit he deserves.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-03-17
Secretary of the Navy Long answers questions regarding Navy Department employees and Civil Service regulations.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-01-24
Commissioner Foulke relates a conversation with Representative Hopkins, the Chairman of the Census Committee. Hopkins is concerned about an amendment introduced by Representative Hay that classifies all of the present Census staff. Hopkins does not want Congress to take any action that would conflict with President Roosevelt and asked if Roosevelt would veto the amended bill.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-01-28