JK745 1912 [H. Res. 155, Sixty-second Congress, first session.] Resolved, That the Committee on Reform in the Civil Service be authorized to have such printing and binding done as shall be necessary in the transaction of its business during the Sixty-second Congress. [Passed May 8, 1911.] [H. R. 5970, Sixty-second Congress, first session.] A BILL Relating to the removal of employees of the Government in the classified civil service. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That no person employed in the classified civil service of the United States shall be removed therefrom except for such cause as will promote the efficiency of said service and for reasons given in writing, and the person whose removal is sought shall have notice of the same and of any charges preferred against him; and be furnished with a copy thereof, and also be allowed a reasonable time for personally answering the same in writing, but no examination of witnesses nor any trial or hearing shall be required except in the discretion of the officer making the removal, and copies of charges, notice of hearing, answer, reasons for removal, and of the order of removal shall be made a part of the records of the proper department or office; as shall also the reasons for any change in rank or compensation; and copies of the same shall be furnished to the person affected upon request, and the Civil Service Commission also shall, upon request, be furnished copies of the same or the originals thereof: Provided, however, That membership in any society, association, club, or other form of organization having for its objects, among other things, improvements in the condition of labor of its members, including hours of labor and compensation therefor and leave of absence, by any person or groups of persons in said classified civil service, or the presenting by any such person or groups of persons of any grievance or grievances to the Congress without threat, shall not constitute or be cause for reduction in rank or compensation or removal of such person or groups of persons from said service. 2 O OF D REMOVAL OF EMPLOYEES IN THE CLASSIFIED CIVIL SERVICE. COMMITTEE ON REFORM IN THE CIVIL SERVICE, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Washington, Thursday, April 20, 1911. The committee this day met, Hon. H. L. Godwin (chairman) presiding. The CHAIRMAN. This meeting was called for the purpose of considering H. R. 5970, Mr. Lloyd's bill. Mr. Gompers and others asked for a hearing on this bill and I believe they are present now. committee is ready to proceed with the hearing. The Mr. Gompers, we will hear you now or anyone you desire to be heard. STATEMENT OF MR. SAMUEL GOMPERS, PRESIDENT AMERICAN FEDERATION OF LABOR, WASHINGTON, D. C. Mr. GOMPERS. Mr. Chairman and gentlemen of the committee, we appear here this morning in connection with a general evil which has grown up in the affairs of our country in so far as it applies to the denial of the right of Government employees to associate for their own protection and mutual interests and because of the denial to Government employees of the rights guaranteed to them by the Constitution of our country to petition the Congress of the United States for such relief as they may deem right, just, and wise. The particular incidents which have occurred in the recent past in carrying out this policy of the denial of the general right, I shall ask my colleague, Secretary Morrison, of the American Federation of Labor, to present to you specific causes of complaint. I shall endeavor to confine myself to the general proposition. I think it is not necessary to more than call your attention to the first amendment to the Constitution of the United States which guarantees to the citizens of our country the right of freedom of worship, the right of the freedom of assemblage, the right of the freedom of speech, the right of the freedom of the press, and the right to petition for the redress of grievances. Despite these constitutional guaranties there has grown up a belief in some quarters, particularly in the executive and administrative branches of the Government, that because a man has accepted. employment in the Government service that that in itself is an estoppel to these rights to these employees. The commonest criminal in all our country, the murderer, the ravisher of the innocent convicted of the most henious offense known to our laws may petition the Government or any branch of it in any matter in which he believes his rights and his liberties are affected, but a man or a woman 3 |