File No. 837.00/522.

[Untitled]

[Extract.]
No. 1255.]

Sir: * * * I have to report that the suspension act, as amended by the Senate and sanctioned by the President, reads as follows:

All laws which guarantee the irremovability of public officials and employees are hereby suspended, in such part as concerns said irremovability, for a period of eighteen months.

The original measure contemplated the suspension of the civil service law alone, thus affecting only civilian employees of the classified service; but as finally enacted it affects the judiciary and military as well, whose tenure is protected by other laws containing provisions of a character similar to those of the civil service law.

The President issued at the same time a decree prescribing regulations purporting to construe the spirit of the law as enacted and facilitate its execution. * * * To pass upon charges brought against such officeholders provision is made for the appointment of a body to which the press promptly gave the picturesque name of “decapitating commission” composed of four members—one to be designated by the Liberal party, one by the Conservative party, and two by the veterans—and a chairman to be chosen by the President of the Republic. This commission is charged with the further duty of appointing to every vacancy arising from the removal of an officeholder accused before its bar a person belonging to the same political party as the one discharged.

Although it was the obvious purpose of the President in issuing this decree to provide a workable means for carrying out in good faith the terms of the agreement between the Government and the veterans * * * the veterans have flatly refused to have anything to do with the designation of the two members of the commission [Page 240] allotted to their organization. They contend that the voices of their representatives would be smothered by the two political members and the partisan chairman appointed by the President. * * * To sum up their attitude, they make no effort to conceal their distrust of the President, although he has lately shown a disposition to please them in every way possible. * * *

Otherwise there is no change in the situation. * * *

I have [etc.]

Hugh S. Gibson.