Executive Order 1583

The temporary office of moderator of a town meeting and offices of a like character are hereby excepted from the operation of the Executive order of January 17, 1873, prohibiting persons in the Federal civil service from holding office under the charter or ordinances of any municipal corporation, and may be held by persons in the executive civil service. Membership in the civil service ought not to prevent an employee from taking part in the ordinary municipal affairs of the community in which he lives, where that part does not involve permanent service but only such a temporary duty as that of acting as chairman of a municipal business meeting, where such service is not compensated by any salary or other emolument, and where the attention required by such service does not interfere with the regular and efficient discharge of the duties of the Federal office held.

In the exercise of the privilege granted by this order officers and employees must not neglect their official duties and must not engage in national, State, or county political activity in violation of the civil-service rules; and in seeking the local offices named or in performing the duties thereof employees shall not use the authority or influence of their Federal positions nor take an active part in political management or in political campaigns.

Wm. H. Taft.

The White House,

August 24, 1912.