Full opinion text
POOS, District Judge. This case is here on appeal from an Order of the United States Civil Service Commission. The State of Illinois and Glen D. Palmer, Director of Conservation of the State of Illinois, perfect the appeal from the Order. The Commission issued its “Letter of Charges” to the State of Illinois and Glen D. Palmer, in which it charged that it was in receipt of information which warranted it, under the provisions of Section 12 of the Act of August 2, 1939, as amended July 19, 1940, 54 Stat. 767 (U.S.C.A., Title 5, Section 118k), in making an investigation of improper political activities of Glen D. Palmer, Director of Department of Conservation, State of Illinois. The “Letter” stated that the term “Republican Party” means a political party whose candidates for Presidential electors received votes in the last preceding election at which Presidential electors were selected; the term “political campaign” means the political campaign of a candidate for nomination by, or election as the candidate for nomination by, or election as the candidate of, a political party as defined above, and the term “political management” means the management of a political campaign as defined above. The “Letter of Charges” is dated June 9, 1958, and it charged as follows: I. That Glen D. Palmer has been employed by the Department of Conservation, State of Illinois, since Jan. 28, 1953. II. That by virtue of said employment his principal employment is in connection with an activity, the Department of Conservation, State of Illinois, which is financed in whole or in part by loans and grants made by the United States. III. That while so employed the said Glen D. Palmer took an active part in political management and in political campaigns, in that: (a) The said Glen D. Palmer has served as precinct committeeman and Chairman of the Kendall County Republican Committee, Kendall County, Illinois, from Jan. 28, 1953, to the present. (b) The said Glen D. Palmer did file Primary Petitions for Precinct Committeeman of the Republican Party with the County Clerk, Kendall County, Illinois, on Jan. 18, 1954, and Jan. 16, 1956, and as a result thereof was a candidate for and elected to that position in the primary elections of April 13, 1954, and April 10, 1956. (c) The said Glen D. Palmer did solicit signatures on his own behalf on a primary petition for Precinct Committeeman of the Republican Party in the town of Bristol, Kendall County, Illinois, for the primary election held on April 8, 1958. (d) The said Glen D. Palmer did file with the County Clerk, Kendall County, Illinois, a Primary Petition for Precinct Committeeman of the Republican Party and an Oath and Statement of Candidacy for the primary election of April 8, 1958. (e) The name of Glen D. Palmer did appear on the ballot as a candidate for and the said Glen D. Palmer was elected as a Republican Party Precinct Committeeman, Bristol Township, Kendall County, Illinois, in the primary election of April 8, 1958. IV. That the acts herein described on the part of Glen D. Palmer are in violation of Section 12(a) and Section 15 of the Act of Aug. 2, 1939, as amended, 5 U.S. C.A. §§ 118k(a), 118k-l. This letter was dated and signed in Washington, D. C. by the Assistant General Counsel of the U. S. Civil Service Commission, and was duly served on the respondents, the State of Illinois and Glen D. Palmer. The State of Illinois and Glen D. Palmer filed answers to the “Letter of Charges”, issue was joined, and the matter came on for hearing before the U. S. Civil Service Commission. Glen D. Palmer entered into a stipulation with the Commission at the hearing, the effect of which admits the political activity described in Paragraph III of the “Charges”. This stipulation was entered into on Sept. 3, 1958, and later, on Oct. 24, 1958, a further stipulation was made in which it was agreed that Glen D. Palmer has held the office of Director of Conservation of the State of Illinois from Jan. 28, 1953, to the present, and that the salary of the Director of Conservation of the State of Illinois is $12,000 per annum. The United States Civil Service Commission made its case by three witnesses, James II. Wilder, a bookkeeper in the Treasurer’s Office of the State of Illinois ; Francis A. Whitney, Supervisor of Accounting in the Department of Conservation; and Sam A. Parr, Administrative Assistant in the Department of Conservation of the State of Illinois, all of whom developed the facts on which the Commission entered its order against Glen D. Palmer and the State of Illinois. The facts show that all monies spent by the Department of Conservation are appropriated by the General Assembly of Illinois, the Legislative Branch of the State Government; that no federal money is spent by the Department, the Department only spending money in accordance with monies appropriated to it by the General Assembly. This is in accordance with the Constitution of the State of Illinois, which provides, in Article IV, Sec. 17 and 18, S.H.A., as follows: “Sec. 17. No money shall be drawn from the treasury except in pursuance of an appropriation made by law, and on the presentation of a warrant issued by the auditor thereon; and no money shall be diverted from any appropriation made for any purpose, or taken from any fund whatever, either by joint or separate resolution * * *." “Sec. 18. Each general assembly shall provide for all the appropriations necessary for the ordinary and contingent expenses of the government until the expiration of the first fiscal quarter after the adjournment of the next regular session, the aggregate amount of which shall not be increased without a vote of two-thirds of the members elected to each house, nor exceed the amount of revenue authorized by law to be raised in such time; and all appropriations, general or special, requiring money to be paid out of the state treasury, from funds belonging to the state, shall end with such fiscal quarter * * * ” Thus, under the above quoted sections, the General Assembly must, every two years, appropriate all money spent in running State government. This money can only be withdrawn from the State treasury on a voucher issued by the Auditor of Public Accounts. The facts further show that there are nine divisions in the Department of Conservation, namely, the Division of Park Memorials, Forestry, Fisheries, Game, Game Management, Engineering, Law, Education and the General Office; that all the Divisions in the Department of Conservation are financed through the Game Fund except Engineering, Parks and Forestry, All divisions are administered by the Director. The Director’s duties are full time. The duties that the Director is required to fill are almost a two-man job. The size of the Department requires of him sixty hours a week to handle the work. He is a member of from nine to twelve committees; is required to run the administrative staff, and to administer the entire conservation program, including the ramifications of the entire nine divisions. He must travel throughout the State and out of the State on conservation business. Within the Department there are ten to twelve boards, commissions and councils which the Director, under statutory duties, must run. In addition to the statutory duties, other duties are planning of lakes, acquisition of land, engineering, stocking of lakes, thirty memorials and forty-five parks to be looked after, plus two conservation areas, new picnic areas to be looked after, new additions to buildings to be supervised, new buildings in process of erection to be supervised, the collection of admission fees, new highway construction to lake areas, construction of lakes, game propagation, many game farms, the rearing, raising and distribution of game birds, supervising personnel, personal interviews with fish and game enthusiasts, requests for stocking of fish to be disposed of and the delivery of fish to lake areas, experimental work with new species of game birds for Illinois, development of game propagation lands, forestry and nursery developments, distribution of trees to the public, accounting in connection with all projects, preparation of budgets, educational film service, public relations work, filling speaking engagements at public fish and game meetings. He must also meet the public who come to his office on conservation matters. These duties are all required by State Law. In addition to these duties, he also has duties with Federal Aid projects, and included among these are the setting up of various developments and new projects, and those that might come under federal aid are submitted by the Department to federal governmental agencies for approval and then turned over to the coordinator, a State employee, who must have his name submitted to and his appointment approved by the Federal Government, after which appointment he handles all such projects and from time of approval he takes over and does the departmental work on these projects. This is done under the rules and regulations of the Bureau of Sports, Fisheries and Wild Life, a division of the United States Department of the Interior. The Department of Conservation has had such a coordinator since 1942. The duties of the coordinator are to take the project or projects over and carry through until completion, and after completion send the reports in to the Federal Government for reimbursement so that the State of Illinois can recover the monies appropriated by the General Assembly. The record further shows that all money spent on these projects is State money, appropriated by the General Assembly. The requests for reimbursement are prepared by the coordinator and signed by the Director. State regulations require this. The agreement between the State and the federal agency requires that the coordinator is to be in principal control of all Federal Aid projects. The rules of the Federal Agency that require this are in the Federal Aid in Fish and Wildlife Manual, Section 170, Paragraphs 171.1 through 172.1, which, in brief, provide for the appointment of the coordinator and that he will serve as the principal administrative head of the Federal Aid Program and be responsible therefor through completion. These various programs are provided for under the following Federal Acts, namely, Pittman-Robertson, Dingell-Johnson, and the Clarke-McNary Acts. The Pittman-Robertson Act, 16 U.S.C. A. § 669 provides as follows: “The Secretary of the Interior is authorized to cooperate with the States, through their respective State fish and game departments, in wildlife-restoration projects as hereinafter in sections 669-669b, and 669c-669i of this title set forth; but no money apportioned under said sections to any State shall be expended therein until its legislature, or other State agency authorized by the State constitution to make laws governing the conservation of wildlife, shall have assented to the provision of said sections and shall have passed laws for the conservation of wildlife which shall include a prohibition against the diversion of license fees paid by hunters for any other purpose than the administration of said State fish and game department, except that, until the final adjournment of the first regular session of the legislature held after September 2, 1937, the assent of the Governor of the State shall be sufficient. The Secretary of the Interior and the State fish and game department of each State accepting the benefits of said sections, shall agree upon the wildlife-restoration projects to be aided in such State under the terms of said sections and all projects shall conform to the standards fixed by the Secretary of the Interior. Sept. 2, 1937, c. 899, § 1, 50 Stat. 917; 1939 Reorg. Plan No. II, § 4(f), eff. July 1, 1939, 4 F.R. 2731, 53 Stat. 1433.” It is under this Section and the other provisions of the Act that Congress has made available funds received from taxes laid on firearms, shells, and cartridges, to the Secretary of the Interior for use by him in cooperation with the States for wildlife restoration. The Dingell-Johnson Act, 16 U.S.C.A. § 777, is in the same language as the quoted provision above except that the available tax revenue to create the fund is received from taxes laid on fishing rods, creels, reels, and artificial lures, baits and flies for fish restoration and management projects. The Clarke-McNary Act, 16 U.S.C.A. § 563, provides as follows: “The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized, and on such conditions as he deems wise, to stipulate and agree with any State or group of States to cooperate in the organization and maintenance of a system of fire protection on any private or State forest lands within such State or States and situated upon the watershed of a navigable river. No such stipulation or agreement shall be made with any State which has not provided by law for a system of forest-fire protection. In no case shall the amount expended in any State exceed in any fiscal year the amount appropriated by that State for the same purpose during the same fiscal year.” 16 U.S.C.A. § 564, provides as follows; “The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized and directed, in cooperation with appropriate officials of the various States or other suitable agencies, to recommend for each forest region of the United States such systems of forest-fire prevention and suppression as will adequately protect the timbered and cut-over lands therein with a view to the protection of forest and water resources and the continuous production of timber on lands chiefly suitable therefor.” 16 U.S.C.A. § 565b provides as follows: “The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized, subject to such conditions as he may prescribe, to transfer, without reimbursement or at such prices and upon such terms as he may impose, to States and political subdivisions or agencies thereof fire lookout towers and other structures or improvements used by the Forest Service for fire prevention or suppression purposes, and the land used in connection therewith if such land is outside national forest boundaries when they are no longer needed by the Forest Service for such purposes but are of value to the State or political subdivision or agency thereof in its fire protection system; Provided, That if any property so transferred is not put to use for the purpose for which it was transferred within two years from the date of transfer, or if, within fifteen years from the date of transfer, any such property should cease to be used for the purpose for which it was transferred for a period of two years, title thereto shall revert to and immediately revest in the United States.” 16 U.S.C.A. § 567, provides as follows: “The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized and directed to cooperate with the various States in the procurement, production, and distribution of forest-tree seeds and plants, for the purpose of establishing forests, windbreaks, shelter belts, and farm wood lots upon denuded or non-forested lands within such cooperating States, under such conditions and requirements as he may prescribe to the end that forest-tree seeds or plants so procured, produced, or distributed shall be used •effectively for planting denuded or nonforested lands in the cooperating ■States and growing timber thereon. The amount expended by the Federal Government in cooperation with any State during any fiscal year for such purposes shall not exceed the amount expended by the State for the same purposes during the same fiscal year, and the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to make expenditures on the certificate of the State official having charge of the cooperative work for the State that State expenditures as provided for in this section have been made. There is authorized to be appropriated to enable the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out the provisions of this section not more than $1,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1950; $1,-500,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1951; $2,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1952; and $2,500,000 for each subsequent fiscal year.” 16 U.S.C.A. § 567a provides as follows: “For the purpose of stimulating the acquisition, development, and proper administration and management of State forests and of insuring coordinated effort by Federal and State agencies in carrying out a Comprehensive national program of forest-land management, the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to enter into cooperative agreements with appropriate officials of any State or States for, acquiring in the name of the United States, by purchase or otherwise, such forest lands within the cooperating State as in his judgment the State is adequately prepared to administer, develop, and manage as State forests in accordance with the provisions of this section and section 567(b) of this title, and with such other terms not inconsistent therewith as he shall prescribe, such acquisition to include the mapping, examination, appraisal, and surveying of such lands and the doing of all things necessary to perfect title thereto in the United States: Provided, That, since it is the declared policy of congress to maintain and, where it is in the national interest to extend the national-forest-system, nothing herein shall be construed to modify, limit, or change in any manner whatsoever the future ownership and administration by the United States of existing national forests and related facilities, or hereafter to restrict or prevent their extension through the acquisition by purchase or otherwise of additional lands for any national-forest purpose: Provided further, That this section and section 567b of this title shall not be construed to limit or repeal any legislation authorizing land exchanges by the Federal Government, and private lands acquired by exchange within the limits of any area subject to a cooperative agreement of the character herein authorized shall hereafter be subject to the provisions of this section and section 567b of this title.” 16 U.S.C.A. § 567b provides as follows: “No cooperative agreement shall be entered into or continued in force under the authority of section 567 (a) of this title or any land acquired under sections 567(a)-567 (c) of this title turned over to the cooperating State for administration, development, and management unless the State concerned, as a consideration for the benefits extended to it thereunder, complies in a manner satisfactory to the Secretary of Agriculture with the following conditions and requirements which shall constitute a part of every such agreement : * * * “(b) In order to insure a stable and efficient organization for the development and administration of the lands acquired under sections 567 (a)-567(c) of this title, the State shall provide for the employment of a State forester, who shall be a trained forester of recognized standing. “(c) The Secretary of Agriculture and the appropriate authorities of each cooperating State shall work out a mutually satisfactory plan defining forest areas within the State which can be most effectively and economically administered by said State, which plan shall constitute a part of the cooperative agreement between the United States and the State concerned: Provided, That nothing herein shall be held to prevent the Secretary of Agriculture from later agreeing with the proper State authorities to desirable modifications in such plan. “(d) No payment of Federal funds shall be made for land selected for purchase by the United States under sections 567(a)-567(e) of this title until such proposed purchase has been submitted to and approved by the National Forest Reservation Commission created by section 513 of this title. “(e) Subject to the approval of the National Forest Reservation Commission, the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to pay out of any available money appropriated for carrying out the purposes of sections 567(a)-567(c) of this title any State, county, and/or town taxes, exclusive of penalties, due or accrued on any forest lands acquired by the United States under donations from the owners thereof, and which lands are to be included in a State or other public forest pursuant to said sections. “(f) The State shall prepare such standards of forest administration, development, and management as are necessary to insure maximum feasible utility for timber production and! watershed protection, and are acceptable to the Secretary of Agriculture and shall apply the same to> lands acquired and placed under the-jurisdiction of the State pursuant to-sections 567(a)-567(c) of this title. “(g) That with the exception of such Federal expenditures as may be-made for unemployment relief, the State shall pay without assistance from the Federal Government the entire future cost of administering,, developing and managing all forest lands acquired and over which it has been given jurisdiction under sections 567(a)-567(c) of this title. “(h) During the period any cooperative agreement made under sections 567(a)-567(c) of this title remains in force, one-half of the gross-proceeds from all lands covered by said agreement and to which the United States holds title shall be-paid by the State to the United! States and covered into the Treasury. All such payments shall be-credited to the purchase price the State is to pay the United States for said land, such purchase price to bean amount equal to the total sum expended by the United States in acquiring said lands. Upon payments-of the full purchase price, either as herein provided or otherwise, title to-said lands shall be transferred from the Federal Government to the State,, and the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to take such action and incur such expenditures as may be necessary to effectuate such transfer. * * * “(j) The State shall furnish the Secretary of Agriculture with such annual, periodic, or special reports as he may require respecting the State’s operations under its agreement with him. “(k) When a State or political unit thereof acquires under tax delinquency laws title to forest lands without cost to the United States and which lands are included within a State or other public forest, the Secretary of Agriculture, on behalf of the Federal Government, may contribute annually out of any funds made available under section 567 (c) of this title not to exceed one-half of the cost of administering, developing, and managing said lands.” 16 U.S.C.A. § 568 provides as follows: “The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized and directed, in cooperation with the land grant colleges and universities of the various States, or in his discretion, with other suitable State agencies, to aid farmers through advice, education, demonstrations, and other similar means -in establishing, renewing, protecting, and managing wood lots, shelter belts, windbreaks, and other valuable forest growth, and in harvesting, utilizing and marketing the products thereof. Except for preliminary investigations, the amount expended by the Federal Government ‘under this section in cooperation with any State or other cooperating .agency during any fiscal year shall not exceed the amount expended by the State or other cooperating agency for the same purpose during the .same fiscal year, and the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to make expenditures on the certificate of the appropriate State official that the State expenditures, as provided for in this section, have been made. There is authorized to be appropriated annually out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, not more than $500,000 to enable the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out the provisions of this .section.” 16 U.S.C.A. § 568c provides as follows: “The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to cooperate with State foresters or equivalent officials of the several States, Territories, and possessions for the purpose of encouraging the States, Territories, and possessions to provide technical services to private forest landowners and operators, and processors of primary forest products with respect to the management of forest lands and the harvesting, marketing, and processing of forest products, and where necessary to avoid uneconomic duplication of certain technical and training services, to make such services available to private agencies and persons. All such technical services shall be provided in each State, Territory, or possession in accordance with a plan agreed upon in advance between the Secretary and the State forester or equivalent official of the State, Territory or possession. The provisions of Sections 568(c) and 568(d) of this title and the plan agreed upon for each State, Territory or possession shall be carried out in such manner as to encourage the utilization of private agencies and individuals furnishing services of the type described in this section.” 16 U.S.C.A. § 568e, provides as follows: “(a) The Congress finds and declares that building up and maintaining a level of timber growing stocks adequate to meet the Nation’s domestic needs for a dependable future supply of industrial wood is essential to the public welfare and security; that assisting in improving and protecting the more than fifty million acres of idle non-Federal and Federal lands for this purpose would not only add to the economic strength of the Nation, but also bring increased public benefits from other values associated with forest cover; and that it is the policy of the Congress that the Secretary of Agriculture in order to encourage, promote, and assure fully adequate future resources of readily available timber should assist the States in undertaking needed programs of tree planting. “(b) Any State forester or equivalent State official may submit to the Secretary of Agriculture a plan for forest land tree planting and reforestation for the purpose of effecting the policy hereinbefore stated. “(c) When the Secretary of Agriculture has approved the plan, he is authorized and directed to assist the State in carrying out such plan, which assistance may include giving of advice and technical assistance and furnishing financial contributions: Provided, That, for the non-Federal forest land tree planting and reforestation, the financial contribution expended by the Federal Government during any fiscal year to assist the State to carry out the plan shall not exceed the amount expended by the State for the same purposes during the same fiscal year, and the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to make financial contributions on the certificate of the State official in charge of the administration of the plan as to the amount of expenditures made by the State. “(d) In any plan that coordinates forest lands under the jurisdiction of any Federal agency other than the Department of Agriculture, the Secretary of Agriculture shall obtain the cooperation and assistance of the Federal agency having jurisdiction and the appropriate State forester in the approval and carrying out of the plan. “(e) The Secretary of Agriculture may prescribe such rules and regulations as may be appropriate to carry out the purposes of this section. * * *.” This Act gives consent of Congress to each of the several states to enter into any agreement or compact, not in conflict with any law of the United States, with any other state or states for the purpose of conserving forests, etc. This Act is to be carried out by the United States Secretary of Agriculture. Each of the Acts contemplates an agreement on the part of Congress with each or any of the States to enter into cooperative agreements to accomplish the respective purposes therein provided for. The General Assembly of Illinois has enacted legislation as required by the respective Acts to enable cooperation on the part of the State in so far as its constitutional powers permit it to do. This is Section 63bl, Chapt. 127, Illinois Revised Statutes 1959, which provides as follows: “§ 63c. The Department of Conservation further shall have the power and authority to enter into agreements with appropriate federal agencies in order to better effect cooperative undertakings in the conservation, preservation, distribution and propagation of fish, mussels, frogs, turtles, game, wild animals, wild fowls, birds, trees, plants and forests.” This is the section of Illinois law that enables the State to enter into contracts with Federal agencies as provided in the three Federal Acts above mentioned. The record shows that contracts were made with the United States Interior Department for fish and game purposes and with the United States Agricultural Department for forestry purposes. The record further shows that federal aid projects are paid for with funds appropriated by the General Assembly of Illinois, and that after projects are completed the State is reimbursed for the federal portion of the project in accordance with the percentages as provided in the respective Federal Acts, and that the federal funds are then paid into the State Treasury upon order of the Auditor of Public Accounts and there remain until the General Assembly reappropriates funds. The federal money received in reimbursement cannot again be withdrawn except upon its appropriation by the General Assembly. It thus appears that in the first instance the monies that are spent by the “Department” here involved is all state money, and that the “Department” is really a mere agency through which federal funds are chan-nelled into the State treasury in accord-anee with the contracts made as aforementioned. It further appears from the record that the only projects that the Director has to be concerned with are those contemplated under the contractual agreements entered into with the United States Interior Department over fish and wildlife. The forestry programs entered into with the United States Department of Agriculture are conducted by the State Forester, who, under Illinois law, is appointed by the Director, who must qualify with the Federal Agency, and after the State Forester is appointed and qualified the Director has no further control over him. It further appears from the record that the total amount of federal funds channelled into the State Treasury over the six-year period in question is $2,263,-661.20, and that the General Assembly appropriated for the Department, during the same period, the sum of $35,975,405.-21. The record for the monies received under the three Federal Acts breaks down as follows: Pittman-Robertson, $1,438,349.52; Dingell-Johnson, $449,225.39, and Clarke-McNary, $376,086.29. The first is reimbursement of 4%; the second is reimbursement of 1.25% ; and the third is reimbursement of 1.05% to the State of the monies appropriated to the Department of Conservation during the six-year period under the respective contracts. The record also shows that the “Director” devoted less than 1% of his time to the projects for which the State was reimbursed during the six-year period, except none to forestry. The “Director” stated that in all the past history of the Department, the Hatch Act had never been applied to his office; that he was appointed to his office by the Governor; the appointment was confirmed by a majority vote of the State Senate; that his appointment ran for two years at a time and that the Governor could remove him only with cause, as provided in Article V, Section 12 of the Illinois Constitution. The State of Illinois and Glen D. Palmer raised the question of the constitutionality of Section 12(a) of the Hatch Act at the hearing. R. Page 9. The other questions raised in the record are that the Department of Conservation is not an activity financed in whole or in part by the Federal Government; that neither of the respondents are able to determine from the meaning of Section 12 what is meant by the term “loan or grant”, because the terms are not defined in Section 12; that Section 12(a) provides certain exemptions to State employees or officers from the operation of the Hatch Act which applies to elected heads of executive departments of the State who are not covered by the merit or Civil Service system or program, and that it becomes apparent when the exemption is read together with other exemptions under Section 12(a), the phrase “duly elected” should be interpreted in a broad sense to include “appointed or selected officials”, which is a statutory construction problem; the de minimis rule; and the discriminatory exemptions provided for federal executive officers when the same exemptions are not given to State equivalent executive officers. R. pp. 8-10. After full hearing the Commission hearing officer found that the respondent, Glen D. Palmer, Director of the Department of Conservation, is found to have engaged in political activities clearly in violation of Sec. 12(a) of the Hatch Act, provided that he was subject thereto; that the State of Illinois received substantial grants from the United States for the benefit of the Department of Conservation; that the Director of the Department of Conservation is not the elected head of an executive department; and finally, in recognition of the defense de minimis non curat lex, the respondent, Palmer, should not be held accountable in this proceeding for political activities. The Commission refused to accept the recommendation of the hearing officer as to the de minimis doctrine and held that it was inapplicable in this case. The Commission affirmatively found that Glen D. Palmer violated Section 12(a) of the Hatch Political Activities Act as alleged in the “Letter of Charges”, and that his removal from the position of Director of the Department of Conservation (with ineligibility for reemployment by the State of Illinois within 18 months) is wari'anted. The order was duly entered of record, and this appeal therefrom perfected. It is necessary for the Court to examine the record in detail as has been done and to apply the law in the light of all the legal questions raised. Section 12(a) of the Hatch Act, also designated Section 118k, Title 5 U.S.C.A., and found at 54 Stat. 767, is as follows: “118k. Employees of State or local agencies financed by loans or grants from United States — Influencing elections; officers or employees defined. “(a) No officer or employee of any State or local agency whose principal employment is in connection with any activity which is financed in whole or in part by loans or grants made by the United States or by any Federal agency shall (1) use his official authority or influence for the purpose of interfering with an election or a nomination for office, or affecting the result thereof, or (2) directly or indirectly coerce, attempt to coerce, command, or advise any other such officer or employee to pay, lend or contribute any part of his salary or compensation or anything else of value to any party, committee, organization, agency, or person for political purposes. No such officer or employee shall take any active part in political management or in political campaigns. All such persons shall retain the right to vote as they may choose and to express their opinions on all political subjects and candidates. For the purposes of the second sentence of this subsection, the term “officer or employee” shall not be construed to include (1) the Governor or Lieutenant Governor of any State or any person who is authorized by law to act as Governor,, or the mayor of any city; (2) duly elected heads of executive departments of any State or municipality who are not classified under a State or municipal merit or civil-service system; (3) officers holding elective offices.” Section 118k(b) provides for hearing-for any violation of 118k (a) by the “Commission” and the requisite procedure, by notice to the offendor, setting forth the alleged violation and the time and place for hearing and after hearing for the entry of an order finding the violation and fixing the penalty. The penalty clause of Subsection (b) provides : “After such hearing, the Commission shall determine whether any violation of such subsection has occurred and whether such violation, if any, warrants the removal of the officer or employee by whom it was. committed from his office or employment, and shall by registered mail notify such officer or employee and the appropriate State or local agency of such determination.” If the officer or employee is not discharged within 30 days, the Commission is to certify to the Federal Agency supplying money an order requiring it to withhold from its loans or grants to the State “an amount equal to two years’ compensation at the rate such officer or employee was receiving at the time of such violation”, all of which must be done by the Commission. Notice of the order must be sent by registered mail, and the order of the “Commission shall become final upon the expiration of thirty days after the mailing of notice” except as-provided in Subsection (c). This Subsection (c) provides for appeal to the District Court, the Court to review on the entire record, including all of the evidence taken on the hearing, and which shall extend to questions of fact and law. This subsection further provides: “The Court shall affirm the Commission’s determination or order * * * if the court determines that the same is in accordance with law. If the court determines that any such determination or order * * * is not in accordance with law, the court shall remand the proceedings to the Commission with directions •either to make such determination or order as the court shall determine to be in accordance with law or to take such further proceedings as, in the opinion of the.court, the law requires.” During the course of respondent Palmer’s directorship there was in full force and effect the following provisions of the Constitution of Illinois, viz.: Article V, Sec. 6, Constitution of 1870. “Sec. 6. The supreme executive power shall be vested in the governor, who shall take care that the Jaws be faithfully executed.” “Sec. 10. The governor shall nominate, and by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, (a majority of all the senators elected concurring, by yeas and nays) appoint all officers whose offices are ■established by this constitution, or which may be created by law, and whose appointment or election is not otherwise provided for; and no such officer shall be appointed or elected by the general assembly.” “Sec. 12. The governor shall have power to remove any officer whom he may appoint, in case of incompetency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office; and he may declare his office vacant, and fill the same as herein provided in other cases of vacancy.” “Sec. 23. The officers named in this article shall receive for their services a salary to be established by law, which shall not be increased or diminished during their official terms * * “Definition and Oath of Office.” “Sec. 24. An office is a public position created by the constitution or law, continuing during the pleasure of the appointing power, or for a fixed time, with a successor elected or appointed. An employment is an agency, for a temporary purpose, which ceases when that purpose is accomplished.” “Sec. 25. All civil officers, except members of the general assembly and such inferior officers as may be by law exempted, shall, before they enter on the duties of their respective offices, take and subscribe the following oath or affirmation: T do solemnly swear (or affirm, as the case may be) that I will support the constitution of the United States, and the constitution of the State of Illinois, and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of --- according to the best of my ability.’ “And no other oath, declaration or test shall be required as a qualification.” Article IV, Section 1 of the Constitution of Illinois provides: “The legislative power shall be vested in a general assembly, which shall consist of a senate and house of representatives, both to be elected by the people.” In pursuance of this constitutional power, the General Assembly in the year 1917, and as subsequently amended, passed the “Civil Administrative Code”, providing for the creation of departments of State government. This Code is found at Chapt. 127, State Government, I.R.S., 1959, p. 1893. This Code, by Section 2, provides: “Sec. 2. The word ‘department,’ as used in this Act shall * * * mean the several departments of the State Government as designated in Section 3 of this Act and none other.” Section 3 provides for fifteen departments of State government. Among these is the Department of Conservation. Sec. 4 of the Act provides: “Each department shall have an officer at its head who shall be known as a director and who shall * * * execute the powers and discharge the duties vested by law in his respective department. The following officers are hereby created: * * * [Among others are:] Director of Conservation, for the Department of Conservation * * * Director of Personnel for the Department of Personnel.” It is thus apparent that under the constitutional provisions and the laws enacted pursuant thereto that respondent Palmer is a State officer, and not a State employee. His appointment came from the “Supreme Executive power”, the Governor. The office was created by the General Assembly, in which the Illinois Constitution vests the legislative power to enact laws and create the office by the enactment of laws. The qualifications of the Director of Conservation are not prescribed by the Code. Section 11 of the Code provides: “Each officer provided for by this Act shall perform such duties as may be prescribed by law for his position and to the best of his ability shall render faithful and efficient service in the performance of his duties, to the end that the public interest and welfare may be furthered.” Section 12 of the Code provides that the appointment of all officers created by the Code shall be made by the Governor, by and with the advice and consent of the State Senate. See. 13 provides a term of office of two years. Sec. 14 provides for the constitutional oath of office. Sec. 15 provides for a bond and Sec. 20 authorizes the employment of necessary employees. Nothing in the Act provides that respondent Palmer shall not be a precinct committeeman, nor is there any provision in the Act that prevents him from being a political party county chairman. There is only one office created by the Code which requires freedom from political activity, and that is the office of Director of Personnel. Sec. 63bl05 of the Administrative Code provides the qualifications of the Director of the Department of Personnel. This-Section provides: “63bl05. The Department of Personnel shall have an officer at its head who shall be known as the Director of Personnel. He shall be-appointed by the Governor, by and with the advice and consent of the' Senate, as provided in the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois, and shall be subject to the provisions of' that Code except as herein otherwise provided. The Director of the-Department of Personnel shall be a person who shall have had practical working experience in the field of' personnel administration. The Director shall be selected for appointment from among those persons who for the two years next preceding the-appointment have not been members-of any local, state or national committee of any political party; or officers or members of standing committees of any partisan political group or organization. Nor shall the appointee during his tenure as-Director of Personnel become a. member of any local, state or national committee of a political party,, or an officer or member of standing-committees of any partisan political group or organization.” The Illinois Personnel Code, under Sec.. 63b104c(7), (Sec. 4c) of the Code, I.R.S., Vol. II, 1959, Chapt. 127, specifically exempts “Directors of Departments * * * and all other positions appointed by the-Governor by and with the consent of the-Senate” from the provisions of the Personnel Code. The public policy of Illinois, as-declared by its law in respect to political activity, is different from the policy as-declared in Sec. 12 (§ 118k) known as the Hatch Act. The Hatch Act Section in question states among other things,. “No such officer * * * shall take any active part in political management or in political campaigns * * * For the purposes of the second sentence of this subsection, the term ‘officer or employee’ shall not be construed to include (1) the Governor or the Lieutenant Governor of any State or any person who is authorized by law to act as Governor, or the mayor of any city; (2) duly elected heads of executive departments of any State or municipality who are not classified under a State or municipal merit or civil service system; (3) officers holding elective offices.” It is apparent that the respondent is excluded from the exempting clause for the reason that he is not an “elected officer.” Illinois, in further pursuance of its public policy by its General Assembly, adopted “An Act Concerning Elections”, and it is known as the “Election Code” of 1943. This Code is found at Chapt. 46, Elections, § 1-1 et seq., I.R.S. of 1959, Vol. I, p. 1845. This Code provides in detail matters concerning elections. Article 7, See. 1 of the Code covers the nomination of all elective candidates, and included in this Section are the candidates of “precinct, township, ward and State central committeemen.” The Code also provides a means governing the management of a multi-party system. Article 7, Sec. 2, defines political parties. Article 7, Sec. 8(b) provides for the election of a precinct committeeman of each party, and Article 7, Sec. 8(c) provides for the County Central Committee. Article 7, Sec. 9 provides for the convening of the County Central Committee, and its procedures for the election of a County Chairman of each political party. This provides for an orderly system of political party management. From the standpoint of the public policy of Illinois, as declared by its Constitution and public laws,-it is readily apparent that respondent Palmer has violated no law of Illinois. The record shows that he is engaged in a pursuit from which he is paid a salary of $12,-000 per year. In addition to his salary he is also entitled to pension rights under Illinois law, entitled “An Act to provide for the creation, maintenance and administration of a retirement and benefit system for certain officers and employees of the State of Illinois, their dependents and beneficiaries.” Approved July 23, 1943. I.R.S., 1959, Vol. II, Chapt. 127, State Government, Secs. 215 through 246. This statute, among other things, provides for benefits to be computed on length and continuity of service. Sec. 220. The Hatch Act authorizes the Commission to make a finding that the political-activity warrants the removal of the officer, and after notice to the officer and the State of such finding, and a failure to so remove such officer within 30 days, the Commission shall certify to the Federal Agency involved this fact, whereupon the Federal Agency shall withhold an amount equal to two years’ compensation at the rate such officer was receiving at the time of such violation, in this instance, $24,000. The record shows that the project or projects have been completed and paid for with money of Illinois. Illinois raises its funds through taxation of its citizens as provided for by Illinois law. There is no provision of Illinois law that authorizes the suspension of an officer for eighteen months, nor is there any specific Illinois law that provides for the discharge of a State officer for a period of eighteen months. The Director of Conservation is appointed by the Governor for a period of two years, by and with the advice and consent of the Illinois State Senate, and after confirmation, is to hold office for that term. There are only two ways by which a State officer of Illinois can be removed from office. One is by impeachment and' trial, as provided by Article IV, Sec. 24, Illinois State Constitution, Ill.Rev.Stat. 1959, Vol. 1, p. 13, which provides as follows: “Impeachment. Sec. 24. The house of representatives shall have the sole power of impeachment; but a majority of all the members elected must concur therein. All impeachments shall be tried by the senate; and when sitting for that purpose, the senators shall be upon oath, or affirmation, to do justice according to law and evidence * * * No person shall be convicted without the concurrence of two-thirds of the senators elected. But judgment, in such cases, shall not extend further than removal from office, and disqualification to hold any office of honor, profit or trust under the government of this state. * * * ” This provision of the Constitution does not provide the basis for returning a bill of impeachment, but it does provide that the senators shall be upon oath or affirmation to do justice according to law and evidence. The meaning generally ascribed to such a provision is that impeachment proceedings generally lie as a rule for treason, bribery or any high crime or misdemeanor in office. Newsome v. Cocke, 44 Miss. 352, 7 Am. Rep. 686. The grounds must be causes .attaching to the qualifications of the officer, or his performance of h'is duties, showing that he is not a fit and proper person to hold the office. Moulton v. Scully, 111 Me. 428, 89 A. 944. In State v. Hastings, 37 Neb. 96, 55 N.W. 774, it is said: Where the act of official delinquency consists in the violation of some provision of the constitution or statute which is denounced as a crime or misdemeanor, or where it is a mere neglect of duty, willfully done, or where the negligence is so gross and the disregard of duty so flagrant as to warrant the inference that it was willful or corrupt, it is a misdemeanor in office; but mere negligence or mere excess of power without corrupt intention is not a ‘crime or misdemeanor’ for which the officer should be impeached. The Illinois Constitution provides, under Article V, Sec. 15: “Sec. 15. The governor, and all civil officers of this state, shall be liable to impeachment for any misdemeanor in office.” Thus in Illinois impeachment lies only for misdemeanor in office. It is to be noticed here that there is no showing that any public funds, either Illinois or Federal, have been wasted through any political activity, or' that the public has in any way been prejudiced. In fact, the rules and regulations which are included in the record amply protect the expenditure of any funds used and expended in any of the cooperative projects here involved from waste or misuse of any kind or type. The projects must be approved by either the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture, and it must be shown that economy and efficiency in the completion of the projects were attained; on contracts entered into by the State, competitive bidding must be allowed. The State is required to maintain “an adequate and competent force of employees to initiate and carry projects through to satisfactory completion.” The personnel are to be selected “on the basis of their competence to perform the services required, and shall conduct their duties in a manner acceptable to the Secretary.” The manual also provides that as to the selection of personnel employed on projects, “it should be the policy of every state to develop and maintain a staff of permanent employees, well qualified by training and experience to carry the programs forward in the highest degree of efficiency.” Qualifications of all personnel to be employed in technical or responsible supervisory positions must be submitted to and approved by the Bureau. In case approval is not granted, Federal participation in payment of salaries and expenses will not be allowed. There is no question here of the violation of any rule laid down by the Federal government. In fact all rules and regulations must be obeyed or Federal funds will not be paid. It can hardly be said that any grounds exist for the filing of a bill of impeachment as against this State officer under Illinois law. The other method for removal of a State officer is also provided in the State Constitution. Article V, Sec. 12 provides: “The governor shall have power to remove any officer whom he may appoint, in ease of incompetency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office; and he may declare his office vacant, and fill the same as is herein provided in other cases of vacancy.” The Supreme Court of Illinois, in Wilcox v. People ex rel. Lipe, 90 Ill. 186, 204, in construing this section, has declared that power under the above section to remove exists in the governor for any one of the three causes specified in the following language: “Undoubtedly, the Governor can only remove for some one of the causes specified; but the removal here was for one of these causes— incompetency. The Governor ascertained the existence of the cause here, and made the removal on account of it. The constitution is silent as to who shall ascertain the cause of removal or the mode of its ascertainment. It simply gives to the Governor the power to remove any officer whom he may appoint, in case of incompetency, etc. It follows, then, that it is with the Governor, who is to act in the matter, to determine, himself, whether the cause of removal exists, from the best lights he can get, and no mode of inquiry being prescribed for him to pursue, it rests with him to adopt that method of inquiry and ascertainment as to the charge involved which his judgment may suggest as the proper one, acting under his official responsibility, and it is not for the courts to dictate to him in what manner he shall proceed in the performance of his duty, his action not being subject to their revision. The constitution of this State not only declares that the powers of the government of the State shall be divided into three distinct departments, but has expressly prohibited the exercise of any of the powers properly belonging to one by either of the others.” To the same effect, removal only for the causes specified, is Humphrey’s Executor v. United States, 295 U.S. 602, 55 S.Ct. 869, 873, 79 L.Ed. 1611. Now the courts of Illinois can not act to require the Governor to make a finding because, as pointed out, the courts would be usurping a constitutional power that is wholly within the prerogative of the chief executive power, the governor of the state. Next examine the three causes, (1) incompetency, (2) neglect of duty, and (3) malfeasance in office. The record here shows no incompetency, no neglect of duty in the administration of the office, and no malfeasance in office. It only shows that he is a party precinct committeeman and a party county chairman. Both positions are provided for under the Illinois Election Code, and no Illinois law prohibits the Director of Conservation as such from acting in these party positions. The only Illinois department head who is restrained by law from holding such political party positions is the Director of Personnel. This restraint is provided for by Sec. 63b105, Chapt. 127, State Government, I.R.S.1959, p. 1928. Sec. 63b104c(7) of the same Chapter specifically exempts from the Personnel Code, “(7) Directors of Departments * * * and all other positions appointed by the Governor by and with the consent of the Senate.” Thus, under Illinois law, and upon the complete showing in this record, no valid cause exists for removal unless it can be said that the order of the Civil Service Commission, an agency of the Federal Government, can require the Chief Executive of Illinois to exercise his prerogatives under the Illinois Constitution, when in fact no legal cause exists under Illinois law. The Congress of the United States under the separation of powers in the Federal Constitution cannot require the President of the United States to surrender any of his executive power, Myers v. United States, 272 U.S. 52, 119, 125, 126, 161, 47 S.Ct. 21, 71 L.Ed. 160, nor can it do so to the Governor of Illinois. Thus the Order of the Commission as rendered under the Hatch Act places Illinois in the anomalous position of being required to summarily discharge the Director of Conservation when, in fact, under Illinois law no such procedure for discharge is provided for. Illinois being unable to act, must therefore forfeit out of the moneys contracted with the Federal Agency, a sum equivalent to twice the annual salary of the Director, in this case, $24,000. The record in this case shows that Illinois, out of its tax appropriations, has spent the money on the completed project under all the requirements of the three acts of Congress above set out and in strict accordance with the regulations prescribed by the Federal Agency as found in this record. Illinois is bound by its own law. It can only act under the law. The moneys spent were appropriated by the General Assembly under the authority granted to it by the Illinois Constitution, Article IX, Sec. 1, which provides: “The general assembly shall provide such revenue as may be needful by levying a tax, by valuation, so that every person and corporation shall pay a tax in proportion to the value of his, her or its property — , etc.”, and by Article IV, Sec. 17, which provides: “No money shall be drawn from the treasury except in pursuance of an appropriation made by law, and on the presentation of a warrant issued by the auditor thereon; and no money shall be diverted from any appropriation made for any purpose, or taken from any fund whatever, either by joint or separate resolution.” Under these sections of the State Constitution the tax was levied and the appropriation made to carry out the various project purposes as contemplated by the three Federal Acts providing for the cooperative purposes joined by Illinois statutes authorizing the cooperative purposes as above pointed out. Where is Illinois to recover the $24,000 in question ? It is faced with the Constitutional provision, Article IX, Sec. 1, authorizing the levy of the tax, and Article IV, Sec. 17, authorizing the appropriation and the manner in which it was drawn from the State Treasury to complete the project, expecting that the proportionate cooperative share of $24,000 would be repaid, yet it, on the failure of repayment, is also faced with the proposition that to make up the $24,000 under Article IV, Sec. 17, “that no money shall be diverted from any appropriation made for any purpose, or taken from any fund whatever, either by joint or separate resolution.” This can only mean one thing, that under the Illinois Constitution and Illinois law, the appropriated fund in question will be short to the extent of $24,000, if the Order of the Civil Service Commission is to stand. Illinois has one source of revenue to run the State Government and that comes from taxes levied on its citizens. Can it be said that the Hatch Act in this case only incidentally has an effect on certain activities within the State? No case of record, except State of Oklahoma v. United States Civil Service Commission, 330 U.S. 127, 67 S.Ct. 544, 91 L.Ed. 794, has ever so held and in that case the factual matters were not the same as in this case. First, Illinois has not yielded, nor has the Director yielded. Both have appealed from the decision of the Civil Service Commission, judicially asserting what they believe are their legal, constitutional rights. Secondly, as far as this Court is able to ascertain from a careful study of the opinions in the Court of Appeals and in the Supreme Court, this question here involved, that of an Act of Congress, striking at the revenue of a state, was never raised. The court in Oklahoma decides three questions, (1) that the United States has no power to regulate local political activities of state officials, (2) that it does have power to fix the terms upon which its money allotments to states shall be disbursed, and (3) that the Te