The sun., 1873-09-12
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
THE CONsPICUOUs ExAMPLE THEY
MAZE ~ SAINT LOUIS.
Postmaster FiIicy and the Levies which he
Made on his Cicrks-Tbe system OF Pros
ent-Takinu Effectively Applied.


Corre.rondence ~ Tho sun.
ST LOUIS, sept l0.-The excitement in
regard to the assessment Of the Post ONCE
clerks has Increased rather than diminished.
The despatch to THE SUN has been copied in
several Of the dailies here, and has been the
theme Of general comment ON the streets and in
the private Offices OF tho city. Every one real
Ices the fact that the thing has more than a
local significance. From a mere spcck Of Off
Cial malfeasance In Office II has grown 20 be a
question of national concern, because 1t is the
mrs, time an officer of the Government has at
tempted to make his employees reimburse him
for the lavish expenditure that he considers es-
seniih to his Advancement and his retention in
place.
Rumors are circulated freely among the poll
tlcians. Sev raj petitions are said To have been
started asking Tor Mr. Fllleys removal, and
Others praying for his pardon, but have not
seen either KIND AS vet
specials from Washington convey to Mr.. Ficy
the consoling Information that Hn agent uf the
Postal Department is on his way 10 II. Louis to
investigate the charges against him. armed with
pocket guilluttne for his de 'apitltign ON the
other hand it is asserted that MIR tlley is 50
thoroughly confident Of the friendship uf the
President, and relies So entirely upon the effect
Of former grauitics that he W u not shrink from
investigation, hut feels sure Of u graceful white
washing. or at most fcars only mild reproyal.
The last assertion can hardly bc true, for al
though he sports IN air Of injured innocence,
and bears himself IKE lrutus when approached
hy reporters he Is evidently sick at heart and
fe fritl Uf the cud.
4 journalist visited him at his orire ycstcr.
day and asked him what he had to SAY IN reply
To- the charge made IN iuE SIS. lie was lc,,-
ing his office at the moment, and replied that he
had nothing t. say; but thinking that this
would hardly satisfy an indignant public, ne
retracod few steps and added only this:
"1here are some lies In IT." \ gentle urLing
failed 10 bring him To- a denia! of any specific
point, showing he knows the allegations against
him to he substantially correct. The fact is, the
account sent lHE SIS Uu NoudaN night l. true
In every essential particular. and NJ. Filley can
T. NH M af
mcnis made therein. That he entertained the
President in 4 hous" that was that very MORN
ing advertised tor ale In an obscure corner Of
the Missouri b,puhlcuu hy order of the Court.
and wa- really sold ~ auction a few days after
ward. j. past question.
The matter ct the assessment becomes craver
the better 1t Is known and the more 1t Is con-
sidercd. The EMPLOYEES gossip hu' littlc a 'ut
II. but what they have To- say j. piluant ana en-
tertaining. When asked way tucy .igncd the
paper generating Mr.. fille} and taking upon
themselves the responsibility OF the assessment,
they wish to know what they could have done
IN the PREMISES had they pursued any otner
course Their heads would have gone into the
basket at once. and many Of them are men with
families. and without a dollar III their pockets.
few have iecn assessed ten per cent. Of their
salaries. These are new apprentices. the theory
being that the old clerks feel surrr OF their
places, aud were les likely = sand the eN-
actions One man drawing ,g,l per uunu9 has
been assessed at the rate of ten per cent,
which would leave him $50 out Of that measre
stipend.
fuIrr revolutions in regard TO the mode OF
the assessment do not improve MIR FilleN's -itu-
alton In the eve of the public. when the last
batch Of carriers was appointed he selected from
a vast imlhrr 81 applicants those whom hc pre-
fcrrcd. To these hr seut word To- call at the
Pct ONcr g o'clock in the cN, nins and he
W ull -cc them in hi- private room. The al
pleaut- came one hN 'ur To- the ppst'ru gate.
were a. .ml't"d ly the wat hinan. and shown to
the presence. where t'.tN were tItuer cWpl l't"d
or rejected les t.tIr i.I. misses Of uuauIllts
pi.,-ed or dis pleased tn. p.stma-ter Yer,
naturally pr Nulr inquire why, b f." carriers
h,t, bcru tp, .piu:rd l., Gl,l-lt % ever, : uirs
ID "a ktHIl t ltT