New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-07-23
WASHINGTON.
TREASURER SPINNER AND THE CIVIL
SERVICE RULES.


THE APPEAL TO THE PRESIDENT TO SET ASIDE THE
RULES AS APPLIED TO THE TREAsURER's OFFICE
UNANswERED-TBE ARGUMENTS ON BOTH SIDES
OF THE CAsE-DR. MARY WALKER REFUSED AN
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES THAT THE RULES
WILL BE SUSPENDED
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THK TRrBUSEi
WASHINGTON, July 22.-NO letter has yet been re-
ceved by Treasurer Spinner in answer to his appeal
to the President to set aside the Civil Service rules.
as applied to his Office and allow him to select such
employees as he can be responsible for 1t is conec
tured that the summoning of Secretary Bristow to
Long Branch by the President has something to do
with the subject. 1t is by no means ali insignificant
one for it involves the practical and rigid enforce
ment Of Civil Service examination or the return to
the old practice of Congressional appointments
without examination. There is much plausi-
bility in Gen. Spnner's appeal, for all the funds
of the Government pass through his hands, and his
Office is simply gigantic bank. where money IS re-
ceived deposit and paid out on adequate author
ity, established by law The Treasurer gives bonds
for the of the money and is responsible-he and
his bondsmen-fOr the honesty OF his clerks. The
Treasurer therefore, holds that he should have the
naming of his clerks. This has been conceded to
him hitherto, but it is claimed that il the Civil
Service system is correct, it should apply to all Of
fees. If is good for office, 1t is even better
for the Treasurer who stands in need of the best
system but whether it is correct or not, it is the
law and must be enforced The law makes no dis
ordinations and if it is set aside in one Office 1t
must be set aside in all.
1t is also claimed that the TTeasurers Bureau IL no
more important than other bureaus that all ac
counts for the payment of money have to through
the Auditors and Controllers hands and that fully
high an order of talent and integrity is required
by them by the Treasurer's office. One of the APP
pointments recommended by Mr.. Spinner, and which
was withheld in the SecretarNs Office, was that of
the notorious DR.. Mary L. Walker, whose dress is
that Ofncithcr jew nor Gentle and is neither mas
culne nor feminine, but combination of panta-
looms and semi-skrts the latter reaching to the
knees. The Secretary in no event will appoint this
woman, and she informed. officially. to-day.
AZ to what will he the Presidents decision there is
great doubt and much speculation Gen. Spinner is
Thoroughly in earnest and the Secretary is equally
tenacious OF his authority. On the side is Presi
dent Grants known fondness for and confidence III
Gen. Spinner, and he would, doubt,
prefer to do what he asks On the other
hand, Gen. Grant knows the value of dis
cipline and how imperative to good service
is TIE subOrdination Of inseriors in office.
In tho mean time, the Government waits.
In several of the Offices considerable increase of
force is required at once and it is desirable to take
of the presence of some of the clerks
from other offices, before they leave
town. Their examination by the slow process now
in operation would require many weeks and the
necessity for immediate force is imperative. II is
believed that Secretary Bristow will himself ask
the President to suspend for the present the opera
ton Of the rules requiring examinations in order to
enable him to dispose of the current work now ac-