New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-01-08

A CARD FROI MR. DORMAN Is. EAiON-SOLDlHI'S
WHO HAVE FOUGHT IN TIE WAR FOR THE
UNION GIVEN THE PREFERENCE OVER OTHER
PP1ICANTs-CHARAcTER AND INTENT OF TIE
EXAMINATIONS.
10 the Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR: My attention has been called to o par
agraph in a late number OF THE TRIBUNE dec. 2G Tie
inaccuracies Of which think ought TO correct 1t 10
as follows:
The President ~ the C7 Service Commission very indignant be-;
cred sp the war a, earned his poaoton by per
btsery clerical ability could not be Questioned was
era, in the Am.rcan icSouton This manifestation Of bis extreme
ignorance sufficient to justly bis rejection. o,.
30 Tar the paragraph relaes to the present Char
man OF the Commission. IL is utterly without any loun
daton in fact ana Mr. George WIN. Curts the former
Chairuan assures there is warrant for its app
cation to him. 1 am aware II B quotation from an
editorial in Washington journal most hostile to the
Civil Service rules and do not trouble you with this
note either because the quotation IS rare instance OF
statement in the same Journal or because it's
on personal grounds OF consequence how Indignant
may become over Ignorance about Polish generals.
But unless this paragraph was, as trust inadvertently
inserted 1t would secm to show only that think
that the official head Of tho Clyl Service has so bad
temper and poor conception Of his duties as to pas
sionatey reject gallant and competent Union soldier
merely because he unable to answer a in.cal
question, but also that you are willing give currency
to facts very damaging the reform without taking the
ttlo trouble required to ascertain whether they are
true not.
Unjust and provoking NJ this and many other state
meuts relative the Cyl Service have been to me per
sOny have Gespised them in silence so long as they
lave been confined of limited circulation and
kno IN hostility TO reform. Wlen they appear IN TIE
TRIBUNE and manfesy tend to mislead the public
mind as 10 OF private and public Justice, the
cas- and my duty arc very different; ana must he al
lowed express my surprise that you should for one
moment nave supposed that such an instance as YOU
reicr could taKe place, even though tat Piesueut
fCnaumau) OF Commission had been altogether -
foolish unjust tine paragraph implies; Tor II Is no
part OF his duty practice, or that OF the Noh''iOu
TO weigh answer to questions TO decide upoh exam
inauns aud besides. every examination covers several
separate series OF many questions eGch ana on eeht
SUI iecIs that single question In the general aver
age which is taken could DC illus decisive.
II you will rake the trouble to examine inc series OF
questions put applicants, venture 10 think you Will
ind them to be welladapted tests OF practical capacity
general information and goOd character, WltuOutI On
tue one hand opening the door 10 ounces or, on the
other scOundrels 50 tar from any instance such ~
YOU refer having taken place. the lc Is nat IN test
case IN October list (which has been fOIO~e) when
tie Postuaater-Geuer4l requested the opinion Of the
Chairman, &C., IA TO the rights of sOditr when con-
netting with others who might Surpdss hn Ia attain
mCuts the opinion gwen was mat, within the spirit or
tho CIVIL Service Rules, any soldier VINO passes tle uliu
NUN 3 auuard IailcatlCu5 may Dc promoted now
ever many (ot soluer nave passed higher STANDARD;
his patI Oc give MN that preference over us
competltois" &c, &c hardly need say that Tie mint
mum standard the lowest measure or atdinments
for filling the place competed fOr aud has no
regard whatever Polish generals or 10 party politics,
wn.tncr Liberal Democratic, or Republican.
had thought ask more than mere justice In your
columns by denying SOue reports when partisan ana
passionate Journals nave put ia circulation, such as That
no lncmocis of the CumMss Ou regularly draw th~r
salaries when TACT they draw nothing, nut nave 10
travelling ana other expenses, anu that
try ara Cis outraged aud about 10 TesIgu wnen III
tuct they mean stand Dy the Reform and leave It 10
thO5e wEO have thc power 10 ueeat no %otk ney nave
ualgurlteu, II they thlGk 1t wSc and sale 10 10 80.
There are Icati0ns when create duy 10 stand ny
inst caso peril aud tho sun Gu OF ODOqhy ana
Is.1u howeVeY great tho annOyduce5 aud tIe sacrI-
fees. Tao not remote fulure VIII pass u ue-
csiye Judgment upon all WHO hiVo Aad re-
our civil service Those WHO have consist
emily opposed u those VINO have nrny STOOD by II (;
rno. WHO have -ncerrd at aud msr1 Presented II; those
vino have used It power aud desertedlt when IN
nwer: those VINO, not daring 20 openly oppose H. nave
vstrmailcaiIy case udcule upon II; those WhO tnuk
nothing can be- improved, and those VINO lunA every
thiu can be improved ut once viii IN tine receive their
dne portion II the pubic Judgment IL Is a subject
that cannot be folded up AID laid away IN pigeon hOe
bot IL Will return to reOukc the uniatAiu and To arouse
and HlaIm the people ~ d. LAAON'
NttC OTk, jan. 4, 1919
Mr. Eaton is mistaken in supposing that The
TRIBUNE assumed the foolish tale Of lie Washington
Chronicle to be true We quoted it an illustration
of tho treatment which Civil Service Reform re-
ceiyes from one Of the organs of the President S
party-just as we have quoted without comment,
many stupid things from various sources. But we
did not expect orr readers to believe the story any
moro than we expect to be held responsible for the
various opinions we cite from day to day rs the
topics of the preSs.-Ed. mo-.