The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-07-15
WASHINGTON.
FROM OUR R:eu AR CORRESPOND EET.

WASHINGTON, July II. 1878.
POLITICAL ASSESSMENTS IN THE INTERIOR DE-
PARTMENr- SECRETARY scHURz's LETrEK
AT WORK.
Complaint is made that the practical workings Of
Secretary schurzs civil service ruling upon the ques
tion OF the assessment OF his clerks for political pur-
poses do not come up TO the standard OF theory
upon which tho ruling was made. Something over
two months ago the Republican National Executive
Committee made assessment OF per upon
the salaries OF clerks In the Executive departments
Almost i'm meaiatey thereafter appeared tue letter OF
Secretary Schurz, in which he assured the clerks
In his department that their non-compian
with the request Of the Executive Committee
would in way prejudice them. II was
known, however that some OF the subordinate cfi-
Gals Of the department were in sympathy aud CO.
operation with The committee one evidence OF which
was that full lists OF employees with their salaries
were furnished the from, the otacai records
Tor the purpose OF facilitating this Its
not charged, II believed that this with
either tho sanction the knowledge OF the secretary
Many OF the clerks however taking advantage Of tho
Secretary's assurances did respond to tho demand
OF tho committee, which TACT have produced
bad effect upon Messrs. Hale and Gorham, who yes
tsrday sent to each person originally assessed sup
piementary circular, reaulnx as Ioll0Ws:-
Since sending you circular under date OF March
~ have ascertained that the your depart
ment render difficult your absence during Office hours,
and you unable call at HE ba nix whore con-
tribut,ons are received. We have therefore arranged
with the treasurer, Mr.. Austin, TO attend at Tho
Ger man American National BANK corner of r ana
Seventh Streets from four to i've O'Clock on Salur-
day. the 18Th, Monday tue 18th and Tuesday, the l6tn
INST TO receive contributions from those IL your de-
partment VINO have not already responded Entrance
on street II more convenient tho be
RENTED BY mail TO sidney f. Austin. Treasurer Re
m CnnU Qnnn IN mil Ro
specially yours, &c.
As the German-Amercan Bank 10 within stones
throw OF the department buildings and as there is
nothing In the department rules that prohibits
clerks from being excused for reasonable time
TO transact business at banks or other IN.
sttUtons not open before after government hours
this circular is wholly gratuitous and only DO
construed a reminder menace. In one OF the
bureaus the envelopes containing this circular
brought In bulk to ono OF the OF the Patent
Office building and thence distributed among the
sessed persons by clerk messenger VINO was de-
tailed Tor the purpose. Tomorrow viii DO the semi
monthly pay day. and the committee selected
yesterday as opportuns time Tor sending
around It's ''circular OF Information" Those
facts seem to Indicate that, Notwithstanding Mr..
Schurz's determination to divorce his department.
from politics. the machine influences still at
work among his subordinate officials, some OF whom,
having been trained the ways OF the old political
regime not specially loyal to tho rules laid down
or their government The clerks complain that these
officials have Il In their power to embarrass the
iormatory efforts OF Mr.. Schurz Tho circular will,
II is feared brighten some OF tho delinquent clerks
into ''contrbuting, as the conviction seems strong
among them that they viii suror II they do not,
though this conviction In disparages tho
Secretary In their eyes, but s owing wholly 70 she
undecided action OF his subordinatcs