National Republican., 1883-09-21
ALLEGED ASSESSMENTS.

Mr.. Dcz6ndorf writes letter to the
Civil Service Commission - What the
Commissioner say.
Tho civil service commissioners to-day re-
ceived letter from ex-Representativc De-
zcndorf stating that Mr.. 9. Clark, Senator
Mahono's political assessment agent, made an
assessment last week of 5 per cent on the sal
aries received by all of the employees of the
Norfolk navy yard, and that this was the
third assessment levied upon the samo en-
ploycs by the same man inside ofa year. DIR.
Gregory, civil service commissioner, stated to
n Star reporter to-day, when asked about tho
letter, that as II had Just been received no in
vcstigation had yet been made of the charges
or statements contained in It.
The views expressed BY Judge Thoman in
regard to political assessments said Dr.
Gregory, "arc in accord with those of the
other commissioners. l don't mean to say
anything that looks likoa menace. 1t can be
said simply that IL Is the serious and earnest
| intention of tho commissioners to call tho
attention of tho proper authorities to every
violation of the law of which we get good and
sufficient evidence. When charge is made
that the law has been violated in any de-
| partmcnt, and we are satisfied Of its truth, we
VIII notify the secretary that such n charge is
made and we believe it to be true If he neg
| it to the President. AS far MS prosecution
under the law is concerned any man can
make complaint to the grand jury. don't
see why Mr.. Dc2endorfdId not mako his com
! plant to the grand jury. Every case of vio'
| latiOn of tho law reported to tho commission
has beon investigated. OF course tho com
missioncrs cannot act upon hoarsay testimony
or the statements of newspapers"
CLARK NOT A GOVERNMENT EMPLoYE.
| Chief Examiner Lyman, when spoken TO
concerning the DeZundorf letter, said ho had
no knowledge of tho matter officially, though
| he had heard of it. He had beon informed
| that Clark was not u government emplOyc,
| and therefore did not come under the law.
| Senator Malone was chairman of the COM
mittce and it was IN interesting question
| how far the acts of Clark as treasurer in
| volved the other members of the committee
Mr.. Lyman said that Dezendorf would prob
| ably be asked to state whether or not Clark
was government employe, and if not
whether his solicitation of contributions had
been made in any room in any public build
| ing or other place where it came within the
purview of the law.
He quoted sections II aud II of the civil
service act. which prohibit the solicita-
ton, receiving, or paying of con-
| tributions directly or indirectly, by
any officer or employe of the government
from, or to any other officer or employe,
| and the solicitation of such contributions by
any person not an employe of the government
in any room in any public building or othor
| place where government service is performed
and said that whenever tho commission re-
ceive1 evidence of the violation of the letter
of these sections of tho law they would
promptly lay the matter before the executive
authority. The commission, he said, were
not prosecuting board, but they could, as q
board appointed to administer law, call the
attention Of the executive to any violation of
the law of which they became cognizant.