New-York tribune., 1885-07-01
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
HOW EUGENE HIGGINS CARRIES OUT RE-
FORM.

,rrou THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF TIE TRIBUNE
WAsHIxGrov, June 30.-Eugene Higgins, the
appointment clerk of the Treasury Department. does
not conine his labors apparently to englpg out Tor
dismissal the offensive pariisans" black sheep from
n White Rock. but he also keeps them from coming in
if they happen to be Republicans In this way he
violates the Civil Service act TO be sure but that does
| net matter much perhaps unicrG " Reform Admin
i.traon which has far shown so little regard for
the spirit If not the letter. of the law The following
case illustrates what ncan and shows, moreover how
e,sly the Civil Service Law which its trainers consider
so perfect can be deled Ike Higgins ana other
practical politicians wish to do it,
On March u this year Owen Kellar, OF Caldwell
Ohio presented himself for examination before the
Civil Service Board of Examiners. at Cleveland. He
rossed rigorous examination crcditably and obtained
high average On June 30 he received letter
signed Eugene Higgins informing him that ihe
Civil Service Conm sion had certified him to Sl2OO
ccrksip lie requested to report at the treasury
Department in Washington at once Agreeaeiy to this
letter Mr Koar presented himself to DR. Higgins on
Friday have come to report myself for duty" Mr..
Kellar said as he handed the letter to Mr. Higgins
The latter took the document. looked at it for a
moment then mumbled few words, and finally
blurted out You can't have ihe place. There are
charges against you SIR exclaimed Higgins ominou'ly
Charges OF what nature !"
Never mind there charges" continued Higgins
mvateIiously {" ion had better 60 and see Judge
Chcnowtz. in whose bureau you were to have Dccn
emplOved.' -.
Mr. Kellar went TO the Office of tie First Auditor,
end introduced himself the man who had been Ger,
tilted by the Civil Service Commission to Tl,Ioo
clerk kshp The great functonary smiled and In n
vague sort OF way said . .
oh. YES; know. You are the higgins talked
about. oh. yes well don't want any clerk. IL was
all a mi; take
be better gncd than described. He insisted upon
knowing why he had been called away rom his homo
if not to be appointed. what the charge. were Mr.
Higgins had limited at. and what the Department
prenoscd TO do with him now that il had got him here
Auditor Chenowtz bestowed benevolent smile, as he
answcrcd uhconcernedy;
:" Oh. nothing at all yonng man. won't appoint
you. won't appoint yon
" Why not !"
That's none of your business. You can't get the
place tell you.' reiortcd Choupwitz smiling blandiy
" Well saia Mr. Koar. " have come here all ibe
WAY from Ohio because Of your order. have cancelled
my engagement with my former employer have been
Dut a great deal OF expense, and now you INFORM me
that can get the appointment
lou had bctcrg" home lou are m offensive partl-
san sir OF the worst sort There are charges against
you sir Congressman Warner has written TO the De
pariment protesting against your appointment. 10
says-hcre his lcttcrthat he docs not object to the
appointmeat of two Young who passed the tivll
Service examination ut the same time you dId though
| they received lower rating than you. He names
them. Then there j. protest from Democratic CLUB
| No. | can't appoint yon.'
But the Civil Service law" here broke in Mr..
Kear
Well" coslly replied the Fir,t Auditor" if The
| Civil Service Commission insists upon your being
| appointed shall do it. OF course, but ] shall also
discharge you the next day" And wfh what-art =
Won going to do aboutt air Judge ChcnOwitz bowed
hi. visitor out OF the room Here the matter rests IL
will be interesting to know whether the Civil Service
Commission will protest whether 1t will back down
before Eugcne lliggLs. FIRST Auditor Chenowitz and
q