The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1885-08-05
Much Ado About Nothing.

The so-called Indianapolis simbroglio"
mas come to an uptimely end. The
facts are these: Recently one LUcIUs b.
SWIFT, Chairman Of the Indiana State
Central Mugwump Committee, went to
Washington, and reported TO the Presi-
dent that Mr.. AoUILLA JOKES, recently
appointed Postmaster at indianapolis,
by request of Vice-President Hex
bricks, had been guilty of sundry yio-
lations of the letter and spirit OF the
Civil Service law, in that he had re-
moved numerous Republican subordi
nate employees, some of whom were
under Civil Service jurisdiction, to make
room for Democrats. In consequence
of these alleged cffenses, Mr.. SWIFT and
four other leading Mumwumps, asked
the President to remove Mr. JOKES.
The President referred the charges to
the Civil Service Commission, with
instructions to proceed at once to In
dianapolis and investigate them.
The busybodies reported that the
Vice President was the instigator of
the offending Postmaster, and that
his design was to raise an issue
with the President on the Civil Ser
vice question. The President they said,
had bravely taken up the gauntlet,
and replied by sending the Commission
as aforesaid. Indeed some Republican
newspapers construed his prompt action
as thrust at Mr.. HENDRICKS" The
y. Y. Times, the leading 8Iugwump
organ in the Union, proclaimed that il
was a "spoils issue" which the Vice
President had made, and that the Presi.
dent would meet it courageously.
Be all this, as it may, the investiga
ton has resulted triumphantly for Post
master JONES, as will be seen by the
following statement in the Washington
Post administration organ) of the 1st
Mr.. Thomas and Mr. Lyman, the sub
committee sent TO indianapolis by the Civi
Service Commission to investigate tn,
| charges made against Postmaster Jones
have finished their labors and will return
to Washington to-day to report their find
| ings. Complaint was made to Presiden
| Cleveland that Mr.. Jones was vioIatin,
the Civil Service laws IN the appointment
he was making, and this was the charg,
that the President referred to the Commits
sion for investigation The sub-committe
report, which will be made to the Presiden
! through the Commission, will be thorough
/ vindieation of Mr. Jones In conversation
with a Post reporter last night, Mr.. Hughe
| East, OF indianapolis, Vice President Hen
! bricks private secretary, who arrived il
, Washington yesterday, said:
when Aquilla Jones was appointet
postmaster of indianapolis last April h
found among over eighty employees enl
one Democratic voter. He has made som
removals and appointments of civil servic
grade as well as a few both above and be
low It, The appointments of civil servic
grade he has made exclusively from tn
list Of eligible candidates supplied to hin
by the local Civil Service Examinin
Board and in accordance with the Civ
Service laws. In making the other ap
pointments, which do not come within tn
province of the Civil Service Commission
he could not violate Civil Service law
/ Up to date Postmaster Jones has ar
pointed twenty Democrats in all, includ
ing laborers. Complaints, you know, wer
made about the dismissal of two Republ
can office-holders whom Mr.. Jones remove
Tor cause. Full investigation has bee
made, and Judge Thoman comedies that tn
right OF removal cannot be questioned
which Is complete vindication of Jones
1t was also charged that the local examir
ing board in their examinations of cand
dates for the civil service gave favor t
Democrats. Now one of the members {
that examining board is Republican, an
he has stated to the committee of invest
CATION that the examinations are mad
with the utmost care, strictness and i'm
Partially. Postmaster Jones had goo
reasons to give for the removals he made
reasons had been called for, but as til
reasons were not demanded, he did nc
wish gratuitously to add to the misfortune
Of the men who were losing their place,
The investigating committee are on thei
way east tonight; they will be here tC
morrow with their report, which the Civ
Service Commissioners will submit to Al
| President. Mr.. Hendricks was neve
troubled about the charges made agains
Postmaster Jones or the investigation, be
cause he knew Jones to be correct an
ljudicious man. He recommended tn
appointment OF Mr.. Jones, but never in
terfered in any of the appointments mad
by him. Mr.. Jones has been treasurer &
the State OF Indiana, and refused the re
nomination when his party was in tn
ascendancy. He has filled many impor
tant public offices and positions of trus
and has never once had occasionto apologize
for his actions; and it is not likely tina
with his experience and record and at hi
advanced age he would deliberately violat
plain statute. He is incapable of dom
wrong"