The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1885-11-24
Filling the Federal Offices.
News and Courier.l

All kinds of misleading ard inaccu-
rate statements have been made from
time to time in regard to the administra.
ton Of the Federal Office in this city
under their present control. No fault
has been found or could be found with
the manner in which the present in
cumbents have discharged their regular
official duties, but it has been charged
over and over again that they have not
weeded out the Republican spoilsmen
fast enough for the benefit Of deserving
Democrats. These stories have been
industriously circulated, and many
harsh and unreasonable comments have
been made by the newspapers and their
correspondents who have, either from
ignorance or malicious motives, mis-
stated the true situation Of affairs.
The reporters Of the Neus and Cour-
ier have interviewed the collector Of
the port, the postmaster of Charleston
and the United States Marshal for
South Carolina, as to the truth of these
reports. From information obtained
from them, which is given below, it will
be seen there has been an almost entire
change Of the working force in each Of
these offices since their present incum-
bcnts have taken charge,
THE CUsToMHoUsE.
When Mr.. Theodore d. Jervey took
charge Of the Customhouse there were
sixteen offsoials employed in that branch
Of the Federal service. OF these six
teen, two were Democrats and one had
connection with political party. or
tho sixteen officials now employed in
that branch Of the Government service
there are ten democrats, one of whom
is not connected with any political
party, and five republicans. Two of
these republicans have been retained
because Of tho difficult duties Of their
respective positions, which cannot be
discharged by inexperienced persons.
AS soon at their places can be supplied
without detrimene TO she--eff2oienoy OF
the public service their places will be
filed by democrats.
Mr.. Jervey has made the following
appointments since he took charge of
the office +: Capt. j. Walker, demo-
crat, special deputy collector, in plac. of
j. H. Ostendorff, republican; r. @.
Pinckney, deputy and clerk, instead of
w. II. Berney, republican; r. NJ. Sims,
democrat, inspector, in place Of Garrett
Byrnes, republican; E. Balaguer, demo-
crat inspector, in place Of H. w. Purvis.
republican; A. G. King, democrat in
spector, in place Of J. 3, Smith, repub-
lican; Pierre G. Stoney, democrat, in
spector, instead of W. II. Thompson,
republican; N. G. Green, democrat,
watch,1an, in place Of Henry Kennedy,
republican; John P. DeVaux, Jr., demo-
crat, messenger, in place of N. G..
Green, democrat; Moses Brown, Demo
crat, janitor, in place of H. Cain. re-
publican. Of the remaining members
of the Customhouse force w. r. Heron,
janitor, is democrat, J. L. Harrison
has never taken any part in politics;
VIM. Seabrook and F. Robinson, repub-
licans, are boatmen, and George Rocket
republican, is janitor. l.. L. Guffin,
one of the most offensive republicans in
the State, is an inspector, but the duties
of his position are Of so important a
nature that the Collector has found it
necessary to retain him for the present.
AS soon as his intended successor has
so familiarized himself with the duties
of the position as to be able to discharge
them with proper regard to the eff
cheney Of the service he will be re-
tired. =
Mr.. w. Z. Milligan, deputy collector
and clerk, is republican, but not by any
means an active or offensive partisan.
The duties of his position require n
trained and experienced hand for their
proper discharge, and for this reason
and also becase he has been warmly en-
dorsed by leading democrats of this
city Mr.. Jervey has retained him in his
position.
THE PosToFFIcE.
There are now in the postoffice four
teen employees in all. Three of those
who were in the postoffice at the time
that Mr.. Huger was appointed were and
are democrats. Six additional demo-
Gratis have been appointed. making the
political complexion Of the employees