The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-11-18
The Sterling Case.

ling, democratic ward politician and
saloon-keeper of Brooklyn. Sterling
was recently appointed chief weigher
in the custom-house, in violation of the
civil service rules. The appointment
was subsequently revoked and an ex-
animation of candidates for the posi-
ton ordered. The rule has been that
the examiners should certify the four
that ranked highest in the examination,
and from this number the appointment
should be made. For this particular
case the rule was ordered to be set aside,
evidently for the purpose of letting
Sterling in, as his standing was twenty
third in the examination. The man
who stood first on the list is wounded
veteran named O'Brien, who has had
experience as assistant weigher: and
the law expressly provides that prefer
ence shall be given to veteran soldiers
where other things are equal. Secre-
tary Manning insisted upon having
Sterling's name sent to him, and it is
understood that his course had the ap-
proval of the President. 1t is also
stated that the newly-reorganized civil
service commission gave their assent to
a suspension of the rule to make the
appointment of Sterling possible.
The democrats were quite jubilant
over this state of affairs, but the indie
pendents were in great tribulation, and
their organs have protested in vigorous
terms against the proposed infraction
of the civil service law. 1t is probable
that they brought strong influence to
bear upon the President to yield to their
demands, for on Friday night Collector
Hedden appointed O'Brien (the man
who stood first on the list of those ex-
amineD as chief weigher, and Sterling
is thus left "out in the cold" This
simply means that the President has
allowed himself to be bulldozed by the
independents in this matter; for it is
understood that he would have been
satisfied with the appointment of Ster-
ling. The Washington Post represents
that in an interview, several days ago,
the President favored change in the
present civil service rules by the sub
stitution of what is known as the sspass'
examination in place of a competitive
examination. That is to say, all appli-
cants who pass at all are to stand upon
an equal footing, and choice may be
made from the whole number instead
of from the first four ranking highest
in the examination. This change would
practically break down the present sys-
tenn and allow all appointments to be
determined by political or personal in
fiuence. The Boston Journal well SAYS:
" The course pursued by Collector He'd
den does not at all relieve the Presi-
dent from responsibility for the extraor-
binary measures which he took to open
the way for Sterling's appointment;
and what is known as the Sterling sec
ton of the Washington Post interview
which, by the way, Mr.. Clevelandis said
to have written with his own hand
is as discreditable to him as if the
purpose which was foreshadowed in it
had been carried out"
The authenticity of the Washington
Of @ int nrvria rty,t I, he L.
not been seriously questioned; in fact,
it has been corroborated by several in
dependent journals. The Boston Ad-
certiser said, recently, that the action of
the civil service commission to aid
in getting the appointment
" points decisively to the fact that the
plan is being considered to certify all
who pass examinations, thus breaking
down the competitive trial-though the
particular features of this present case
may so arouse the public that no further
steps may be attempted at present." 1t
argues that if it was not proposed to
choose Sterling, the whole list would
never have been certified, and this
view seems reasonable. 1t is difficult
to see how the President is entitled to
particular credit for his backing down
in this case. Collector Hedden would
hardly wish to assume the sole respon-
sibility for the appointment of Sterling
in violation of the civil service rules;
and the fact that he had been threat
ened with prosecution in the courts by
the Veterans Association of Brooklyn,
in case he ignored the law compelling
preference to veteran applicants over
civilians, probably influenced his action
in the matter and also determined the
Presidents course. 1t is evident that
the mugwumps have not yet lost their
grip upon the President, though more
substantial reasons for the Presidents
action can be found in the fact that his
proposed exception of Sterling from the
operation of the civil service rules
might have created an unpleasant con-
test with the senate when the appoint
ment of Collector Hedden came before
that body upon the question of his con-
firnation. The democrats, who will be
DrOfOundlV dispusted with the SETTLE