The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-06
The Report on the Recent Inyestiga-
ton of Postmaster Pa Jones.
The Commissioners Find that Mr.. Jones Did
Not Violate the Ciyil-Seryice Law, and
ExOnerate the Local Board.
The Mugwumps Can't Understand, and
Think 1t Isn't Right.
Mr.. Vinton and Mr. Swift Say that the Matter
Is Not Ended Yet-Mr. Jones,
However, Is Satisfied.
WHAT THEY THINK ABOUT 1T.

WHAT THEY THINK ABOUT 1T.
The Comments of Messrs Vinton and Swift
and Jones on the Report.
The report of the Civil-service Commissioners
in the investigation of the charges against Post
master Jones, was made public at Washington
yesterday, and was received in Indianapolis by
Associated Press last night. The report was
just what nearly everybody expected
and predicted that it would be-a
whitewash Mr. Hughes East, the private sec
rotary of the Vice president, said that the
investigation would result in nothing s.ud it
seems that Mr.. East knew. There were great
many people who were satisfied to take Mr.
Easts word for it, because it was suspected that
he had some exceptional advantage for knowing.
&c. not only is Mr. Jones eXonerated, but the
private secretary Is indicated.
MR.. v1NToN CAN'T UNDERSTAND IT.
Mr. Lindley Vinton was called out of bed at
late hour by Journal reporter, and when told
Of the character Of the report, said he could
hardly believe it. When assured that the
matter was reliable, he remarked that the
commissioners, action and conclusions should
reach the public at this time is not consistent
"What was that"
'He said the papers. testimony and the
board S conclusions would be submitted to the
President, but that nothing would probably be
done until September"
1.-THE report, then, is something in the nature
of a surprise to you!"
Yes, if the report has been made and it is as
you represent it. We feel that we proved every
word Of the charge, and more. Indeed, cannot
understand it."
..Do Won thinL, the question will reci hara9.
No If we are to have civil-service law it
should be obeyed If the one we have is not
sufficient, then we will get one that is, and moth
ing is more efficient in showing up the defects of
the law than the examination here. We will
not rest with such report, but get a hearing
some way to prove what has been charged. Mr..
Jones violated or did not violate He discharged
men for partisan purposes or did not and to
make this view of it worth considering by the
President, we had abundant facts. [ cannot I'M
derstand how such report could be based upon
the facts we presented"
did you have free scope in the prosecution
of your casep ,, A.
with considerable warmth, 'bv the manner of
the investigation. Judge Thoman said the
commissioners had no power to send for persons
and papers. Thus the testimony was voluntary,
and there was no chance for cross examination
The commissioners sat merely as court of in
quiry We do not know what Mr. Jones and
his witnesses stated, nor do they know what the
testimony on our side was A witness came,
told all he knew, and then left without the pres
ence of the opposing party. No cross examina-
ton was permitted. Had there been we could
have brought out great deal more. [ can give
you surface indications as to examinations by
the local board that will show what we can do.
An instance is where person examined attained
only fifty yet he was marked up to ninety nine
Another, where young man of more
than ordinary intelligence though he had passed
frst-class examination, and he received only
seveutv-four Further, it is supposed the
animation papers are kept inviolaby secret, and
yet man examined was told the next day that
his papers were such to assure him Whining
toms place. How report complimenting the
local board of examiners could be pre-
pared is beyond any belief. Uunless
our petition for an examination of the
Jones administration was sufficient to constitute
a cause of action, there call to send the
commissioners here Had the witnesses been
under oath and cross examination allowed, more
than we alleged could have been proven, but
it is we feel we have proven everything we
alleged. Another instance worth noting The
commissioners came here so quickly, and did
their work so rapidly after we had made
secure the testimony of Willis G. Wood,
upon whose discharge one Of the two allegations
made. Mr. Wood was at the time, and
still is camping out in Michigan. Judge Thornan
told us we could procure his affidavit and send it
to him, where it would be made part of the case.
This has not been done, and yet we hear the
commissioners have made their report. The
Wood affidavit would have been very important.
AS the examination was conducted, we
had no means Of knowing the
straightness of the FJones side of
the case. If it is dishonest in thing there is
no way of telling to what depths of dishonesty
it went If there is to be case Of withdrawing,
we want it done so everybody can see it. 1t is a
question of whether Mr. Jones acted discreety
or wisely in discharging " God and Wilmington
Both were competent men, and answered the
| order of President Cleveland that no competent
men should be discharged unless for open and
active partisanship. l am not satisfied with the
case as it stands, and will not be until hear
from President Cleveland"
Mr.. VintOn said that his confidence in the
President was still strong, and ntimated that
the public would vet that he and his col
leagues right in their allegations against
the postmaster.
WHAT MR.. SWIFT SAYS ABOUT IT.
At IL o'clock last night journal reporter
called at the residence OF Lucius B. Swift, and
him that the report whitewashing Grandfather
Jones was in. The reporter upon being asked
the points in the report, gave them as we'll as he
could remember. Mr. Swift received the
news with the greatest equanimity,
and and in answer H, to questions by
will say that we took the two cases Of Wood and
! Wilmington, they being in the classified service.
| to Postmaster Jones and he told us that they
were discharged for the sole reason that he had
promised their places to Democrats. If true,
! this seemed to us clear violation of the
spirit and intent Of the law. and we charged it,
| If the postmaster can make removals from the
classified service for such reasons, there is, of
course, nothing to prevent him from making a
| clea1 sweep in his Office and that can occur as
| often as he sees fit. 1t did not seem to US that
| a sound construction Of the law would permit a
| postmaster to discharge for any such
reason AS to whether this was the true reason,
Mr. Jones, when he came TO defend hiInself was
inclined to dispute. but the testimony against
him certainly preponderated very heavily. Ger
tainly the charges made at the last moment
against the two men dy the postmaster