The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-07-08
TOO BUSY TO LOOK INTO HIS CASE.
What the President Said to II Union Soldier
The Case of Major Halves.

-IHe case OF MAYOR haNeS.
Washington Special.
Civil service reform finds no favor in the eyes
of the physical wreck" who is at the head Of
the Pension Bureau. He violates the spirit if
not the letter of the law every day. Faithful
and efficient employees are discharged by him at
a rate which it might be supposed would tax the
physical strength Of vigorous and healthy
man. How much more, then, must it tax that
of Commi ssioner Black, who is Incapable OF
any effort" and much of the time confined to
his bed'} One Of the discharges made by Mr..
Black is characteristic OF a large number that he
has lately made. The victim is Major j. j.
Hawes, gallant Union soldier, an efficient
workman, but Republican He 81, 400
clerk, occupying place coming within the rules
of the classified service He thought that
the value of his services. freely and without
licitation on his part acknowledged by his supe-
rors time and again under other administrations,
would save him under this. 1t did nothing of
this kind. He found himself in the street one
fine day last week, or more correctly speaking,
he was informed of his removal and the appoint
ment Of his successor while occupied i'll the dis
charge OF special duties assigned to him in the
northern part of New York When ho reached
Washington he asked to be informed of the
sons which had led to his removal and he OBJ
! tanned with difficulty an interview with the
Commissioner. General Black told Mr. Hawes
| that it was of his business why he was
discharged, to find out for himself If he wanted
to know. This much, however, he would say,
that there nothing against him or his stand
ing as an efficient clerk or IN honorable gentle
man. Upon any other point Mr. Black refused
to talk.
From other sources Mr.. Hawes learned that
some trumpedup charges against him had been
revived at his home in Indiana by Democrats
which years ago had undergone a thorough in.
vestigation and which had been pronounced ut
terly false and malicious by his then immediate
superiors These, lie had reason to believe, were
the grounds upon which his discharge was or
dered. He has also learned that the Democrats
in Indiana are spreading the story that lie
discharged 'for cause and that ne left the pub
lie service ''under cloud.
Naturally enough Major Hawes wants to clear
himself of the imputations. Not receiving any
sat sfaction from the Commissioner of Pensions
he went to the President He said to Mr. Cleve-
land that he did not want to be reinstated he
| simply wished to have an opportunity Of refut-
ing the stories afcat about him at his
home, which seriously affected his stand
ing as a man and prevented
him from securing employment, and to know
the reasons why he was dismissed If on the
ground of being a Republican and partisan, well
and good. If not, then TO request Commissioner
Black to state what were the charges, who were
his accusers and who were the witnesses. The
President replied that the proper thing 10 do was
to put the thing in writing and present it either
to Commissioner Black or Secretary Lamar.
This, Mr.. Halves said, he had done, but he had
not received reply.
Thereupon the President said: We'll, ] can't
do anything in the matter II were 10 pay
attention to every case OF this kind which comes
under my notice, | would have my hands full,
and could attend to other business. l am
sorry, but | can't do anything for you, Mr..
Hawes," and turning aside he received the
tenth delegation of oficeseekers which had
appeared at the White House that day.