New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-11-08
STERLING TWENrr-FJURTH on TIE LIST
JOHN W. o'BRIEN LIKELY TO TAKE wGIGHER
BACON's PLACE.

JOHN W. o'BRIEN LIKELY TO TAKE wgIGHER
BACONs PLACE.
Mr.. Sterling. lately thrust into prominence
by Collector cddrn and Surveyor Brate their ap-
pontee to the Office of wegher IN tue Custom House,
and reuced by Presidents orIer to the necessity
OF passing competitive eXamn ton for the place. has
been badly worstcd in the intellectual which he
undertook. The Board OF Examiners undor whose
supervision the examination took place hav" occupel
weak ia reading marking thu papers. and they or
wardcd their report to the Civil Service CommIs-
sion yesterday. The inquiry into the illness OF the
applicants was searching. rhe questions were largely
practical ndta appertanng u the especial duties
OF the Office They prepared under the direction
chiefly OF Chief Examiner Ly
The class of applicants numbered forty-hve most OF
whom were exceptionally clever and competent men,
About thirty OF them passed above the required stand
ard OF 60 per cp and secured places on the esi'
bile list Under ordinary procedure the Board Of Exam
ucrs would certify to the four persons who secure
the highest places on the list aud send them III
the Collector. who Is the appointing Hu
thOrity. bat by the unprecedented orIor o'
Commissioner Eaton. the Board must ne n report on
the "ecihcs" t. the Commission ut Washington All
sorts Of ruor, pervade Custom House To what
VIII he done with the list hut the general Impression
seems to be that Sterling has made snch bad funk tha'
nothing can now De done in his interest It Is said that
II the sde history tIs acts OF the Commission upon
this particular were know, those wh' pe'e'' III
the reform OF the CIyl Servlce would be amazrd
10 learn how narrowly they have escaped betrayal
IN the ranks Of tn 10 Hid sterling got even
fair place st. and had not the conspiracy been
exposed Tue TRIBUNE, this unsavOry ward politch
Of Brooklyn would almost certainly have received the
place. -, en-.
The revelation Of tie exceptional means taken by the
Commission oui, TO throw Olou The chaulhdlIO''
but Collector IIcdru the widest latitude III
his nna action has opened the eyes or those iunh'h
rial with MpS-rs Gregory and Tnoman that they hh'o
indicated lhI there probability OF any other course
than the usual being pursusd with the eligible ''
la his the -four haInes which VIII go u lh' VI"
lcctor selection John ". OBricn. NJ j. Grahan'
Charles Is. Ddkc. who was Captain BAconH foreman
aud William H. sloan. M. OBrru's standing i nearly
% per cent Hens about fOry-"ight years OLD ana 4
graduate Of the College of ST. Francis Xavier. lie was
I'm the war with tie 69ih New York Regiment aud was
dangerously wounded on the Mid OF Autctain. 10
WAS afcrward rOnOrahy discharged for Disability. ITO
had boon FOR twenty years M the Government service ~
Washingt on ns clerk la both tae War
and Treasury Departments and afterward In tins CITY as
an assistant Cher aud az u-pecOr which Once ~
now holds He stands Oh IN the service, having Dceh
employed several delicate missions. He was ono
all the scales III this city. lhdrf tue
KrvIrrd Statutcs well ~ the Cvl service Law n"-
urahly di-ch rged soldiers and sailors are entitled 10 AZ
poIutiuept in preference Ia all other passed aprl'
80 thal. -tcrug's friend, Deputy Collector Barre ~
pressed H. NJ Or.en, being highest In point OI lAt
ana being preferred soldier, " ROLLS a hI"'S"'
flush" HI, selection II looked upon a. a ccrtdihl}
The other three persons On tho preferred h-t Hl "
highest They obtain thor positions ~ I"Nu Va
their mint cry Mr. - IKE dd we'll hut the uthrl
hg Mt IN this The turcr pcr-nh- mex III
order Alter MIR Bren werr f. Hcnpr. j. j. Clhnc"y
and II. " Allen slerIIuz'- Ia tho class - - -
He did well with Tho general qu'stiohs. Out ia'I'u
signRiy uiOn the techuicai portion oi TIC cAfhIhAuoH