Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1885-07-09
Congressman Warner in the Role Of a
RRfOrmGr.
He Seeks to Victimize a Noble County
Republican.
The ''0ffensively Partisan Congress
man Comes to Grief.
Special to Commercial Gazette.

Special TO commercial Gazette.
WASHINGTON, June 3O--Mr Higgins,
First Auditor Chenowith and Represen>
tive Warner, of OHIO, have evidently
concluded that, as far as they are con
cerned, the civil service law shall not be
any longer prostituted to the appoint
ment of Republicans. The case in which
they have conspirad, and thus far sue
ceeded in their conspiracy, is very
plain and, and one that will not fail to
attract attention. On the 21st of March
last, at a competitive examination held
by the Civil Service Commission, at
Cleveland, o., Mr. Owen Kellar, of Cald-
well, o., passed among the highest of
those present. His general average was
SS.75 on the first three Subjects, being
those which rank. in the eligible list. Of
this esult be received official notice. His
personal character had been properly
certified to the Board by citizens of
standing. His name was therefore, in
accordance with ihe law, placed On the
eligible list here by the Civil Service
Commission.
A short time since Judge Chenowiuh.
the new First Auditor, needed a first
class clerk. The Secretary of the Treas
ury, according to law, called on the Civil
Service Commission for names from the
eligible list, and that the required four
of highest standing were forwarded
Upon the examination of the papers Mr..
Kellar was found to have passed the best
examination and to present on the face
of his papers the best qualifications.
These showed that upon the three subr
jects which fixes the grading of the ex-
animation he passed as follows: First
subject OrthogI Apply, penmanship and
copying, S1.25. Second bject-Arith+
meticf Fundamental rules, fractions and
per centage, $500. Third subject-In
terest. discount and elements of book
keeping and of acccrntS, 9700."
His standing under the third subject, as
will be seen, was such as to admirably
fit him for good service in an accounting
office such as the First Auditors. He
was therefore selected, and the following
notification sent him by Mr.. Higgins:
''TREAsURY DEPARTMENT,
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY,
WASHINGTON, D. c., June 20, 1885.
"Nr. Owen Kellar, Caldwell, o.:
"SIR-The U. S. Civil Service Commission
having certified you as eligible for appoint
ment to a clerkship of the 81 POO class in this
department you are requested to report to this
Office at once for assignment to duty. Very
respectfully, EUGENE HIGGINs,
''Chief of Appointment Division"
The need for clerk seemed to be
pressing, for i'll the printed form above
the last clause reads: you are requested
to report to this Office at your earliest
convenience for assignment to duty"
Mr.. Higgins had erased the words "at
your earliest convenience" and written
in the place "at once" Armed with
this paper, Mr.. Kellar promptly came
to Washington, and reported to Mr..
Higgins. After holding him off for a
day or so, Mr.. Higgins told him it would
all depend upon whether he was wanted,
and finally said Judge ChenOwith did
not want him.
Mr.. Kellar, as may be imagined, hay
ing made his arrangements to come here
to stay, and having incurred the expense
of the trip, insisted upon knowing a lit
tie more about the matter, and was sent
to Judge CheDowith. This gentleman
was at least frank about the matter and
neither disguised nor lodged any feat
ures of it. lie told Mr.. Kellar that he
had received statements showing that