Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-10-21
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
Return of COmmissioner ThOman-PO-
litical Assessments.

AAbANAA Aa1OeHAhNhNHs
WASHINGTON, Oct. 20.-Civil Service
Commissioner Thoman returned to-day
from a seven weeks official trip through
the Western and Pacific coast States and
Territories. When questioned tonight by
an Associated Press reporter as to whether
or not he had rendered his resignation or
contemplated doing so, Judge Thoman
said: 81 do not wish TO say anything
concerning the matter at this time. Suf-
fee it that the President has long since
been advised of my desire in the premi-
ses." The Judge declined to say anything
as to the reorganization of the commission.
He says he has been throughout the North
west, and has seen that the belief in civil
service reform is growing among the peo-
pie. The masses OF the peo-
pie wherever he has been believe the
President has taken a noble stand for
civil service reform, and they mean to
support him. This spirit amounts to en-
thusiasm in many localities. A few
they are not needed. His trip, the Judge
Gays, was inspiring and encouraging.
POLITICAL ASSESSMENTS.
The Civil Service Commission has ad-
dressed a letter to the President calling
Pennsylvania Republican Committee to
collect political assessments in the de-
partments, and suggesting the propriety
of making an investigation of the matter
with view Of Furnishing all parties con-
nected with 1t tNyhO can be reached by the
law. They say that it is their belief that
Chairman Cooper, who is responsible for
the begging circular, is not an employe Of
the government, and therefore cannot be
reached by law; and discuss the prOpriety
OF asking Congress to extend the law so
as TO cover such cases.
Mr.. Thoman said tonight that he had
come to Washington to stay, and consid-
cred himself a fixture. Nevertheless his
early retirement from the Civil Service
Commission may be confidently expected.
There were two gentlemen who awaited
Mr.. ThOman's return from the Pacific
coast with some anxiety.
HIS HOUSE.
They were Alfred Richards and G. C.
Martin, who sold Mr.. Thoman his resi-
dence here last summer. II will
be remembered that the purchase
price was $4,000, and that Mr.. Thoman
gave in payment Indiana school supply
county bonds. These bonds were among
the fraudulent issues which have since
attracted so much attention. Messrs.
Richards and Martin sent their attorney
to Mr.. Thoman tonight to ask him to
either make the bonds good to them or to
restore the house.
THOMAN DECLINES.
Mr.. Thoman declined TO do either and
notified the attorney that while he did
not seek quarrels he did not avoid them,
and that he would defend himself in any
action that might be brought against
him. Mr.. Martin said to-nght that il
Mr.. Thoman persisted in refusing either
to give himself and Mr.. Richards the
money value Of the bonds or to
restore to them their house that
they would prosecute him in the courts.
Mr. ThOman's position is understood to
be that the owners of the house fully In
vestigated the character of the bonds ten
dered by him in payment for the house
before they completed the transaction,
aud protessed themselves perfectly salts
fed with them.
EVERYONE FOR HIMSELF.
He acquired them, and rendered them
in perfect good faith. and does not propose
10 be held responsible for the laches OF
Messrs. Martin and Richards. The rec
cords in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds
show that the deed Of the house to Mr..
Thoman was dated Aug. 20, 1885, and
recorded Aug. "a, 1885. On Aug. 81, 1885,
deed or trust was recorded, from Mr..
Thoman to a trustee, to secure Mary T.
Redfern for a loan from her to Mr.. Tho
man of $4,000. The fact that the house is
mOrtgaged complicates the matter.
SOUTHERN INVENTIONS.
The following patents have been issued
j. A. McMullen, A. Il. Bloodworth,
Stephens Pottery, Ga, a machine for
threshing peas.
lease Jordan and O. r. LaOerouit
Macon. Ca, "a seal lock.
W. II. Mercer, Mercer, S. c., automatic
fan.
Herbert l.. Ford, assignor OF one-haf to
W. Turnbua, Aiken, 3. c., railway
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