Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1885-07-12

him. After the charges were
made affecting his character some one
else should have been appointed.
think reform Is needed la the civil
service machinery Itself. The people
will ask why Kellar, who VS. exam
ined six weeks ago, should be pre-
ferred To those who were examined
und passed long before. II may be-
come the duty Of the next house to in
quire into the workings Of this com
mission,n
CBENowETH REVIEWS TIE ESI.LAR
CASE
Special TO the Gazette.
WASHINGTON, July ll.-Judge
ohenoweth is naturally indignant over
the editorial in yesterdays New
York Times, which charges him with
being in conspiracy with Appoint
ment Clerk Higgins to keep Repubh-
cans from holding Office under the
civil service. The judge sent cut the
following communication to-day:
"wAsHiN GToN, July II, 1886.
''ro the Editor OF the New YoTk1imeA
my attention has been directed to
a lengthy and labored editorial in
your Issue OF the s.h inst, headed, "A
Conspiracy in the Treasury Depart
ment.' / am not willing to believe
that you would wantonly do me the
gross injustice, and must conclude that
you have been imposed upon by those
pretending to give you the facts 1f the
- Kellar case, upon which your article
h. based. / never had any correspond
ence with Gen. Warner about this or
any other matter before or since the
time OF Kellar's appointment. 1
needed a clerk, and asked the sugges-
ton OF names from the civil-service
commission. Four names were for
warded to me, and from them one,
owen Kellar, was selected. He Was
notified of his selection and reported
to the Office OF the appointment clerk.
Mr.. Higgins and myself had never
spoken of the man prior to his arrival.
The morning OF the day he arrived
letter from Gen. Warner was sent
to me from the secretary's Office, nc
companied by letters and protests from
responsible citizens living at the home
of Mr.. Hellsr, In Ohio. seriously oh
jecting "a bis appointment These OBJ
jeotions went 10 hls moral character
carefully read the papers, noted the
charges and, beiIiR requested by Mr.
Keliar, furnished him with the same
for hia own personal use. / frankly
told Mr.. kellar that II these charges
preferred by his neighbors and fellow
citizens were true, that he was
not, in my mind, a suitable man
To preside at a desk in my office.
Mr.. Kellar answered that he was a
Republican, TO which L replied with
emphasis that his being a Republican
had nothing TO do with the case, AS
was not permitted to inquire rs 10 his
politics. / said to him that | was
responsible for the faithful admins
tration of my office, and would, as far
as was able, have its various divis-
ions conducted upon business princl-
pies, and by gentlemen. | proposed
TO assign Mr.. Kellar to work, but can.
dor compelled me TO say to him before
doing 80 that II he were the man des-
cribed in the letters and papers before
me, would, upon being satisfied Of
their truth, recommend that he be dis
charged. / told Mr.. Kellar that II he
preferred y would return his papers 10
the civil-Bervice commission, aud he
could then be placed on the same
footing heoccupied prior to his name
being sent to me with three other se.
lections. Mr.. Kellar asked time to
confer Wholesome friends, which wss
very readily granted, and the next
morning received note from him
asking that his papers be returned Ia
the commission. My whole action In
this matter WAS In the direction
OF civil sekwioe reform, and / was
moved by mo other desire than the
good OF the public service, and the
proper and faithful administration Of
the Office 20 which j have been rs
signed. / attach hereto copies OF the
sworn statements OF Col. Warner and
Mr.. Ryuder, who were In my office
during the entire time OF my CONVEX
sation with, Mr.. ,Kellar. Col. Warner
AZ distinguished OK Union soldier
from Nebraska. DIR. Rynder IL the
present chairman Of the Greenback'
Labor party OF Pennsylvania
Both are prominent members
OF dhe Grand Array OF the Republic.
/ also attach the statement Of Mr..
Leazer, Republican In politics, and
at poesent and for aaanv years deputy
auditor OF this oftioe. Respectfully,
JAMES u. ElHRNowETH,
First Auditor"
aWAsHJGaEoS. July Al, 1855.
"Havkng seen distorted huh, IN
some particulars, false statemeats pub.
lished Ia regard to an interview be
tween Col. James q. Chenoweth. first
auditor OF the treasury department.,
and one Owen Kellar, we deem IL a
matter OF dustice TO state that we
were present in the office of
the first auditor at the time OF said in-
teryiew and heard all that WAS 81 Id
by Col Chenoweth In said interview,
also that no other persons were pres.
emit during all the conversation. Hay-
ing met at the national encampment
OF the Grand Army OF the Republic,
recently held In Por land, Me, we CO me
on TO Washington In company with
It. p. Ryuder, one of these Opponents,
being acquainted with many OF the
of GERS of the treasury, and the other
heponent. j. r. Warner OF Nebraska
Tor the purpose of introducing the lat
ter 70 come OF the new cfiicers.