New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-03-05
THE PATHS OF 4 PARTIS1N.


THE PATHS OF 4 PARTIS1N.
REFORMER BENEDICT AND HIS METHODS.
A PRACTICAL PRINTER HARD AFTER ONE wHe
NEVER srHvsp AN ArpRESTiCFsHIP
WASHINGTON. March (Speciap The invcsti-
CATION of Reformer" Benedict by the House
Committee on Printing Inns begun to be inter
estng. As long as the Public Printer knew in
advance what question would be asked by CHAIR
man Richardson his stanch friend and defender,
he had an easy time. Now that Mr.. Gallingcr,
of NcwHampshiic, who is practical printer,
has begun to ask questions the Reformer' finds
himself in hot water. When hard pressed he
turns an imploring face toward the chairman as
If he would cry Cannot you help me p
In beginning his examination Mr.. Galfinger
asked: ..,,,, ,,;r.o, ,-
| Mr.. Benedict SLOWLY" Yes, sir. ~
"Where did you serve your apprenticeship
To the surprise and utter astonisnment OF al al
ply was equal to "Topsy's' when she said'
wasn't born just growed'
al never served an apprenticeship, he SAID.
Mr.. Gal,inger read o portion of Bcnedict's an
nual report, and asked the Public Printer 10 ex-
plain what he meant when he said that the office
took charge This was q hard nut for the Re
former" to crack. and after several attempts 10
explain he said he had used the phrase IN 'n
manacemenf and that by the condition Of the
floors with work and other material the building
MIR. Gailinger next inquired if the several fore
men of the Office were not responsible for that
condition Of affairs. The Reformer replied that
Are those forcmcn still employed in the Of
fee ?"
"They arc"
mon whom you compliment in your annual report
and who suffered the lives Of others 70 become
endangered arc still in the printing once e mon
about the inefIiciency Of the office. which yor
said existed when you took charger
In your annual report Won claim to have made mi,
large number of reemarl<able Improvements.
Do you claim S5n bre 'Tras r1T
q have not said SO. The reforms were car
ried cut nv nv order" ,.o,
" Then you do claim the credit
Are Won -" not aware Of the fact that improve
ments are made every year?'
." I presume they itc."
Mr. Gallincer now began to question the Re
former about his discharges OF the old SO d,ers
and sailors In nearly every case cas- Mr. anS met
inef1iciency. When the question was pressed sS
the for dismssns WORTHY soldiers a1 40
the rcscne Of the Public Printer hv protesting
against Mr.. Gallinrers line of examination, ana
being H the %" ssSG tf Me- nr%et If he p0H
CHARGED w r. Ramsey. J. l.; Simms; e. l. Rich
mond II. S Tinker Henry T. IIanck and one or
tw Mr. oe Ganae. e rsnrs nat Bs1S knew
tinker went to see Mr.. White IN behalf of his
IBnnedict's) confirmation lie replied that he did
Did you know TINT Tinker saw Senator
Henderson about your confirmation =
About this tjmc Benedict became somewhat
confused ard bcwildered, and annsrentlv forgot
himself. When Mr.. Galnger asked If he knew
sa IN Ss Ssha wsnt his
l1novr'cdgr Benedict answered.
Not that l know Of" lie then mentioned
the name Of Senator Sawyer. 49,
"I am glad YOU told me said Mt Caliing,r
al didn't know the name OF the Senator Did
you say to Senator Sawyer that Richmond was
Not that know of. Richmond was com
pctcnt clerk"
when Won d,srh ,rsc t,m did YOU think Y III
were carrying out the Civil Service law?' :.
lie answered that he did. and added that poll
tics were not considered in mis- Office; $500
In answer to a question about the icttcr 10
postmastcrs to secure certain political lnforma-
ton. which WIS fist published in The Tribune,
Mr. Benedict denied all 'knowledge OF me clrca-
lar. and said he never signed any such document,
and the NEWSPAPERS were responsible for his name
being attached TO the letter
Were YOU aware. Mr.. Benedict inquired Mt.
Gallnger" that political contributions were made
in tho Government Printing O. Office Last fan Tor
the New-York cfmDaign fund Z! .,...
Il have no knowledge Of any such contribu-
tions having been made"
Do you know that an emp!oye named j. J.
Jones called on you and gave as q reason for his
retention the fact that he had taken up contri-
buttons in the Office for the Ncw-iork campaign
fund ?"
II know Mr. Jones. but have no recollection
of his ever making that statement to me.
do you know that Mr.. Wilbur collected snch
contributions. and that sums as small as ten
cents were given nv the women employees IN re-
Spouse to sOlicitatons?'
mo sir: know nothing of it. I WAS absent
during the time. No such Contributions were
ever made to my knowlcdge'
Mr. Benedict denied having ever insulted any
one. and said he positive that he never re;
marked TO any one that he didn't keep soldiers
home or orphan asv'um when he WAS Dettioned
to reinstate discharged soldiers and sailors
After Mr. Benedict had admitted that he had
improved the efficiency of the proof room by the
discharges made, Mr.. Gallnger presented bill
after hill and report after renOrt f'led with the
most elarng errors resulting from had proof-read-
ing. and all the Public Printer could DO was to
Plead the baby act and maintain that the crrors
were nothing more than what would. occur In
any printing Office when work was hurried
The investigation was adjourned until TUESDAY