The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1888-10-20
CLEVELAND Is EXPOSED
BY THE SENATE COMMITTEE
ON CITIL SERTICE.
The Spells System Under a Democratic
Administration Taxing Federal
Employes-A General SUM
mary of the Damag-
ing Report.

WASHINGTON, d. C., Oct. l0.-Senator
Hale to-day submitted to the Senate n
report from the special committee to ex-
anime into the present condition of the
civil service. The report max es printed
document of fifty pages. 1t discusses
deliberately the testimony taken in New
York, Pennsylvania and elsewhere, and
concludes with the following general
summary:
The Investigations made by the committee
and the facts therein brought forth establish
these things beyond controversy;
l. That partisan Changes have been made in
the federal offices in wholesale way under no
preiense that the good of the public service de-
r1anded such changes. IN most marked in
stances as in Philadelphia, Baltimore, In
dianapolis and New York these changes
have been followed by scandals in the public ser
vice which has been rendered less efficient by
son of the changes
| 2. That Federal officials throughout the coun-
try, contrary 70 the directions OF the President,
found in his letter of July Il, 1856 have freely
and openly participated in political conventions
and primary elections movements using their
official influence.
In Pennsylvania the entire machinery Of the
Federal service was put in operation for the
| purpose of controlling the Democratic organiza-
ton in the state In the interests OF the admins
tration force as against the friends OF Mr.. Ran
| dali. The state conventions were dominated
| and controlled by the Federal officials and the
| craftsmanship of the state committee was Sc
cured by the Offices bestowed by the adIninistra-
| ton upon members OF the committee who
| changed their allegiance from Mr.. Randall TO TIE
| President
In no case does the committee hnd that any
federal officer has been disciplined for such in
reference IN politics. but on the other hand such
| interference has been repeatedly recognized and
rewarded. This interference in some cases, not
| ably at Binghamton, n. Y, was most offensive TO
| the people and amounted to q conspiracy 90
| thWart and defeat the popular Will.
8. That the system OF leyying tolls and assess
ments upon federal Office bolders for political
purposes has continued without interruption
| since the administration came into place
| The committee is persuaded that at present
| throughout the country office holders are being
generally assessed and called upon 10 contribute
| from their salaries 70 swell the campaign funds
of the Democratic party. While these asses
| ments, so generally made and responded to, are
/ in violation Of the repeated declarations
| of the President and OF the fundamental
principles OF civil service reform, the committee
hardly feels warranted in severely animadveTt-
| ing upon the conduct Of these subordinates Tor
violating the policy announced by the President,
in view Of the fact that that policy has been de
parted from and grossly violated ty the Presi-
dent and members of his cabinet in their alleged
and uncontTadicted subscTl puons of large sums
| to the Democratic Natiousl Committee.
| 1t is not to be expected that subordiuates will
| feel justified in considering as sincere declara
| tons Of policy which 50 palpably repudIated
| By their author, and the fact that the President
| Of the United States, il a campaign IN which ne
| has so great personal interest, contributed. no
toriouSly. oue-hfth Of year salary for political
/ use, is fairly to be taken by those who depend
upon him tor their tenure Of Office as not sim ply
| an invitation, but command 10 do likewise
| While perhaps not strictly the functions of this
| committee il may not be improper for it to com
| mend TO the consideration OF the legal adviser O.
| the President the inquiry whether such sub
| scriptions as made, were not in direct VIOLATION
| OF the provisi9 rs OF the law. The provisions O
! law are here cited.
/ All these things are contrary TO the pledges re
4 ITr-r 40 rrf1
election and SINCE in his letters and well suthen
| Icated interviews.
The report here makes quotations
| from the first letter of acceptance Of
| President Cleveland; from his letter OF
| December %, 1854, TO George William
| Curtis; from his inaugural address
from his first annual message
and from his letter of Septem'
| Der Il, 1885, to Civil Service
| of the spOils system and enunciating the
| Presidents views on civil service re
| form. It says the investigations made
| by the committee SHOW a condition oil
affairs as Numerically opposed to what
the President has promised, as 1t would
| be possible 10 imagine"
To show chow these promises have
| been kept the committee quotes the
concluding paragraphs of the report OIL
the evil service reform association Of
Indiana, composed largely OF gentle
men who supported the president il
| 1884, " commenting on which the com
mittee saws: The committee can ap
| preciate the condition Of mind in which
| these gentlemen Of Indiana must have
| been when confronted with the fact!
| brought out by their investigation, many
of which have been also established
| before this committee"