New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-10-11
BOGUS "REFORMn EXPOSED.
REPORT OF THE SENATE COMMITTEE.
\ pEMoRALIzED CIVIL sERv1CE-PLEDGEs vIo-
LATED AND PROMISES BRoKEN-FAIR-
cHrLD's sHUFFLING CONDUCT
RFyrEwFn
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE,


10 investigate the operations of the Civil Service under
the Reform Administration OF Grover Cleveland. 1t
is document OF fifty pages, which exposes pretty
fully the hypocrisy and false pretences OF the Ad-
ministraon Its performances with the pledges
and promises OF Mr. Cleveland and reveals the methods
by which the Civil Service has been prostitu'ed Tor
partisan uses. and demoraized with the consent and
conntvanoe and in many cases with the direct APP
proval, Of the President and members of bis CaDnet
II document the perusal of which must excite SEN
satfons of pain and disgust I'm the mind OF every SIN
cerc friend OF Civl Service Reform containing as 10
does rrefragabe proof that the letter of the law has
repeatedly been evaded and often broken. and It's
spirit uniformly violated, both In removals ana ap-
pointments in the Civil Service
Under the caption Civil Service in New-fork Is
written a record Of than dozen pages which
Show that political accommodation "Widow Nc
Ginnis's pig rale" the bold stand and deliver or
you'll lose your head" sort-were divided by Federal
officials and collected from Government clerks and
other employees; that political discrimination was eN
ercised in favor of against certain applicants, IN
violation Of law that removals were made from po-
litical motives that Democrats were appointed, in
violation of law, who addicted 20 Drunkenness
that the law requiring Civil Service examinations has
been evaded o violated and over again. for the
beneft of Democrats unable pass such examinations
The facts relating the Binghamton public buildings
scandal are brought with startling force and clear
tions Of Secretary Fsichd in regard 10 the removals
and nlents on account of the alleged "sugar
frauds, IN the Appraisers Department OF The New
York Custom House, are thoroughly exposed. Tho
report fairly brises with facts proving the hostility
of the Administration and its Chief officials toward
honorably discharged Union soldiers; and IFS con-
temptuous disregard Of the laws which require that
their claims both for appointment and retention in
place when employed shall receive special rccogn-
ZION is fully shown Exhibitions OF offensive psIt
sanshp- BY Democratic ofliceholders in violation OF
the Presidents order OF July. 1856 arc cited from
every branch OF the public service in the States COW
cred by the investigation.
The report first takes up the of New York, and
says that the practice of lcvying assessments under
the Of contributions subscriptions was proved
TO exist by practically undispued testimony. 1t
charges Surveyor Beatte and Deputy Collector Mason
with knowledge OF the gross violation Of the laws
forbidding the questioning of candidate for civil
Service position TO his political opinion. Discuss
ing politics the sugar rauds.r 1t tine evidence
"discloses undue interference by those high in au-
thority in the making of appointments and removals
the extent OF actual violation of law The report
then presents charges against secretary Fairchild,
based upon his own letter to George William Curtis
June 90 1888, and proceeds TO fortfy with proof
these charges, three in number-(D that he had re
moved from Office competent men in spirit of pure
wantonness (2l that he had retained men deserving
removal, simply because they " had pull" ~ that
he had restored TO Office, against the Will of his supe
rior, a whom he had previously removed for
drunkenness and INSTRUMENTATION and that, in order 10
Justify this violation of law. he had the rules them
selves changed by the Commission.
In discussing the condition OF the Civil Service in
Pennsylvania. the report says that the many removals
OF lettercarriers, large proportion Of them Union
veterans made by Postmaster Harrity of Phfadel-
phia have been made solely for political and
partisan purposes. 1t adds:
" The testimony TO the active political work by
Democratic officials is abundant" AS to Civil Service
exam nations in that State the report says that
matter what the standing of the applicant may be,
there plan, especially in the Pos; Office, by
which Democrats were selected for appointments in
nearly all cases"
The testimony shows conclusively," says tho
port, {" that in Maryland there attempt made
10 disguise the fact that practically all Federal offices
treated the spells Of victory, and, such,
were distributed among the members Of the Admins
trafion party 1t also discusses letter Of the post
master OF Baltimore showing that the total number
OF changes, including those among the old men,
amounted TO IL times the average number OF
employees in the post Office
The report then goes TO discuss the Civil Service
record Of Aqula Jones postmaster and custodian of
the Federal Building IN Indianapolis, and says lie
Jones' has dismissed ndferenty those who
in under the competitive system and those who did
not and charges him W tn nepotism When
plant was made 10 the President, one member Of the
Civil Service Commission made farcical invest ga
tion upon which the President has never taken any
acton. Jones, cmbodened renewed his peculiar
management Of the competitive system, and many
other postmasters in that State following his ex
ample.
The report concludes with the following general
summary:
The investigations made ny the committee and the facts
therein brought forth establish things beyond
troversy:
THAT partisan changes have been made in the Federal
orces In wholesale under preence that the gooa
Of the public demanded such changes In most
marked instances, in Philadelphia, Baltimore Indian
spOs and NewYork, these changes have been followed
by scandals in the public service which has been rendered
less efficient by reason OF the changes.
2-Ths Federal officials throughout the country, contrary
to OF the President found in his letter of
July 1886, freely and openly participated in po
and primary election movements using
their Official influence In Pennsylvania the entire ma
chnery Federal Tut in operation for the
purpose OF controlling the Democratic organization in the
State the of the Administrators force as
against the friends Of Mr.. Randall The State conven
tons dominated and controlled by the Federal OIL
Gals and the chdnanshp Of the State Committee was
by bestowed by the Administration
of the committee who changed their allegiance
from Mr. Randall to the President IN no case does the
aly Federal officer has been disciplined
Tor such Interference in politics. but the other hand
such Interference been repeatedly recognized ana
w.r0ed. This interference. some cases notably at
B!nghsmton, " Y. offensive the people and
amounted TO conspiracy 70 thwaft and defeat the popular
will
SHAT the system Of levying tolls and assessments
Federal for political purposes continued
without interruption the Administration into
place persuaded present through
the country. ohcehoders being generally assessed
and called upon contribute from their to swell
the campaign funds Of the Democratic party. While
these generally made and responded
IL violation repeated declarations the President
the fundamental principles Of Cvi REFORM
the committee hardly feels w1rraDied severely
srmadserlDs upon the conduct OF these suboldnatcs
Tor violating the policy announced by the Prcs!-
dent ia view Of the fact thai that policy has
departed from and grossly violated by President
and members Of his Cabinet in their alleged uncon-
tradcted subscriptions Of large 70 Democratic