The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-10-11
is THIS REFORM2
Outcome of CIeveInnd's Promises-EepoFt
Of the Civil Service InyestiEatIOn Conuit-

tee.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 1O.-Thc special
committee appointed under the resola-
ton of the Senate, several months ago,
to investigate the operation OF the Civil
Service law, has completed its work:
The report of Senator Hale and the
majority OF the committee, which is now
ready, fills fifty pages. 1t is divided
into chapters devoted to the different
States in which the committee made IN
yestigations, viz: New York, PeBnsyl-
vania, Maryland and Indiana.
The testimony taken from time to time
at New York, Boston, Philadelphia and
Washington is reviewed. The testi-
mony, which was publicly taken, has
all been published. The "Widow Me-
Guinness pig rattle" is fully described,
and in this connection the committee
states its conviction that the surveyors
department in New York contains
what the President has described us n
horde OF ollice-hoders with zeal born
of benefits received and fOstered by the
hope OF favors yet to come, standing
ready to aid with money and political
services"
The report accuses the New York OF.
flcials OF political discrimination and Of
iensive partisanship; says that drunken
ness among the New York employees
while on duty is common fail ling; and
that civil service examinations are not
fairly held. The report says: "ln max
ing inquiry as to the condition OF the
civil service in the State OF Maryland,
and more especially the city OF Balti-
more, it was found that there was Il very
general impression among all classes
that the federal service had been con-
trolled altogether by political influences
under the present administration, and
the testimony taken by the committee
confirms this vicw."
In conclusion the committee sum.
marizes the civil service situation as
follows:
"The investigation made by the com
mittec and the facts therein brought
forth establish these things beyond con-
troversy:
"First-That partisan changes have
been made in the Federal Offices i'll q
wholesale way, under no pretensc that
the good OF the public service demanded
such changes, In most marked instances
these changes have been followed by
scandals in the public service.
"Second-That Federal officials
throughout the country, contrary to the
directions OF the President, as found i'll
his letter OF July il, 1886, have freely
and openly participated in political con-
ventions and primary movements, using
their official influence. In no case does
the committee find any Federal officer
has been disciplined or punished for
such interference in politics, but on the
other hand, such interference has been
repeatedly recognized and rewarded.
"Third-That the system OF legying
tolls and assessments upon Federal office
holders for political purposes has con-
tinued without interruption since the
administration came into place. The
committee is persuaded that ut present
throughout the country oilice-holders
are being generally assessed and called
upon to contribute from their salaries to
swell the campaign funds OF the Demo
cratic party.
"Itis not to be expected that snhor-
dinates will feel justified in considCl ring
as sincere declarations Of policy which
are SO palpably rcpudiated by their
author, and the fact that the President
OF tho United States, in campaign in
which he has great personal interest,
contributes notoriously, one-Gtth Of u
years salary for political uses, is fairly
to be taken by those who depend upon
him for their tenure OF Office us not sim
ply an invitation but command TO do
likewise" The committee suggests that
this subscription was in violation Of
law.
In conclusion, the committee quotes
the civil service promises of the Presi-
dent and says: "Thc Investigations
made by the committee show. n con-
dition OF atIairs as Numerically opposed
to what the President has promised us it
would be possible to imagine"