The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-03-29
PRICE FIVE GENTS.

charges or complaints were made. The janitors,
watchmen. engineers and elevator. boy followed,
and Mr. Jones said that the removals were made
because they we're Republicans and tho men aD-
pointed II their places active political
workers In the classified service people
were removed for the purpose of making room for
Democrats A man who had passed a civil-servica
examination asked if there was any chance OF
his appointment, TO which Mr.. Jones replied by
asking who he voted for at the last election.
Another asked il any Republicans would be ap-
pointed and Mr. Jones answered Mo- Mr..
Jones told Mr.. Swift and Mr.. Rowland of the
CivIl-seryiee association that he would not ap-
point Republicans even If they passed the ex-
animation, no matter how they stood; that ha
would not appoint them because they were Re-
publicans Mr.. Jones told an employe that there
were no charges against him; he had done his
work well, but his place WAS required for DEM
ocrat; that party pressure was causing removals.
and that they removing some men whom
he thought moro of than the men who took tneix
places. Assistant Postmaster Dodd said to
of the employees Mr.. McClelland: 1T Is bet.
ter for the boys TO resign than to have trump
up charges against them. 1t almost breaks Mr..
Joness heart to have TO trump up charges against
the boys.s
James r. Dowling, of the Railway Mai,
Service was prominent politician and had
been appointed for that reason. 1t had been
shown that Dowling. about the time of his ap.
pointment, told three persons that he had bribed
certain members of the City Council-paid them
an amount of money-for voting for street
railway enterprise in Indianapolis. These facts
were embodied in afidavits aud to Post
master general Villas. with a request for
Dowline's removal. Mr.. Villas answered that
he had inquired into the matter, and that al
though Mr.. Bowling had made these statements,
he Villas was satisfied that they were merely
boasts, aud that Downing did notbrlbe the mem
bers of the Council that Bowling was an ef-
fcient officer. and he iVilasl ad decided to re-
tain him. TIE printed reports of the association
had been sent TO the President and Postmaster
general.
The witness said he found that the President
knew OF the facis concerning the removal OF
presidential postmasters, and appeared 10 ap-
prove what had been done. He THE Presidentl
said that it was not possible to mako an investi-
CATION or to let the parties know what the
charges were against them; that that would be
to turn each case into judicial investigation.
which they could not do Said Mr. Fouike: II
asked him then why he required that any
charges should be made. He said that they
were trying to do the best they could, and ha
said he regretted that we had made the investi-
cation told him that most of the charges
we're made by persons who utterly ire
sponslble. sometimes by those who did not pre-
tend to know the facts and that sometimes tho
charges were false and that it was not possible
to procure correct information &C all until both
sides had a chance to bs heard. He said that
the department had TO get the information the
best way it could. left him with lists which
embodied the results of the investigation y
The witness stated that there had not. to his
knowledge, been any change in the condition of
affairs since he laid these matters before the
President. he expressed the hope that the
committee would visit Indiana and tAat it would
allow the Association to know sufficiently in
advance 80 be prepared with the witnesses and
the facts The things he bad stated with regard
20 the post-ofice could be brought out in the
form of legal evidence
The Chairman-What Is your view of the
operation of the civil-service reform IN Indianaf
Answer-Wel we have not had any civil
service reform in Indiana
The subcommittee will probably 60 to Phila-
delphia next week.