The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1888-10-19
A cAusTIc DOCUMENT.

The hypocrisy and sham performances
of the administration in regard to civil
service reform are most glaringly laid
bare in the report of the Senate investi'
eating committee just made public. 1t
should be read by every one who has
supposed that Cleveland was paying any
regard to the civil service reform pledg-
es.he made to the Mugwumps. 1t isl
shown that he has himself violated the
laws Of his country by contributing TO
corruption.fund to be used TO secure his
reelection. The report is embodied in
thesfollowing special:
WASHINGTON, Oct. 11.---The special
committee appointed under resolution
of the senate several months ago to in
vestigate the operation of the civil SER
vice has completed it's work. and the re-
port of Senator Hale and the majority
of the committee is now ready. 1t fills
fifty pages 1t is divided into chapters
devoted to the different states in which
the committee made investigations,
viz: New York, Pennsylvania, Mary
land and Indiana. The testimony taken
from time to time at New York, Boston,
Philadelphia is reviewed. This testi-
mony, which was publicly taken, has
all been published. The "Widow Nc
Guinness pig raffie," is fully described
and in this connectiod the committee
states it's conviction that the surveyors
department in New York contains
what the president has described as
horde of office holders with zeal born
of benefit 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 officials of political discrimination
and offensive partisanship, says that
drunkenness among the New York en-
ployes while ON duty is a common fail
ing; and that civil service examinations
are not fairly held.
In conclusion the committee sum-
marizes the civil service situation as fol-
lows: The investigations made by the
committee and the facts therein brought
forth establish these things beyond con-
troversy:
1. That partisan changes have been
made in the federal offices in whole
sale way, under no pretense that the
good of the public service demanded
such changes. In the most marked in
stances these changes have been followed
by scandals in the public service.
2. That federal officials throughout the
country, contrary to the direction of the
president, in his letter of July IA, 1885,
have freely and openly participated in
political conventions and primary cleo
ton movements, using their official in
fluence. In no case does the committee
find that any federal officer has been
disciplined or punished for such inter-
ference in politics, but on the other
hand such interference has been repeat
eddy recognized and rewarded.
8. That the system of levying tolls and
assessments upon federal offices-holders
for political purposes has continued
without interruption since the admins
tration came into place. The president
of the United States, in campaign in
which he has so great personal interest,
contributes, VIGOROUSLY, one-tenth of a
years salary for political use, is fairly to
be taken by those who depend upon him
for their tenure of Office as not simply
an invitation but a command to do like
wise" The committee suggests that this
subscription was in violation of law. In
conclusion the committee quotes the
civil service promise of the president.
and says: "The investigations made by
the committee show a condition of affairs
as Numerically opposed to what the
president has promised, as it would be
possible to imagine"