New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-05-25
BOGUS REFORM EXPOSED.
LIGHT UPON DARK DEMOCRATIC DEEDS IN
THE CUSTOM HOUSE.
FACTS BROUGHT OUT BY THE SENATE INQUIRY
GOVERNOR HILL AS WIDOW FOR
WHOM oFFIcEHoIDERs RAISE LITTLE
FUND BY A BIG RAFFLE--INTIMI.
DATION AND PERSFCIvrION


WHOM oFFICEHoIDERs RAISE LITTLE
FUND BY A BIG RAFFLE-INTIMI-
DATIoN AND PERSECUTION .
OF REPUBLICANS.
The special committee appointed by the United
States Senate In March to examine into the condi4
tion of the Civil Service in the various branches
of the Government began its investigation Of tho
Custom House here yesterday morning 1t wenb
right to work without any preliminary fuss or
delay, pushed its inquiries with commendable sn-
ergy, and closed the first days abors to the satiss
faction Of every one present who had desired to
see the rottenness Of the Customs Service at this
port exposed by the cold, impartial forms Of
judicial examination. A more complete exposition
Of the abuses practised under the name OF Civil
Service reform could scarcely be imagined, for
while the majority Of the Senate committee are
Republicans the most important witnesses were
Democrats of unquestioned standing and respect
ability
Surveyor Beattie's department was the special
field of inquiry, but while the testimony taken
centred around that spokesman and those under
him, it took at times an exceedingly wide range.
BINGHAMToN's FINE CONTRIBUTION.
Nearly all that was offered proved interesting.
but perhaps the ivelest part was that offered by
a delegation of Democratic witnesses from Bing-
hamton. who came down to tell what they knew
of Deputy Collector Charley" Davis and the way
in which he and his Custom House associates run
things in Broome County. Most Of these wit
nesses, one Of whom was the Recorder OF Bihs'
hamton, came as the representatives OF the rep
utable element of the party there, who, having
become utterly dsgusted with the conduct OF
Davis and his crowd, are up in arms against him.
and have been for months. These gentlemen not
only swore to the activity displayed by Davis and
other Federal officials in caucuses and conven-
tions, but gave some rather startling information
about the purchase of the site for the proposed
Federal building in Binghamton, with which Davis
has had so much to do.
There are seven Senators on the committee
Messrs Hale, of Maine Manderson, Of Nebrasla;
Chace, Of Rhode Island: Spooner, Of Wisconsin;
Blackburn, of Kentucky Daniel, Of Virginia, and
Blodgett, of New-Jersey The first four are Re
publicans; the other three, Democrats. The sub
committee that has undertaken to investigate Col
ector Magone's administration consists Of only three
members Messrs. Hale, Spooner ard Blackburn
Senator Hale is chairman and has conducted the
Investigations thus far. He was taken Ill with
rheumatism yesterday and was not able to attend
the hearing. Senator Spooner had to take his
place presiding officer. lie did SO with success.
Mr.. Spooner is a rather small nervous, active
little man. but quick as flash at repartee, and
proved himself abundantly able to hold his own
against the lively thrusts of his big, good natured
Democratic associate from Kentucky. Mr.. Black
burns task was to make the best case possible
before the session was half over he was praying
for adjournment
the Post Office Building. Ten o'clock was the hour
fixed for opening, but 1t was nearly II before the
first witness was called. BY that time there were
sci of the State Civil Service Reform Association;
DEPUTY, Collector, Davis. z; I; Godkil, william
Potts, Secretary Mason, Of the Custom House Civil
Service Examining Board John b. Christie, ser.
| geantatarms Of the Senate, and other officers Of
| the committee, and cloud Of witnesses
THE VALUE OF POLITICAL INFLUENCE
John o. Conway, q Democrat Of Brooklyn, q
middle-aged man who served in the Navy, was the
first witness. He was formerly an assistant
weigher in the Custom House. After passing the
Civil Service examination and obtaining o per-
centage of "a s-1o, he was told by Mr.. Mason the
secretary Of the Examining Board of the Custom
House, and Deputy Collector Davis that he would
better get letters Of recommendation from lead
yOuching for his Democracy from DR.. Ford and
Register Murtha, Of Kings County, who Davis said
controlled the Brooklyn patronage. Conway, IN
January, 1886 Then he was discharged, as he
believes, for reporting man named Ryan, who
fsHS SSnk * ias h on %Sn St Ryan it Was
reason Of his removal Mr.. Fallon, the superin-
tendent of assistant weighers swore at him and
sS You are a is i # IS you are
The witness added that he had frequently seem
the men drunk while on duty and mentioned
Of M Bsr ea in in se ms Ths Esi Sas
heard Of examination papers being fixed up in
advance for. the benefit Of those who were wanted
in the service by Democratic leaders.
Mr.. Conway was followed by Kenneth K. Blau-
inspector from 1859 to 1887. Mr. Blauveit was
room for ten female inspectors. This was the
pretended cause, but as matter of fact, there
were, twenty vacancies. at the time. He was
asked about the alleged practice of substitutes
in the Civil Service examinations, and replied that
he heard one inspector charge another with having
for him. He understood it was was done frequently
Mr.. Bauvelt had also seen a great deal Of drunk
enness among the inspectors.
PIG RAFFLE FOR POLITICAL REVENUE
Then the famous Widow Maginniss pig rattle"
was taken up. As is generally known, this affair
took place in 1885, when Hill was running for
Governor The Democratic officials at the Custom
House undertook to raise funds under the guise OF
rattle. They succeeded. The amount they raised
is estimated at from So, 900 to $4,000. The raf-
fe' was held in Parldnson's barroom, in White
hallst. Blauvelt gave a good deal of testimony
about this, and then Norman Davis brother Of
ex-Judge Noah Davis, took the stand. He is
sixty-six years old, and was in the service for
twenty-four years as invoice clerk and inspector.
The most interesting part of his evidence was
when he told about the fifteen spotters' %.
pointed by Beattie to watch Republicans and make
complaints against them. These spies paid
no attention to the Irregularities Of Democrats.
Mr.. Davis spoke Of the drunkenness among the
new appointees and also the inferior character Of
the men appointed since Mr.. Clevcland's Admins
tration began. No Republican could squeeze him.
self into the service now. Ms. Davis said that
he gave fifty cents toward the pig rattle"
Charles F. Burrows, of Newark, the next wit
ness said that he gave $40 for this purpose al
though he was Republican. He felt II was worth
$50 to try to keep his place, and he was told that
failure to contribute meant discharge. The
rattle business was brought to his attention by In
spector Van Riper The money was paid to Jo-
seph Murray who afterward obtained a position
in the service. Burrows gave leaf from his ex,
perience in Hobollen, where he saw half dozen
inspectors drunk in bar.room Beattie, he said,
treated his men as though they were brutes Ths