Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-10-17

clerks and letter carriers In the classified
service. lie at once removed all the nm
classified service, and put his partisans into
their places. There was no pretense that
the persons removed were inefficient. Post
master Jones, in making dismissals and in
forcing designations, has repeatedly declared
that he did SO because he wanted the places
for Democrats, or wanted the places for
| some one else. He declared since his inves-
tigation began that in making selection for
appointments he had always chosen Demo-
Gratis over Republicans who had passed the
examination. These removals have been
made without the least reference to the eff
cheney of the office. The poorest men and
the best men have been dismissed indiscrimi-
nately, and the most active politician among
the former employees still remains, He has
dismissed. indifferently, those who came in
under the competitive system and those who
did not He divided the duties of the for
mer assistant postmaster, and thus made
room for another son, and pays 81, 500 a
year more for the same work.
When Postmaster Jones first began to vio-
late the promises of President Cleveland,
complaint WAS made to the President by the
officers of the independent organization
which had helped to elect him. The Presi-
dent entirely ignored that part of the COM
plant which showed the complete change
above mentioned in the unclassiied employ
es. That part relating to the classified ser
vice was pretended to be investigated by the
Civil Service Commission who, by one of
their number. appeared at Indianapolis for
that purpose, yet declaring that they had no
power to administer an oath or call a witness,
refusing even to request witnesses to appear,
refusing to allow those who made the charges
ttaS - ,terhf he.
refuted.
FARcIcAL INVESTIGATION
was laid before the President, who has never
taken any further notice of it. 1t naturally
followed that Postmaster Jones, thus unre-
strained, openly declaring that he despised
law, entered with renewed vigor upon the pro-
cess of managing the competitive system SO
as always to produce Democrats for appoint
ments, and of such a class as it was expected
the merit system would completely exclude
so that in the federal service throughout In
diana, although President Cleveland had
promised that the tenure of employees should
be governed by efficiency alone, rapid
change began to take place, caused by the
dismissal of former employees, without refer
ence to their efficiency, and the employment
of Democrats solely on the ground of party
service, with frequent instances of convicted
criminals and men of bad character. In
September, 1888, this change was completed,
and the result shows that postmasters in 9TH
er parts of the State and other Democratic
officials We'd with Postmaster Jones in the
effort to make an entire change for political
ends.
The nomination of Mr.. Matson, the pres
ent candidate for Governor, was secured by
band of officeholders, headed by Deputy
| Commissioner of Internal Revenue Hender-
son. Assistant United States Attorney Bal
ley recently made an incendiary speech, at
tempting to rouse the passions of working
men by insinuating, without daring to assert.
the falsehood that General Harrison, Il years
ago, bad wanted to shoot them down for
striking for higher wages. Employees of the
indianapolis postoffice came out of the build
ing and booted at passing Republican process
sions, and when General Harrison was being
escorted to his home these employees came
out and yelled at his escort.
1t is unnecessary to say that such manage
ment of the civil service has demoralized it.
From the beginning complaints, founded upon
actual facts, have been steady and increasing
and the service was never in such evil condiss
ton as now, mail going in every direction but
the right one, mail delivered days, weeks and
months after time, letters sold by the hum
dred, as waste paper, mail lying undisturbed
until rats make nests in it, are few exam
pies of multitude of evils. Not one soldier
has been appointed where ten have been re-
moved. No attention seems to have been
paid to soldiers as soldiers. Being wounded
or crippled did not save them. The highest
skill and efficiency cut no figure. All had to
give way before the Democratic politicians.