Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-04-03
Clevelands Civil Service Reform in In
diana

diana.
The testimony of Mr. William d.
Foulke, president of the Indiana Civil
Service Reform Association. before the
Senate Committee, of which senator Hale
Is the chairman. T. condensed summary
of the facts known to all citizens of Indi-
ana who have observed the results of
Cleveand'- civil service methods in that
State. The removal of competent post
masters, assistants, aud mail agents, and
the appointment to their places of war /
politicians of doubtful reputation and Of
men under indictment Tor crimes.
was well ventilated eighteen months since.
The wanton violation of all honest civil
service principles was so open aud undc-
niable that even the leading Democratic
newspaper in the State urged
the President to stop appointing
thieves to Office in Indiana" \ striking
feature of Mr.. Foulic's testimony i. hi,
account of a visit to President Cleveland,
and the request of the latter for leneucv,
on the ground that he has great difficulty
In bringing some of his party up TO hi
ideas of civil service rcform.-a manifest
To- l., ,i,,,r. .,o,,,.r,. for al. ,,,....,,..,,...
official con luct. In response to the lucs-
ton of Mr.. Hale as to the condition of
the public business after the many chan
A. 80,
so'' ''''''''o"' VT WV II WI '""'Nt ''o
given, the latter testified that complaints
were very numerous. and were made
almost .vcrv d,v II. hoard If i,s,.,,.o.
.hnro thr,c no.ts ai,nsaJ ho,,'',''' 49,
mailing and do,iyor, az :, drn,, Io,,ar H.,
InJ;ansnni;s carr;ar 80 , ,
who nn,,Id nn, rn,J ,ha s,,'r,.;
A. ,.,.,,,.. NV ., ."' ."p' ~. PUN, v"
c.i,.c, the mail anj ,a;l,i so haai'. 49,, ~
~, ,,,..,.s,, 90 ". v'"u' .''''
left in some mail boxes. Mails which
had previously been delivered in the morn
ing were afterwards left till late in the
afternoon or evening. Recently he had
heard OF case IN the railway mail service
under Mr.. James T. bowling where ear
had been permitted to 20 to LAFAYETTE and
back again without messenger, and all
the mail was brought back Bowling
was prominent politician. and had been
appointed for that reason. 1t had been
shown that Bowling, about the time of
his appointment, told three persons that
he had bribed certain members of the
Council-paid them an amount of money
for voting for n street railway enterprise
In indianapolis. These facts were EN-
bodied in atlidayits and sent to Postmaster
General Villas wtha request for Dowling's
removal. MIR. Villas answered that he
had inquired into the matter, and that,
although Mr.. bowling had made these
statements, he tNhas) was satisfied that
they were merely boasts ana that bowling
was an efficient officer and he (Ntlas) had
decided to retain MN. rms was the same
man VINO permitted the car to 90 to
Lafayette without messenger. The
printed reports OF the association had
been sent to the President aud the Post
master General.
CLEVELAND TuoUGur IT ALL RrGHr.
Mr.. Foulke said he did NOT snnpose the
Presiden, had person.l Know Iadys nf
these occurrences. and no came nm m
Washington and laid the faets before Mr.
Cleveland. II found. :" h. said chat The
President knew of them and snneare,, IN
approve of them. He said thar II was not
possible to make an investigation or to