Wichita eagle., 1888-05-25
CIVIL SERVICE INVESTIGATION.

bic winds.
CIVIL SERVICE INVESTIGATION.
New YORK, May 24-Senators Spencer
and Blackburn, of the special committee
appointed to investigate the working Of
civil service law, met this morning IN
Judge Benedict's court room in the federal
building and began their task of lnvestl-
eating the operation of the law IN custom
houses. The other members Of the COM
mittee were not present. Jno. b. Hlne
for the civil service association was promp-
" on hand to look after the interest OF law.
It is alleged that gross irregularities nave
existed in the civil service system or the
custom house in this city and especially
III Surveyor Beatty's depot. The commit
tee was appointed under the resolution
PASSED by the senate Msrch II, 1888, giving
bower to investigate ;he whole civil serv-
ice system of the United States and to as
certain whether that service Is being run
for political purposes. The committee IS
composed of four Republicans and three
Democrats.
John O. Conway, of Brooklyn, a dis
charged assistant weigher at custom house
was first witness. He testified that Dep
uty Mason told him that Register Murtha
controlled the appointments from Brook
lyn, and advised him to join ward organ
ization. Witness was dismissed for al
legged incompetency., though witness
believed that it was beca use
he made complaint against Dep
utv Weigher Ramsey who. claimed
to be particular friend of Surveyor
Beattie. Ramsey, witness had heard,
failed to pass necessary examination, but
was appointed nevertheless.
K. X. Blauvell ex-inspector and Re
publican, declared that he had been dis
charged to make room for some one else,
He heard that some one whose name he
could not remember had paid 500 to pass
civil service examination. Witness said
that on advice of tho superintendent of
the barge Office, he had attended a pig
rattle for the benefit of Governor Hills
campaign fund and that &, 500 was real
lied
Maaman Davis testified that he was in
the naval Office from 1868 until July II,
1887, when he was removed; he asserted
without cause He said a large percent
age of custom house inspectors were such
men as no business house would employ
gin-mili fellows in fact This description
he applied to men employed since 1885,
Since that time he had been compelled to
do the work of men ineapacitated by
drunkenness. He had also taken an inter
est in a pig rattle, fifty cents worth.
Charles f. Bowers, eX-inspector and a
Republican, said he was discharged with
out cause, notwithstanding the fact that
he had taken $50 worth of stock in the
rattle for the widow McGinnis' pig. The
man to whom he paid money was soon
afterwards appointed an inspector. He
understood that if a sufficient sum was
raised everybody would be benefited in
way of promotions.
Senator Spooner asked if witness
noticed any discrimination in Sur
vevor Beattie's treatment of men
under him. Witnes said he did not The
surveyor treated them all like brutes, he
made no exceptions. Further cross ques-
tioning brought out the fact that witness
had been suspended for allowing a couple
Cinnamon to land before they complied
with the law and declared that his dis
charge followed before he could produce
witnesses to show his innocence in the
matter.
Joseph Overfeld, eX-deputy Surveyor and
a Democrat, declared according to his best
Judgment that Surveyor Beattie removed
him because he did not find enough eX-
cuses for removing Republicans. Witness
had asked Governor Hill what should be
done with $4,000 raised in the custom
house for campaign purposes and the gov
ernor directed that it be turned over to the
campaign committee. Witness could
not remember whether there was any
talk that would indicate the governor
taking money therefrom. The eXamina-
y.
He could not conceive how questions to be
answered could be given out in advance or
any other fraud perpetrated. Questions
were received in sealed envelopes from
Washington in the presence of the class
Neither did he think it possible for sub
stitute TO pass an examination for a candi-
date.
Francis W. Downs. recorder of Bing-
hampton, Broom county, New York, gave
the names of half a dozen citizens of his
county employed in the New York custom
house who continued TO take an active part
in the Broom county politics. In witness
Judgment, in addition TO being Democrats,
they were offensive partiSans. Witness
said be was mugwump.
A. ID. Wales, of Binghampton, Demo
crat testified that when congress appropri-
ated $780, 900 for a public building III his
town, Deputy Collector Davis, of the New
York custom house came up there and
bought options on the eligible notes and
finally sold to the government for SO, zoe a
tract Of land which is frequently over
flowed and is not worth more than s., 600
Wales declared that the Democrats of
Broom county are greatly dissatisfied with
the rule of Davis and the federal
administration. Davis, he declared
brought a number of custom house en-
ployes 10 Binghampton and packed the
county convention. When he protested
against such actions the Davis people
threatened to throw him out of the win
dow. Witness declared that Davis part
her, Bennett, bribed Government Agent
Au stin who had charge of selection of site
for New York
In answer to Senator Blackburn the
witness admitted that he was an
unsuccessful candidate for postmaster in
BinghamptOn in 1887.
Thomas w Vincent, of Binghampton,
gave testimony similar to that OF Mr.
Wales. He also made an unsuccessful APP
plication tor Office.
After hearing testimony of two or three
more discharged Republican employees of
the custom house, all of whom had CON
tributed to the Democratic fund. the COM
mittee adjourned until tomorrow.
CAPITAL BUDGET.