New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-02-05
CUSTOM HOUSE NEPOTISM.
FLoURIsHING UNDER MR.. MAGoNE.
CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSIONERS HELPLEss-E,
ANPITs or ITS TyTFyT

ONDCh MN. DihOONEs
CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSIONERS HELPLEss-Ex-
AMPLEs or ITS EXTENT.
The dreadful disease, Nepotism, about which
Democratic editors and orators had much to
say when the Republican party was in power,
has broken out in virulent manner at the Gus
tom House, that political institution of Jeffer-
| sonian simplicity and reform, over which the in
nocent statesman from St. Lawrence County,
Daniel Magone, presides. The disease has exist
ed there for some time in mild form. 1t began
to rage in one or two departments recently, but
now it has become epidemic throughout the en-
tire service, despite the alleged efforts Of the Civil
Service Commissioners to hold it in check and
despite the following explicit preventive which
is found in Article 1857 of the Treasury Regu-
lations, which are based on Federal statutes:
Whenever there are two or more members OF
a family in the service in the grades covered by
the Civil Service act. no other member of such
family shall be eligible to appointment to any Of
said grades
Familiarity with the law is not a strong point
with the average Democratic official the recent
cases of Collector Sullivan and several other Gov
ernment representatives have abundantly proved,
but this is such an important provision that for
Collector Magone to be in ignorance of it is much
less commendable than for him to know nothing
about pool-selng other devices OF the wicked
world Whatever excuse he may have to offer,
however the actual condition Of the Custom
House service, in consequence of the ravages OF
the terrible maady, is most deplorable.
"RUNNING" THF CIVIL SERVICE BOARD.
The Deputy Collector of the Marine Division is
" Charley Davis, who with Secretary Mason runs
the Civil Service Board in manner that makes
every one but hidc-bounh Democrat with a
~ fooI hat ic IN thrOu oh
needles eye than enter the Federal service at
this port Davis comes from Binghamton He
is known up there the man who turned the
place over, politically, one year. 1t happened
when the new post office in Binghamton was
about to be erected A syndicate headed by Davis
secured a site where 1t was thought the building
would stand. The citizens however, wanted the
office built elsewhere. Davis tried to force things
The people wouldn't stand dictation, and that
year the town actually went Republican by
sweeping majority.
But like many Others cast off by the people,
Davis has been taken up and cared for by the
Administration. Not only has he, himself, been
carefully provided with 81, 600 place, but pretty
nearly all his relatives have been looked after In
the most bountiful way. For example, his son
is clerk in the Civil Service Beard at salary
Of 81, 200 year. His brother ln-aw, one Plough,
is clerk in the Marine Division at 81 400 year.
Another brOther-in law named Captain johnson,
receives sl,46O year as night Waterman Mr..
Bishop, a clerk in the Storekeeper'S Department,
gets along on 81 200. lie is said to be cousin
Of Davis Division Inspector Hubert is another
distant relative, but he draws 81 46O year all
the same. Altogether the Davis element manages
TO get about 81 o,o9O year out OF the government
1t is said that Mr. Davis is constantly bewalng
the fact that the number of his relatives is not
larger. II his family had only been numerous
| enough, he believes that he could have run the
entire service. All these mentioned live IN Blng-
hamton. Following the ravages of the disease
little further, 1t 10 found to have taken hold
Of another Deputy Collector Mr. Jones, whose
yearly income Of 81 600 is swclled by 5000 more
that his soma clerk in the Gaugers receives
GETTING HIS BROTHER TO HELP HIM.
Next comes Special Inspector Berwhnd. He
draws sl46O and his brother, one of Surveyor
| Beattic's body guard receives the same. James
| Penfed, another inspector found the work SC
| agreeable that he told his brother William about
| it and now both helping to dispose of the
surplus at the rate Of So, 900 yearsl 400 apiece
John Faon, Deputy United States Gauger, al
| 81 800 has already worked one of his brothers
| into his office and hopes to have all the rest Of
| his living kindred with him before long. These
| are only few sample cases. Many others equally
| bad might be given, but it is such painful
subject that for sake Of the truly good people
| who still believe in this Reform Adm iniStration
| only two more will be mentioned. These. however
are particularly sad and painful to contemplate
| Among the Democratic county papers of this State
none is or rather was more ably managed than
| " The Whitehall Times" whose former editor, Mr..
| wilkins was not only bright and witty. bnt
| the sturdicst foe of nepotism from the st. Law
| the sturdiest foe OF nepotsm from the
st. Lawrence to Montauk Point. lie never
| wearied in dpnouncing the system. aud predicted
| ito abolition whom Mr. Cleveland Obtained
| control And vet. sad to relate. two OF the
amentod journalists own brothers are now hold
| ing M the hands Of Mr. NagOne. one as inspector
at 81 AGO year and another as eanger at 81 900.
| But how can all This happen right under the
eyes Of the Civil Service Commission it may he
| asked Such question Is certainly relevant but
70 ask is 10 implv an Innocence on the par. of
the questioner equal tn that professed by Mr'
| Magone in regard TO boolImaung.
| LAUGHING AT CIVIL srRvICE RUIFS
| When the term Civil Service" is mentioned
n the Custom House the average clerk drops
his right eyelid and smiles 1t is a standing Joke
| there. but is becoming trihe stale now. As a
] force. it is about played out. This Is no adverse
criticism Of the system the slightest reflection
| imam some Of the Commissioners who are really
upy and honorable men Unfortunately. thew
| orn nractcallv nowprless TO do ANYTHING that the
Collector. Charley Davis and John A. Mason
do not want TO have done 1890
| y, thc shrewdeSt Young politicians In me Dpmo-
cratic rartv Of this State. lie is an eX-membrr
| 81 the Democratic State Committee but 70 near
| L;m exnotiote on the beauties Of Civil SerVlcc
raform' one would SUPPOSE that he never heard
- snch y thing MS partisan notifies look OF
H. sub;oct is mentioned but for al that the Re-
,nblicans continue to GO and the Democrats con
tinne 70 pour in. recardloss Of merit. Take a
| singla instance: H. will illustrate the whole mat
SIZE A. q racent examination nv tho Civil Service
paard fortv Republican Custom House CLERKS
many Of whom werr men Of marked ah'litV ana ,,
| Gtncss entered Only two nassed LAST werk
| neither examination was held for nromohon OF
oinrl,s from the 400 to the $1,000 cass,
Twenty Democrats entered. and every man man o. o.
| ,bom nassod cyccnt one. who was held haclI "
| g.; snid for anncarance's sake. When the Col
| Iector's attention was called to the matter ne
aid H. was an evidence Of Democratic mental Sl-
| rcriority. and seemed to consider u all h's"S
| amusing
SOME SIMPLE REMEDIES
From Good Ho,tsskeepfn1