, 1888-10-11
Full Report of the Investiga
tiOn Committee.
THE ADMINISTRATION CENsURED
The TsriT Debate Resu,ned--- Several
Bills Passed---The House Takes
Recess Untii Friday.

into the present condition of the civil
service. The report makes a printed doc
ument Of fifty pages, and discusses elabo-
rAtely the testimony taken IN New York,
Pennsylvania and elsewhere. IL concludes
with the following general summary. The
investigation made by the committee and
the facts therein brought forth, establish
these things beyond controversy:
First, that partisan changes have been
made in federal offices in Wholesale way.
under no pretense that the good of the
public service demanded such changes.
In the most marked instances, as in Phila.
delphia, Baltimore, Indianapolis and New
York, these changes have been followed by
scandals In the public service, which has
been rendered less efficient by reason Of
the changes.
Second, that federal officials throughout
the country, contrary to the directions OF
the president, as found in his letter OF
July 10, 1886, have freely and openly par.
tici pated in political conventions and pri.
mary election movements, using their Of.
fetal influence. In Pennsylvania the en-.
tire machinery of the federal service has
been put in operation for the purpose Of
con trolling the democratic organization In
the stat in the interest of the admins.
trations friends as against the friends Of
Randall. The state conventions were
dominated and controlled by federal Off.
cials, and the craftsmanship of tue state
convent on was secured by offices bestowed
by the administration members of the
committee who changed their allegiance
from Randall to the president. In no case
does the committee find any federal officer
whc has been disciplined for such inter
ference. In some cases, notably ut Bing-
hampton, N. Y, 1t is most offensive to
the people, and amounts to u conspiracy
to thwart and defeat the popular will.
Third--that the system of levying tolls
and assessments upon federal office holders
for political purposes has continued with
out interruption, since this administration
came into place, and the committe is per
suaded that at present throughout this
country, office holders are being generally
assessed and called upon TO contribute
from their salaries 10 swell the campaign
fund of the democratic party. -
VIOLATING MS POLICY.
While these assessments so generally
made and responded to in violation OF all
the repeated declarations of the president
and OF the fundamental principles of civil
warranted in severely commenting upon
the conduct Of these subordinate for VIC.
lating the policy announced by the presi-
dent, In view of the fact that the policy
has been departed from and grossly vio-
lated by the president and members OF his
cabinet in their alleged and contradicted
subscription of large sums to the demo-
cratic national committee. IL Is not TO be
expected that subordinates will feel justl.
fed in considering as sincere the declara-
tions of a policy which is so palpably re.
pudIated by its author, and the fact that
the president of the United States in the
campaign in which he has so much per-
sonal interest contributed VIGOROUSLY one
fifth of his years salary for political use,
is fairly to be talked about by those who
depend upon him for their tenure OF Office
as not simply An invitation, but com
mand to do likewise. While it Is perhaps
not strictly the functions of this commit
tee, 1t may not be improper for them to
commend to the consideration of the legal
adviser of tue president the inquiry why
such subscriptions as made were not In di'
rect violation of the following provisions
1.-THE provisions OF the law are here cited).
These things. contrary to the pledges re-
peatedy made by the president both before
his election and since in his letters and
messages and well authenticated inter-
views. The report here makes quotation
from the first letter OF acceptance. Presi-
dent Cleveland, from his letter of Decem-
ber 20, 1884, to Hon. George VIM; Curtis.
from his inaugural address, from his first
annual message and from his letter OF
Septe mber IL. 1886, to Civil Service Com
missioner Eaton, condemnatory OF the
spoils system, and enuncia'ing the presi-
dents views on civil service reform. IL
says the investigations made by the COM |
mittee shows the condition of affairs as
diAmetrically opposed to what the presi-
dent has proposed as 1t would be possible
to INA gine. 70 show how these promises |
have been kept the committee quotes the |
concluding paragraphs OF the report OF the |
Civil Service Reform association OF lndi- |
ana-.-composed largely of gentlemen who
supported the president In lSs4--com- |
menting on which the committee says
tion OF the mind in which these gentlemen
of Indiana must have been when con-
fronted with the facts brought out by their
invest cation, many of which have been
also established before this committee"
ACTION OF THOSE IN AUTHORITY.
In regard to the removals from the su.
gar district of the appraisers department
In New York, the report says: Evidence
discloses undue interference by those high
in authority in making appointments ana
removals to the extent of an actual viola |
tiou of the law. The testimony. consis- |
ting principally of official documents, was |
0btai ed as u result of the committees in- |
vestiaation, no charges whatever having |
been preferred; but the secretary OF the |
treasury, after having asked to be heard |
before the committee, and his request be-
ing granted. failed TO appear and answer
the charges made against him in the ties.
timony, but instead has seen hit 70 assume
an attitude Of the accused ,0asyoutlined In
published letter to George William Cur,
tis, dated June Q, 1887, the head OF civil
service In Indiana. The committee cites the
appointment of Aquilla Jones as postmas.
ter and custodian Of the public building at
Indianapolis and his Wholesale removal OF
old and competent employees. many OF
whom were ex.union soldiers, and says
that Postmaster Jones, in making the dis
missals or enforcing designations. has re-
peatedly declared that he did 70 because
he wanted the posit' ons for dem ocrats or
wanted the place for someone else. he
declared, since this investigation began,
that in many sections for appointments nc
had always chosen democrats over repup-
licans who had passed the examination.
Their removals have been made to the ef-
fici-ncy Of the Office. The nomination OF
Matson the present candidate for COVER
nor, was spurned by a band OF office hold
ers, headed by the Deputy Commissioner
OF Internal Revenues Henderson. Aseis-
tsnt Attorney Bailey recently made an in
cendiary speech. attempting to rouse the
passion Of the workiagnen by insinuating