The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-04-04
A ClvIL-sERyICE REFoRMER.
How Postmaster Harrity, of Philadelphia,
Works His Office in the Interest of Party.

PHILADELPHIA, April 3.-The Senatorial sub
committee appointed to investigate the charges
OF abuses of the civil-service law in the admin
ssration Of the federal Offices in this city arrived
here to-day, and at once proceeded to work.
Senator Hale presided, and the other members
of the sub-com mittee, Senators Henderson and
Biodgett, were present. The committee began
with the postof1ce administration under the
present postmaster. William F. Harrity. The
first witness was Garrett c. Hanley, discharged
Republican letter carrier. He testified that he
was discharged without cause and without
warning. His SUCCESSOR was Republican, ap-
pointed under the impression that he was
Democrat, but only allowed to serve six months,
when he as replaced by Democrat Witness
said that Mr.. Harrity began
as he was confirmed TO make
clean sweep, discharging fifty clerks
az one time. In CONSEQUENCE, the delivery
sand distribution service we're demoraiized, ana
the mails delayed. The witness had heard that
men had been appointed as watchmen, and then
promoted to be letter carriers clerks. IN order
to evade the law. There are now in the post
served with him. The others had been dis
charged and replaced by Democrats Witness
had asked Assistant Postmaster Drake why he
discharged, and was told that it was because
he a Republican. Old soldiers had been
turned out to make places Cor FOUNDERS aud poll
tlcians, many of whom witness had seen work
Some of the Democrats who bad been appointed
to succeed the Republicans had themselves
afterwards been discharged because they were
Randall Democrats. Upon cross-examlnation
witness admitted that he did not know the Dem
ocrats who had been discharged, and only had
such knowledge of the facts as he obtained from
gossip and the newspapers
Stephen Montrov Democrat from the Twen-
ty-frst ward, testified that the summer of
1885 secret commission had been organized in
his ward to get the party workers places. The
ballots. 6i9ct0d COnSld-
cred deserving, and subcommittee of five was
appointed to seek to get such men as were se-
lected appointed Morris +. Wiihere, now chief
stamp clerk in the postof6ce, and brother-in-law
of Postmaster Harrity was a member of that
committee Two other members of the commit
tee also got places, but the workers got left
witness among them. After the failure of this
committee, witness said, he had taken a list of
Twenty-frst ward workers to Maxwell Steven
son, recently the Democratic candidate for Con-
gressman-atlarge and asked him to give them
places. Mr.. Stevenson said: 'Why don't they
go up and pass the examination 6rstP The wit
replied that perhaps some of them could
not pass. to which Mr.. Stevenson replied
that if the men went up for examination and
could not pass, if they could read and write,
some body would be sent up to pass the exami-
nation for them. Witness had heard and would
privately furnish the committee with the name
of the applicant, that one man had been taken
into a room adjoining the room where the
animation was being held. and given list of
the questions and answers. He had also heard
and believed that men had personated appi
cautS at the eXamln8tiOOS. Inc Witness salkeu
with Wilhere about these examinations. Mr..
Wilhere said: "If the men get the average we
cannot keep them out" Witness said. How
about the Republicaus?" to which the reply was
"Oh, that's another thi1g" Wilhere is now
member of the State committee
Joseph J. Jebbins, an eX-soldier and ex-Re-
publican letter-carrier testified that he was dis
charged without cause, and a Democrat put IN
his place. He has since sought to get the Civil
service Commission TO investigate his case, but
Mr. Harrity had informed them that he had in
tenn perate habits and was offensive partisan.
aud abused the administration. The first of
these charges was false but the comisssion had
refused to investigate the matter
Captain Magnon, also ex-soldier who re-
signed clerkshp in the postofhce. testified that
he had resigned because old soldiers who had
lost their limbs in the displaced by
Democratic striplings. and the few experienced
men who were left had to do all the work He
admitted that he had, while in the office, fur
nished newspaper men with ammunition against
Postmaster Harritv and his new force.
John Whiteley testified TO q number of cases
of drunkenness among the Democratic
ployes, and said that Mr.. Harrity had turned
out nearly all of the Republicans in the Office.
When asked by Senator Blodgett how many
Democrats there were in the office under the
cent Republican administra ton. he said that he
could only recall the name of one man.
Adiouruad till to-morroW