Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1888-10-12

Senator Hale Of Maine submitted to the
Senate on Wednesday a report from the
special committee to examine into the pres
ent condition Of the civil service The re-
port makes printed document Of 80 pages.
1t discusses deliberately the testimony TAX
en- in New York, Pennsylvania and else
where, and concludes with the following
general summary
The investigations made by the commit
tee and the facts therein brought forth, es-
tablished these things beyond controversy
/. That partisan changes have been
made in the federal offices in a wholesale
way under the pretence that the good of
the public service demanded such changes.
In marked instances these changes have
been followed by scandals in the public ser
vice, which has been rendered less efficient
10y reason of the changes.
2 That the federal officials throughout
the country, contrary to the directions Of
the President, of July a. 1886, have free
~ and openly participated in political con
ventions and primary election movements,
using their official influence In Pennsyl-
vania the entire machinery Of the federal
service was put in operation for the pur-
cation in the state in the interest Of the
administration as against the friends of
Mr. Randall The state conventions we're
dominated and controlled by the federal
officials, and the Craftsmanship of the state
committee was secured by the offices be
slowed by the administration upon mem
bers of the committee who changed their
allegiance from Mr. Randall to the Presi-
dent In no case does the committee find
that any federal officer has been disciplined
for such interference in politics, but on the
other hand such Interference has been re
peatedly recognized and rewarded.
The committee is persuaded that at pres
ent throughout the country office holders
are being generally assessed and called up
on to contribute from their salaries to swell
the campaign funds of the Democratic par
ty. While these assessments so generally
made and responded to, are in violation of
the repeated declarations of the President,
and of the fundamental principles of civil
service reform, the committee hardly feel
warranted in severely animadverting upon
the conduct of these subordinates for VIC
lating the policy announced by the Presi-
dent, in view of the fact that that policy
has been departed from and grossly violated
by the President and members of his Cabi-
net in their alleged and uncontrsdicted sub
scriptons of large sums to the Democratic
National committee Ii is not to be expect
ed that subordinates will feel justified in
considering as sincere declarations of pol.
icy which are so palpably repudiated by
their author, and the fact that the Presi
dent of the United States, in a campaign
in which he has so great personal interest,
contributes VIGOROUSLY one-fifth of year 5
salary for political use, is fairly TO be taken
by those who depend upon him for their
tenure Of office as not simply an invitation
but command to do likewise.
The committee call attention to the fact
that these contributions are in violation OF
the law, and the report also quotes from
Mr.. Cleveland's first letter of acceptance
and from his letter of Dec %, 1884, t.
Geo. Vim. Curtis, to show condition Of
affairs as Numerically opposed to what tn,
President has promised as it would be pos
] sible 70 imagine