New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-06-01
,,or TILE EIRST TINE

We have already said that the frauds in the
Custom House examinations were not the nrse
committed under q Democratic Administration.
The inquiries made last year by Senator Hales
snecial committee showed that in the Phila-
delphis Postofice, to take the nearest example,
there were frauds even more heinous. The de-
tails are of interest, because they prove how
completely the purpose of the law can be de-
feaed by corrupt COLLISION on the part OF ofhcisis
charged with its execution. One of the devices
adopted was TO send out special notices OF eA-
aminations to Democrats only. Mr.. Wlihete'
a brother-in-law of Postmaster Harrity, and
member of tho Democratic State Central Con-
mittee, while an employe in the Postonce-
ordered letters to be sent by the Democratic
Committee to Democrats, notifying them and 10
is believed them alone, OF the approaching
Civil Service examinations. One OF these le'-
teqs is worth producing as a curiosity: ana
Manayunk, November 10, 1885.
Dear Sir: There will DO an examination ior CLERKS
and perhaps carriers for the postofhoe the lA'er
part of this month. Please notify all good Democrats
of your division Of tho fact They can get bianA
OF application by writing to f, A. Barber, secretary
Of the Postoflce Civil Service Examining bosru'
philadelphia Respectfully, J. @. DoUGHERtf.
II is easy to understand, in the light OF EVIL
dence like this, how it was that only Democrats
secured places. In fact, the distribution OF APP
continents was so carefully arranged on purely
political basis that they were spportioned ac-
oording 10 the ratio Of the party organization IN
each ward in tho city. number OF witnesses
testified that every one made light OF the e1ami-
nations: 1T seemed to be generally accepted
among them,n said one witness, that an APP
pointment did not depend upon the examna-
ton. but depended upon something else" One
witness testified that his brother passed but was
not appointed. After nearly year he went 10
the Postoffice and was told by the assistant
postmaster that his name had been sent IN
two or three times, but had been dropped az
there was nobody there to push the thing Tor
him, and Postmaster Harnty did not know
whether it was all right or not"
Gross frauds were unquestionsbly committed
in connection with the examinations. letter
carrier took out of a mailbag certain examina-
ton papers directed to the secretary OF the local
Civil Service Board, and gave them to one OF
the employees. This was proved by the con-
fession of the carrier and by other testimony.
The papers were thus delayed that night In the
Office and persons coming up for examination
were put in possession Of the questions ana
answers The carrier admitted having inter
cepted the package by direction, and said 1t was
understood that these packages were taken
out-a portion OF them-and the questions copied
with the answers, and numbered, and the cor
responding answers to them numbered and
printed on MANILA paper with typewrting
machine, and given to some of these men who
were to pass the Board" One applicant who
had been marked SO &c, said q" 1t Is easy enough
when you have the answers given you," 1t Is
hardly necessary to multiply details, The adj
ministration of the Federal Offices, and espe-
cally of the Postofice in Philadelphia under the
late Administration, was scandal which Will
long be remembered In Chicago also, and in
other cities, it was found that only Democrats,
somehow, succeeded in getting appointments.
1t is easy TO understand why frauds in these
examinations should have been committed under
Democratic rule. The Democratic party was
against Civil Service Reform when the law was
passed. and is still hostile 10 IT, 1t was natural
for men put in Office by that party TO obstruct
and betray the law Another potent reason Is
that, as every intelligent man knows the pro-
portion Of illiterates in the Democratic party IL
very large. This was one reason why 1t be-
came necessary to steal examination papers from
the mails, 20 that applicants who did not know
how 10 write fractions might be enabled to
answer with remarkable readiness and accuracy
the questions put TO them.
------------------@