The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-07-18
How He Compelled the Certified List of Eligi-
bles to Be Twisted in the Interestof Demo-
cratic Applicants for Place.
The Commissioners Den0unce His Con-
duct and Ask His Immediate Removal.
0fice-HOlders Under Past Administrations
Have Hope of Getting Back Their Places
Messages from Deer Park Not Revised.



Result of the Civil-Service Commissioners'
Second Investigation of MI. PauPs Acts.
WASHINGTON, July 1.-THE Civil-service
Commission to-day made public its second
report in the Milwaukee postofice case. 1t
is as follows:
To the President-In making our first report
on the management of the Milwaukee post
service law, we were Influenced by the statement
made TO US by the postmaster himself to the ef-
feet that his term of office had already expired,
his successor had not been appointed. This
proves not To be the case, and we accordingly
report more at length. Our examination was
made by the entire commission, and the con-
clusions reached were agreed to unanimously.
Inc postmaster was given full hearing.
Every statement and alleged fact on which we
opportunity offered for him to explain them. His
assertions recently made, to the effect that he
and was condemned without hearing and with
out being given chance to explain every charge,
are simply gross misstatements In making our
had not been laid before him. In the spring Of
1883 certain irregularities in the working Of the
milwaukee, postoffice were reported to the COM
mission, and In consequence the secretary, Mr..
John I. Doyle, was sent to Milwaukee in July to
make inquiries. His report showed such ~ con-
II. Webster, was sent the following September TO
make a full and exhaustive inquiry. The chief
examiners report disclosed gross and repeated
violations OF the law. Accordingly, shortly
after the commission was reOrganiZed, all three
commissioners went to Milwaukee, as we deemed
the accusations OF such importance as to- warrant
an investigation by the full board.
Except in two important cases, we did not
try to get at any new facts. We simply exam
ined Mr.. Paul to see whether he could disprove
ton Of the charges made in the two preliminary
reports. He entirely failed to do SO. That there
has been crooked work in the office 10 admitted
V a aQr hA CHI IN Wis Iy~ n hrI0 a
animation Of the analytical statements compiled
from the certification book, and of the pencil
memoranda from which the eertifications wsre ere
responsibility lies. We examined the secretary
Of the local examining board, Hamilton 6hiddy,
mitted by all to have done the work of the board,
the other members doing little save assisting in
marking the papers and attending occasional
tervals. Shiddy testified that he was compelled
by the postmaster to give the latter free access
to the lists of eligibles, although such ac-
and he further testiies that the postmaster,
knowing those who were eligible, as well as
their standing, appointed whomsoever he chose,
and then forced him (Shiddy) to change the lists
and certification books as to produce certifi-
cation which should bear the appOintee's name.
This tho postmaster denies.
Johnston testifies that he knows nothing per-
sOnally of the matter, but that the secretary,
Shiddy, consulted him from time to time, telling
him that the postmaster had access to the rec
ords, and insisted upon having men certified out
of place, and the like. Johnston resolutely shut
his eyes as to what was going on, making no in
qulries as to the truth of Shiddy's state
meut, apparently thinking by so doing he could
avoid all responsibility in the matter. He was
derelict to his duty in the matter when he failed
to satisfy himself as to the work OF the board of
which he was chairman, and is as much to
blame for conniving at what went on as Shiddy,
on his own statement, is to be blamed for yield
fies that he yielded to all the postmaster's de-
mands because he knew that refusal to do so
would have entailed the immediate loss of his
place. and therefore, Of his means of support;
and that he even consulted the board as to what
course he should follow by utterly lamenting the
fact that to obey the commands of the commits
sion, of which he.was nOminally the servant,
would force him into immediate antagonism to
the postmaster, who could turn him out OF his
position at pleasure. Shiddy and Johnson are
equally to blame, but. of course, II their state
ments are true, an infinitely heavier load Of
blame rests on the postmaster.
In drawing up our report we have based our
conclusions almost entirely on what is shown
by the official records, and by Mr.. Pauls own
statement. We have never used Shiddy's uncor-
roborated assertions, although in certain in
stances we add them as offering the only posi-
BILE explanation OF some of the "gerrymander-
instances Shiddy is explicitly backed up by
Johnson; and we have accepted the statements
OF the two men, borne out, as they are, by other
facts.
shiddy and Johnson testified before us, in Mr..
Pauls presence, that on one occasion he exam
had ALREADY marked. and forced % thems acaipsy inst
their own judgment, to remark them, giving a
lower grade: Mr.. Paul's explanation was that
but he admitted that he had expressed
great dissatisfaction with the marking.
and that in consequence it had been changed.
Shiddy, in the presence of both Mr.. johnson and
Mr.. Paul. as well as OF the three commissioners,
stated that the reason for their changing the
grade OF the unfortunate applicant was TO get
the postmaster desired to appoint. shiddy's
words were, substantially, "You remember, Mr.
Paul, that we changed the marks as a last resort
because we had exhausted every expedient to
| get the lists as you wished"
Again Mr.. Paul states that he did not examine
and never had in his possession the lists OF egi
bles; whereas shiddy states that they were time
and again taken to the postmaster's room, and
| Johnson testified before the commission that he
had himself seen them there. Mr.. Paufs testi
| mOny on this point is not always very coherent
however, for he qualities his denial by remarkine
| that ''he does not think he ever examined thu
| cept upon application TO shiddy himself" and
adds that he was 'unavOidably aware of the STATE
| of the register or the order in which the names
| stood, before making appointments and that h'
does mot think that the register was regarded a.
| strictly private" Shiddy testifies that when, IL
itively prohibiting the postmaster from havin,
| copies or knowledge OF the list OF eligibles h
promptly called the attention Of the postmaste
/ me from keeping copies of the list"
Mr.. Paul, In. An interview in the Milwaukee,
Sentinel, of June 80. which may be considere,
| member OF the commission, admits this charge o
| Shiddys, and explains it by stating that he con
| sidered the prohibition of the commission ''siin
| ply humorous, in view OF the fact that on on
occasion the entire list had been published In th
| newspapers which was certainly extraordinary
| From all of which it may be safely asserted tia
| Mr.. Paul kept well acquainted with the exac
condition OF the eligible register, Of which he Wa
supposed to be ignorant He was enabled t
take advantage of this knowledge, owing TO tn
| very peculiar and improper construction he pu
| ON q letter from the commission, written Sept
1s, 1855. This was in reply to q request for
special examination for the lowest grade OF en-
| Milwaukee board that the list OF eligibles 10
such places were exhausted.
The letter from the commission granted the RI
quest for q special examination, and also state
that the men who had taken the higher oxamina
tons, clerks or carriers. could be certified I
the lower places. and for the purpose transferre
to the lower register on their request. The pei
mission thus given was ill advised, as IL was no
clearly expressed that il applied only to a singl
emergency. But little narm would have n
suited. however, had Mr.. Paul obeyed the ev
dent intent of the letter, which he certainl
clearly perceived, for he himself says that th
letter provided that eliGbles should be tranl
"in their order, according to average
and provided their grade was sufiicieI
to enii,le them to compete in the lowe
grade" Instead Of doing this. however, Nj
| Paul has chosen any one he wished from IN
higher lists and then made the secretary certif
him Immediately with three untortunates frol
the lower lists, who were simply put on TO con
own chance of appointment, as, II not al
pointed after three certihcations, their name
were properly dropped.
Mr.. Paul explicitly testified that he himse