Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-02-16
EVENING THINGS UP.
Secretary Endicott Tells Why That
Famous Chief Benet Circular
WAS ISSUED AT HIS INsTIGATION.
1t Was Merely Meant to Pass Around the
Offices Politically.
NO UNNECESSARY REMOVALS MADE

WASHINGTON, February 15.-The Sec
retary of War to-day transmitted to the Sem
ate, in response to the resolution calling for
information relative to the issuing of con-
fidential order, January 4, 1886, by General
Benet, Chief of Ordnance. instructing the
commanding officers of the National armo-
ries and arsenals to favor Democrats, other
things being equal, in appointments and
discharges from the service-the object, as
stated in the order, being to divide the force
gradually between Republicans and Demo-
Gratis.
Secretary Endicott says that during the
year 1885 there were numerous applications
made to him onN behalf of mechanics,
artisans and others for employment in the
arsenals and armories, and that, as is we'll
understood, these appointments do not fall
within the provisions of the civil service law.
These applications for employment, the
Secretary says, came mainly from persons
excluded from such employment because
they were Democrats. He adds:
NO REMOVALS MADE.
"The reply made to such applications was
that no removals would be made of desery-
ing and efficient workmen in these shops
merely on account of their political opinions,
but as vacancies occurred, if the applicants
were competent to perform the work re-
quired, and otherwise qualified, and their
services needed, they would be received.
This decision in regard to removals or dis
charges of such employees has been strictly
adhered to, and none have been made in
the ordnance bureau or in any bureau of
this department since have been Secretary
of War, except for cause, such as in
efficiency, misconduct, dishonesty, long
continued absence, reduction of force, and
like reasons"
In conversation with the Chief of Ord
nance, the Secretary suggested that as
majority of the places in the armories and
arsenals were held by Republicans, in max
ing changes preference should be given
Democrats until the numbers were substan-
TALLY divided between the two political
parties. The Chief of Ordnance approved
the suggestion and issued the order men
toned in the resolution.
ENTIRELY MIsCoNsTRUED.
The Secretary says he did not see the
order itself until two or three months after
it was issued, but that it was not intended
to include the discharge of workmen on ac-
count of political opinions, and was not so
construed by the officers to whom it was ad-
dressed. No removals, the Secretary con-
tinues, have been made on account of the
order, and at the Springfield armory, Mass,
the largest of all the armories, there have
been o My GA changes of permanent work
men since January, 1886. in force of about
480 men.
The Secretary says he had no desire to
conceal the order, and does not know why it
was marked confidential. He says that no
measures have been taken by the War De-
partment to learn the political opinions of
the women and children in its employment,
and that General Benet states that the cir
cular was made applicable to them be-
cause it had been found by long experience
that disputes over politics were as prevalent
among this class as among their husbands
and fathers.
The commanding officers of the Rock
Island and other arsenals, the Secretary
says, all report that no widow or child Of
Union soldier has been discharged under
the order, and that investigation by the De-
partment OF charge to this effect, made in
letter signed B. @. Ellery, seems to estab-
lish conclusively that the signature to the
letter was false, and that the statements
made therein are without any foundation
whatever.