The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-02-10
The President ofthe Civil-Service Com
mission Summarily Deprived Of Office,
The Purpose Being to Make Cozy Berth for
One of Mr.. Clevelands Unreconstructed
Rebel Friends fromthe Solid South.
Abatement asto Pension Appeals That
Should Result in an Investigation.
Personal Gossip About Congressman and Other
Indianians in Washington-Importsnoe
of the Agricultural Department.
EDGERToN REMOVED.

EDGERTON REMOVED.
President Cleveland Tries to Force South
ern Favorite Into n Comfortable job.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, Feb. e.-C:vil-service Com
missioner Edgerton was removed from of
fee to-day. Ordinarily this high-handed
act of the President would have created
great surprise and considerable constsrna-
ton in Washington; but very little sur
prise was, in this instance, shown in any
quarter. 1t has been known for many
months that the civil-service views of the
President and Mr.. Edgerton were not
the same, and that the direction
of the one and the action of
the other did not harmonize. But il was
not the variance between the views Of tho
two men that led the President to dismiss
Mr. Edgerton. 1t was stated in these dis
patches, some days ago, that there was q
scheme afoot between the President, As
sistant Secretary Thompson. Of the Treas
ury Department. and Indian Commissioner
Oberly, late Civil-service Commissioner,
by which Mr.. Edgerton was to be relieved
and the other two political worthless ap-
pointed on the commission. A vacancy
has existed on the commission ev-
er since Oberly left it to be-
come Indian Commissioner. and ever
since the vacancy was created Oberly
has been scheming to get back, but he did
not want to 60 on the commission again
unless he could have Edgerton, who was q
thorn in his side. deposed. 0berly is from
Illinois, and is one of the oldest Demo
cratic politicians in the county. he be-
ieves in giving the spoils to the victors
and his appointment to the Civil-servtce
Commission, two or three years ago.
created great surprise, as it was
known that he was not in sympathy
with the reform. Edgerton is from In
diana, and is from that old school of Demo
Gratis who originally advocated civil
service reform. Thompson is from South
Carolina, and was made Assistant Secretary
of the Treasury for the purpose of taking
charge Of the distribution of Offices in the
South. He is an ex-confederate, and has
not shown that he is reconstructed Intact,
it has been charged constantly that he was
responsible for the. wholesale app6i
among HIS class y 6oH< Inns. and Il IS
said that he has contributed more
ex-rebels to federal Offices in Washington
than any man or set of men since the L.
coming of President Cleveland.
About q month ago President Cleveland
sent Comptroller Trenholm, of South Caro-
lima, to Mr.. Edgerton for the purpose Of
procuring the commissioners resignation
The Comptroller stated that the President
desired to reward Mr.. Thompson. and he
proceeded by fiattery to secure Mr.. Edger-
4 4 e. a
to the statement Of the Comptroller, Mr..
Edgerton fatty refused to vacate his Office.
Three or four other other men attempted
to negotiate for the resignation, but their
efforts were also futile. On Thursday Mr..
| Edgerton received the following note by
| messenger:
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2, 1889.
Hon. A. p. Edgerton, Ciyilservice Commis'
My Dear sir-I would be glad II you WIN call
here TO morrow at quarter before 10 O'Clock.
| Very truly yours, ID. 5. LAMONT
Private Secretary.
Promptly ON the scratch of time Mr..
| Edgerton appeared at the White House.
| and was instantly admitted to the Presi-
dents private room. The chief executive
was alone, and was waiting for his caller.
Mr. Edgerton knew very well the ugnii~
canoe of the summons. The President ap-
| peared to be in fine humor, and,
gleefully rubbing his hands to-
| gether, proceeded to heap comph-
Civil-service Commissioners. Mr.. Edgerton
Is seventy-six years old, and is as spr1 ghtly
| man of his age as lives. He Is OF medium
height, has blue eyes, full of luster and in
telligence, his hair and short-cropped beard
are as white as the driven snow and be la
the neatest in person of any old man IN
| Washington. He is as agile as boy, and
being man of education and wide public
experience, is exceedingly fluent of speech.
Ohio away back in the forties, and
has been successful. in his bus
iness career. President Cleveland has, ever
since his arrival at the White House. been
dogism has become proyerbial. and he il
used TO seeing men quail before him. de
evidently expected, when he broached the
subject of Mr.. Edgerton,s resignation. tn
see the old gentleman's knees knock TO.
for Official existence; but the President had
mistaken his man. Mr.. Edgerton did
not care fig for bis Of,
nG1at SssIR to tell 1aa hi% what maencens
specimen of true manhood he was; what
an efficient officer he had been; how much
he appreciated him, his public service, and
his love for him personally, and what
1 Il
the resignation in order that he might re-
ward Mr.. Thompson, who was young
man, and who desired TO be retained In the
public service, the gentleman from Indiana
found his nerve becoming steel.
| When tho President had finished
his preliminary pleasantries. Mr.. Edgerton
talked He told him that he had refused
to resign because he, in the first place. had
faithfully discharged his pubhc duties,
and he saw no reason why he should step
aside for the purpose of giving way TO an
other Democrat. in the second place. hs
did not propose to be q party TO a scheme
intended to fill the Civil-seryice Commission
with new and incompetent men
at the outset of President HarrisonAs
administration simply mat certain men
might be rewarded and saddled upon an
administration which would not, of its own
motion, give them official recognition.
and under the supposition that they could
not be removed. He said he knew Presi.
dent-elect Harrison very well, and, consid-
ering all the circumstances, he thought i,
would be great Injustice TO him to con-
summate the scheme proposed He therefore
firmly stated that he would not resign.
The President changed his tactics. He
grew angry, and said, Il will remove Won
Every well.D replied Mr.. Edgerton. smil
ingly, ..you have the power: have fhs
opinion. 1 was anadvocate of ciyil-servics
reform before you. ever knew there wa,
such thing in existence, When as in
Congress. during the adminisfrafions a
Fillmore and Pierce, toyk strong ground'