Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1889-10-12
WASHINGTON LlIIIE.
Washing on, u, {. DC, :, 1863,

I { 1
The Washington Post has given its
manifest in its fight with the Civil Ser
vice Commissioners In Il four column
review OF Che history Of the commission,
the Post establishes by umdoubtcd
testimony that clerk in the employ
of the Commission, one Campbell, ii
brother-in-law Of Commissioner Lyman
sold through Il second party lists Of
questions to be used in examination to
a iakir, who prepares candidates for
the civil service The ingenious pur-
chaser drove spirited trade in "pre-
pairing" at high price and as long as
The game lasted his candidates were
strangely successful.
The true state of affairs were re-
vealed to Commissioner ObeFly about
two years ago, but at the earnest soli-
Citations Of Commissioner Lyman, who
said that such disgrace would "just
mortify his wife to DEATH" the dear
brother-in-law escaped with only a
repiimand. Commissioner Lyman says
that the Campbell even wept bitterly
when the error Of his way was polluted
out to him.
1t was probably to keep this soft
headed rascal from crying his heart
out, thai Commissioner Lyman-then
the sole commissioner in office-had
Campbell, several months after, pro-
NOTED from 81 900 to 81 200.
In view of Commissioner Lyman's
admission on Saturday, his bold asser-
ton that he ''courts the fullest investi-
CATION sounGs like bluffing. To have
"a righteous contempt for ones enemies
is justifable, but if Mr.. Lyman hopes
that Congress will not investigate these
charges he hopes a vain thing.
The man who is charged with hav-
ing purchased the questions says that
he does not really need to purchase
questions that are going to be asked.
He says that he has hundreds of lists
Of questions that have been used and
the resemblance of the questions asked
in each kind of examination is so
strong that a candidate can be trained
in a week to answer all the questions
that are likely to be asked. He adds
that the questions are SO carelessly
prepared and so seldom changed that
the identical questions asked here in a
general examination may be found in
ST. Louis or Chicago during service
three months hence. He says in sub
stance, that the questions are very long
lived. He does not deny having re-
ceived advance copies of questions.
That this man is right regarding the
general looseness in the preparation of
questions and the stupendous neglect
to provide precautions against their
theft as the constant repetition Of the
same questions, no one will doubt who
observes the character Of many people
who successfully stand these examina-
tions. | have known men to pass who
could barely read and write. | have
known persons who had failed twice
most ANONYMOUSLY to spend three
evenings with one of these prepares"
and go through with flying colors. 1t
is not necessary to understand every
branch, it is merely necessary to re-
member the answers to about twenty
questions.
IF these things are even in part true
Congress should take early and decided
action. In retaining Campbell and
even promoting him after his detection
in a notorious betrayal of trust, Com
missioner Lyman betrays his true
character as a reformer. A man who
finds that his relative has betrayed him
in private business shas right to for
give him. A public official who dis
covers that his relative and subordi-
nate has debauched his office is not
better than the original offender, if he
does not at least discharge him. And
Commissioner Lyman says that he did
"reprimand" him. Mr.. Lyman would
pour out the walls of his wrath upon
anyone who doubted the efficiency of
the administration of the civil service
laws, but he would condone the thief
who bartered the integrity of the sys-
tem-if he were his wife's brother.
Civil Service Commission Roosevelt
is devoting his young energies to an in
vestigation of the Baltimore post-ofiice
and what he has discovered is mighty
interesting reading. Mr.. Brown, the
present postmaster, admits that in
total of 1867 carriers and clerks com
prising the force of the Baltimore Office
there are now only thirteen employed
who were in the public employ four
years ago. This so far as the records
show, is large proportion Of removals
than ever occurred, even previous to
the days of the civil service commission.
The Commission will recommend that
these removals be regarded as sufficient
cause for the postmasters removal.
Maurice Adler, the young rounder
shot by Frank K. Ward, the we'll
known dairyman, ever three months
ago is dead. Ward, who was out on
bail, was re-arrested and will be tried
as soon as possible. The murder was
without shadow of excuse and was due
to drunken freak of Ward, who had
been on spree for months, and who
shot Adler when Adler was retreating
to avoid a bar-room quarrel.
General Notes.