The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-10-06
WILLASKAN INVESTIGATION
The Civil Service Commissioners Defend
Themselves Against Certain Charges.
Mr.. Lyman Denies the Rules Have Been Evaded.
and Mr.. Roosevelt Says the Accusations
Against Him Are Malicious and False.


Civil Service Commissioner Lyman and
Roosevelt Reply to Mr.. Hatton's Charges.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 5.-Civil-service Com
missioner Lyman was seen, to-day, by o
representative of the Associated Press.
and was asked if he had anything to say
concerning the publication in the mornings
Washington Post. He replied that his
preference was for q thorough investiga-
ton by a competent tribunal, rather than
an explanation or defense in the newspa-
pers. and that he sincerely hoped that such
an investigation would be had. In the
meantime, however, and pending such an
investigation, he would say that the state
ment that the set of papers given but by
Mr.. Campbell were current papers, given
out in advance of IN examination, is untrue.
They were papers, he said, that had been
previously used, and had become obsolete
such as the commission now publishes to
the world in it's annual reports. As
soon. he said. as the investigations
made at the time by the commis-
sion developed the fact of Mr.. ~Campbelps
connection with the transaction, he saw
the improperly of his taking part in it,
and said so to Commissioner Oberly. who
concurred with him. and he thereupon left
it to be completed by him, requesting that
he get at the bottom facts. He subse-
quently reported to Mr.. Lyman what he
had found. and his conclusion that Camp
bell should not be removed, but repri-
handed. Il Expressed my satisfaction with
his conclusion" said Mr.. Lyman, biased
upon the statement of the case. as made to
ME by him. This matter occurred nearly,
or quite. two years ago, and has not since
that time been the subject of consideration
by the commission. / DESIRE" he added,
Ito make one other statement now, and
that is. that there has never. at any time,
been an appointment or a promotion made
at the office of the commission In violation
or evasion of the civil-service rules. In
every case the rules have been scrupu
lousy complied with, as the records will
clearly show"
Mr.. Roosevelt said: The charges, in so
far as they are directly made, refer wholly
to matters affecting the old commission,
when Messrs. EdgertOn and Oberly were
members thereof; they do not touch any
thing done i'll the commission since the first
of May. when Governor Thompson and my
self took Office. They should certainly be
investigated by a competent tribunal, and
as they affect the management OF the COM
mission under the previous administration,
that tribunal should contain Democrats as
well as Republicans. In other words. the
matter should be investigated by Congress
as soon as it meets. and l not only court
such Investigation. but will regard it as a
real misfortune if it does not take place.
AS regards anything hat has been done
since L, myself. came upon the commission.
the accusations have been carefully put in
the form of innuendO or some sweeping gen.
erality. so | shall merely say that any ac-
cusatlons of misconduct, on the part of the
commission during my term OF service are
false; and / particularly desire to see those
making them do So before n tribunal where
they must speak under OATH