The Portland daily press., 1889-10-05
CLEVELAND GAVE IT NO ATTENTION.
The Charge That Civil Service Ex-
animation Papers Were Stolen.
A Letter From Commissioners Edger-
ton to President Harrison.
Admiral Kimberly's Official Rep7rt
of Affairs at Samoa.

WASHINGTON, October 4.-Some time ago
the Washington Post charged that the civil
service law was being violated by the Civil
Service Commission, and charged that the
commissioners, while requiring all the de-
partment clerks to be appointed alter exam
inaton and certfication by the commission
ers, appointed clerks to the commission
without requiring them to pass an examina-
tion The Post alleged favoritism in these
appointments. and subsequently made the
more serious charge that examination papers
were being stolen and sold by clerks in the
commission, who were retained in office and
promoted notwithstanding that their guilt
was discovered Tomorrow the Post will
print fonr colum article in substantiation
of this allegation. 1t says that lady who
went to teacher in this city for instruction
preparatory to taking the examination, furn-
ished the teacher for consideration with a
copy of the questions subsequently asked.
These questions, it says, were in the hand
writing of Mr. Campbell, clerk to the Com
mission and brother-in-law of Commissioner
Lyman. The matter was brought by Com
missioner Oberly to Mr.. Lyman's attention.
The published account says: "The next
morning Commissioner Lyman told Mr..
Oberly that his Uyman's) wife was perfect
ly overcome, and public exposure would
kill her. Campbell was as penitent as could
be, and the matter was hushed up. Although
called to President Cleveland's attention,
Campbell was subsequently promoted at the
time when Mr.. Lyman was sole commits
sioner
A long interview with former officer of
the commission, now holding another govern
meDt office, is printed in support of the
charges made, and the following corroborat-
ing letter is published for the first time:
WILLARD's HOTEL,
WASHINGTON, April 26th, 1885,
To the President:
Referring to my note to you of April 20th and
your request through Secretary Halford, that /
should send to you in writing, information refer
red to, now do so l was put In possession of 1t
only the evening before the note was written.
exact justice in all civil service matters. Where
wrongdoiBg is brought to light it should not be
condoned by retention in office. Campbell, a
clerk In the commission, and brother-in-ldw OF
Oberly and Lyman were both members of the
commission, copied set of examination papers
prepared for examination, and gave them
70 his friend, Mrs. BlaI k who sold them to a
Mr.. Finn, principal of Ivy Institute in this city.
The paper came into the possession of Miss
- who asked of the commission If they were the
questions to be used at the examination. Investi-
CATION showed the papers were in the hand
writing of Campbell, and the result OF the inyesti
CATION was his retention in office by Lyman and
furious effect on Mrs. Lyman. Campbell
has since and recently been promoted
by Lyman from $1,000 to $500.
do not give you this information for the purpose
of inviting any action on it, but that you may be
advised that there are ways of wrong doing it is
well for the President TO understand.
Very respectfully.