Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1889-02-15
cLEvELAND'S CIVIL SERVICE.
BF REMOVES COMMISSIONER Ed
GERTON And GIVES HUGH
THOMPSONHIS PLACE.

TIE PRESIDENTS PROBABLE FL
NAL MOVE IN THE CIVIL SER
VICE REFORM FARCE-JUDGE
EDGERTON EXPRESSES HIS IN
DIGNATION AND CONTEMPT.
Special dispatch to the Philadelphia Press.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 9.-Civil
Service Commissioner Edgerton
has at last had his official head
taken off. This was done by the
President to-day in curt note to
the Commissioner in which be
said:
"Dear Sir: You are hereby re-
moved from the Office of United
States civil service commissioners"
At the time OF sending this note
the President transmitted to the
Senate the nomination of Hugh 5.
Thompson as Mr.. Edgerton's sue
cessor. Mr.. Thompson was form.
erly governor of South Carolina
and is now assistant secretary OF
the Treasury. Mr.. EdgertOn ap-
peared at the Capitol about the
same time that the nomination OF
his successor was sent TO the Sen
ate. Presumably Mr.. Edgerton
intends to do all he can to prevent
the confirmation of his successor.
When asked how his removal came
about he said;
"The President sent for me yes
terday and after beating about the
bush for some time asked for my
resignation. | Inquired of him the
reason for that request. lie said
that he wanted to give the place
to Mr.. Thompson. asked him If
that was tbs only reason. lie re-
piled Yes | then decliued to re-
sign and said | would not be party
to any such dirty piece OF business.
The President then told me that
he would be obliged to remove ne.
said 'All right 60 ahead and,
the atmosphere becoming very
fIigid, babe him good day. |
explained to the President that |
had been under FIRE IN the news
papers and did not think that |
ought to be asked to resign at this
time, but that seemed to have no
effect upon him. went to my
office this morning and was asked
to sign some papers, but l didn't
feel like signing anything then and
declined to do so. At . o'clock l
found on my table the notice of my
removal"
"Had you had any differences
with the President n
"Oh, yes lots OF them. The
trouble is that he is Mugwump-
the chief of tbem-aDd I am a
Democrat, rOck.ribbed."
When asked how it was that the
President had not acted before this
time if he intended to remove him,
Mr.. Edgerton said: 81 suppose he
thought 1t was not worth while,
which reminds me Of the story OF
the fox and the coon. After quar-
relng for a long time one o. them
finally said: what IS the use of
our going on in this wayf We
will both in the end have to meet
at the batters,' and suppose the
President took that view of It,"
"Do you still think that civil
service reform is fraud 2 In
quired the newspaper man.
"As carried out, it has been the
biggest kind of a fraud. Its
| frieuds, or rather some of them,
meant well; but then you know
sheol is paved with good inten-
TONS" and saying this Mr.. Edger'
ton went away.
There is little probability that
Mr.. Thompson will be confirmed,
as this move has been made by
the President for the sole purpose
of giving him a permanent place.
The law requires that one of the
commissioners shall be a Demo
crat, and it seems to be the Presl'
dents idea that If Mr.. Thompson
is confirmed he will be allowed to
remain in Office by the next al.
ministratlon. The vacancy caused
by the resignation of Commissioner
Oberly has not yet been hlled'
There IS only one commissioner
now, Mr.. Lyman, and he can hard