Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-10-05
A CIVIL SERVICE SCANDAL.

A CIVIL SERVICE SCANDAL.
A Clerk Charged with Improperly Civ
ing out Examination Papers.
CALLED TO THE ATTENTION OF President
AND LYMAN SAT- ABOUT IT.
A letter written by Mr.. A. p. Edgerton,
formerly of the civil service commission, to
President Harrison, calling attention to an
alleged irregularity on the part Of an employee
Of the commission, has been made public. This
letter, dated in this city April "A last made the
following statement:
and brother-in-law to Commissioner
Lyman, several months ago when Mr..
Oberly and Mr.. Lyman were both
members Of the commission, copied a
set Of examination papers prepared for an ex-
animation and gave them to friend, Mrs.
Blank, who sold them for s25 to Mr.. Flynn,
the principal Of the Ivy institute in
the possession s mo of pspsMi Miss Blank, Who
went to tho commission to ascertain il they
were the questions to be used at the examina-
ton. Investigation showed that the papers
were in the handwriting of Mr.. Campbell, but
retention in Office by Commissioners
Oberly and Lyman, because disclosures
would have an injurious effect upon
his sister, Mrs. Lyman. Mr.. Campbell
has since and recently been promoted by
Commissioner Lyman, sole commissioner.
from 81 900 to 81 200 salary. There are matters
connected with the Office Of chief examiner
which would not bear a close examination, and
to such an extent are they known that
the integrity Of examination is questioned.
There is altogether too much left to the discre-
ton Of the commission for thorough regula-
tions, which the commission itself has power
to make, and BY simple orders and varying
opinions, almost any desired result can be Sc
cured"
1t is stated by the Pos: in connection with the
accusation made in Mr.. Edgerton's letter that
the charge that the questions were sold was
called to the attention of President Cleveland
by Mr.. Oberly, but no action was taken. When
the list of questions were brought to the COM
mission by the lady into whose hands they fell,
it is stated that they were taken to Commits
sioner Oberly, who called the attention OF Mr..
Doyle, secretary of the commission, to them.
Mr.. Doyle, it is said, identified the hand
writing on the paper with that in the letter
book kept by Mr.. Campbell. Mr.. Oberly then.
it is asserted, laid the matter before Mr..
Lyman, who later said Cambell was penitent
kill Mrs. Lyman.
WHAT COMMISSIONER ROOSEVELT SAYS.
In reply to the charges Mr.. Roosevelt says:
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 in the commission since the LIST of
May, when Gov. Thompson and myself took
Office. They should certainly be investigated
before a competent tribunal, and as they affect
the management of the commission 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 not only
court such Investigation. but will re-
gard it as real misfortune if il
does not take place. As regards
anything that has been done since 1 myself
came on the commission, the accusations have
been carefully put in the form either of inuendo
or of some sweeping generality; SO l shall
merely say that any accusations of misconduct
on the part Of the commission dur
ing my term Of service are absolutely
ularly desire to see those making them
brought before a tribunal where they must
speak under oath, 80 that they may learn the
difference between perjury and simple mis-
statement if they dare to try to substantiate
their charges. l decline to go into contro-
versy in the press on the subject, because
have not the least idea of being used as q
means to advertise an unimportant local news.
paper whose editor l have already publicly
branded for his utter disregard of truth"
COMMISSIONER LYMAN's DENIAL.
Commissioner Lyman said his preference was
for a thorough investigation by a competent
and impartial tribunal rather than any ex
PLANTATION or defense in the newspapers, and
that he hoped such an investigation would
be had.
In the meantime he would say that the state
ment that current papers had been given out
by Mr.. Campbell in advance of an examination
was untrue. The papers Mr.. Campbell gave
out were obsolete, such as the commission pub
lish in their report.
The matter when it came to Mr. Lymani
knowledge was referred to Mr.. Oberly to lnves
tigate, as Mr. Lyman saw the impropriety o.
taking part in the investigation. The investi
cation was made by Mr.. Oberly and he re
ported that he discovered nothing that de
served more than a reprimand. This occurred
nearly two years ago.
Il desire to make only one other statement
now," MIR. Lyman said, .'and that is that there
has never at any time been an appointment OF
promotion made at the office of the civil ser
vice commission in violation of the civil service
rules In every case the rules have been scrup
ulously complied with, as the records will
| clearly show"