Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1890-06-19
SEVERELY CENSURED.

The Investigation of the Charges Against
the Civil-Service Commission ana It's
Result-Report of the Select Committees
of the observation-disclosures RooseveiS
and Thompson Commended. out III"
Others Severely Censured.
WASHINGTON, June 1.-THE select
committee of the House instructed to
investigate the charges against the
Civil Service Commission yesterday
submitted it's report. The committee
has examined twenty-four witnesses,
and has come to the following conclu-
sions, deduced from the testimony
taken:
On the first charge. affecting the conduct.
retention and promotion OF Alexander u
Campbell (brother- n-law OF Commissioners
LYMAN, the committee reached the hollow
ing conclusions: 1t appears that Campbell:
copied certain questions of the general eX-
animation series for departmental service,
together with their answers, at the request
of Mrs. Isabella Smith, to whom he gave
them. These papers came into the hands or
Mr. Flynn a person engaged in coaching
applicants for office about to take their CIVIL
Service examinations. From the evidence
of Miss Dabney it appears that tlynh o.
fered to sell her these questions. she being
about to take the examination. she re-
fused to purchase the questions, TOOK the
examination and failed. She recognized
the questions as being the ones shown her
by Flynn. The attention of the Commas
sioners was called to the conduct OF Camp
bell. Mr. Oberly, Mr.. Lyman ana MI Doyle
each Investigated to a greater or less extent
the charges against Campbell, and found
him guilty of breach of discipline ana ne
was reprimanded. If the administration or
the civil service was not to fall into diS-
repute Mr. Campbell should have been dis
missed. His retention indicated gross lax
ity of discipline and shows that the admin
istration of the Commission was not at that
time such as to receive or merit public con-
tidence.
1t 5 submitted that if the Commission had
discharged its duty with proper vigor and
regard for the public it would have become
manifest that Campbell's retention was not
defcns Dle, and it would seem to follow that
II his retention was not proper, his promo
zion was not warranted.
The committee reports that it can not ac-
cept as satisfactory the answer of Messrs.
Oberly, Lyman and Doyle that they believe
that the questions Campbell copied were
obsolete. The facts disclosed to the COM
mittee convince it that the omission to as
certain the truth was as reprehensible as to
have dsregarded it after it had been ascer-
tanned, and is little less culpable; and
whether they failed through Indifference or
Partially, to learn the facts or, knowing
them, failed to take such action rs the pub
lie service obviously demanded is not a
matter of great consequence; the neglect OF
duty in either case is condemned.
1t has been suggested that Commissioners
Roosevelt and Thompson are deserving OF
ccnsure for not having taken action in
CampbelPs case. The committee reports
that it does not share in that view. On the
contrary, there is nothing in their conduct
to challenge criticism. When their atten-
ton called to the matter by news re-
porters they called the parties concerned
before them, separately and without the
opportunity of their comforting with each
other. And there was concurrence OF
statement that the matter had been fully
investig ated and Campbell punished; and
it being as to them res adjudicata, they did
not take further action in the matter; and
in that the committee thinks they were thor
oughly justified.
The committee reports that it has inveS-
tigated the charges agai nst the Commission
in relation to the promotion of Edwin ID
Bailey, another clerk of the Commission,
and in relation to the appointment of
Thomas Mitchell, of Connecticut, to posi-
ton in the Pension Office and has found
that the action of the Commission in both
cases was not contrary to the law and rules
of the Commission, and in no way are they
censurable.
A charge also preferred against the
Commissi ion rejecting upon the course pur-
sued by them in the ease of Mr.. Shidy who
was an employee in the post office at Mil
waukee and discharged by the postmaster
for giving the Commissioners information
when they were investigating the affairs OK
the office. After his disch arge the Com
mssioners recommended r.Shidy for po-
siton in the Census Office, which was given
him. In this case the committee report that
it is unable to find any thing to criticize in
that behalf. They did nothing in their Of
fetal capacity in the matter of giving or
securing Shidy employment, but as individ-
uals, in view of his effort to aid them,
they recommended his employment to Mr..
Porter. who gave him clerkship.
In conclusion the report says:
with regard to the conduct of the Civil
Service Commissioners in matters submit
ted to the committee for investigations:
We find First, That Commissioners Roose-
welt and Thompson have discharged their
Second, That the official conduct of Com
missioner Lyman has been characterized by
laNity of discipline in he admin istration OF
the affairs of the Commission, and is thero-
fore ccnsurable.
The committee also reports that it VIII
proceed at once to investigate the workings
of the system and present subsequent
port.
The committee also submits resolution
that copy of this report together with a
copy of the testimony taken, to be sent to
the President
~0iIhc DnDDI~INE