New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-10-19
OCTOBER 10, lssO-TWENTY-TWO PAGES.
THEY ACCUSE ONE ANOTHER.

THEY ACCUSE ONE ANOTHER.
A LIVELY EPISODE IN TILE CUSTOMS SER
VICE!
CAPTAIN PErRcE OBJECTS 10 AN EXAMINATION
AND IT Ii THROWN our-H1s CONDUCT DE
NouNcHD By HIS BRoTHER OFFICERS
controversy Of unusual interest was disclosed
yesterday in the Examining Board Of the Customs
Service here which involves the tntegaty sno
ability Of all concerned. The Board ts composed
Of nine members, representing the Collectors
Once, the Naval Once, the Surveyors Depart
ment and the Appraisers Stores. But the Ap-
praiser il unreprosented to-day because his three
examiners have resigned and their designations
have been accepted BY United States Commits
sioner Lyman and Thompson. Appraiser Cooper
has appalled, to Commissioner Roosevelt, who has
just returned to Warrington, b investigate the
case. for Mr. Cooper sustains his representatives.
The controversy arose because Captain William
e. Peiroe. . representative Of the Collectors
Ofaoe. asked the United Statss Civil Service Com
misioners to throw out an examination for dam
age examiners in tho Appraisers Stores, alleging
causes, which the Appraisers representatives re-
sent. Counter chargts are made against Captain
Peroe, and it Is alleged ny that because he is
Democrat and an ex-Confederate soldier he LIS
not In accord with tho Administration.
Appraiser Cooper addressed the Examining
Board on Juno 20, calling for on examination for
damage examiners. There were several vacancies
in the damage division, and new men were ur-
gently needed. Mr.. Cooper made another requisi-
ton on July 1s. and the United States Civil
Service Commissioners selected July 20 as the
day. when thirty six men appeared to take the
examination. Assistant Appraiser George ~
Birdsall, H. NJ Ryder. q frst-class examiner OF
metals, and Howard 7. Walden, law clerk of the
Appraisers Department., represented the Appraiser
ON the Examining Board. and Captain Peirce the
Custom House. Mr.. Birdsall and MIR. Ryder are
Republicans, and Mr.. Walden Democrat AS the
examination opened William G. Spencer, clerk
| in the Public Stores. who wanted to take the
examination, says that Captain Peirce protested
him because he had not complied. with all the
formalites required for entering the examination
Mr. Birdsall and Mr. Ryder, however, insisted
that Mr.. Spencer should be allowed to try the
| papers, and Captain Peirce gave his consent
| Afterward he protested, but Mr.. Spencer went to
| Washington, and Mr.. Roosevelt overrulcd Captain
| Peirces protest.
After that passage-at-arms there seems to have
| been considerable warning in the board over the
examination. Prominent officials at the Apprais
ers Stores said yesterday that Captain Perce, hav-
ing been defeated in trying to block Mr. Spencer,
| set to work to throw out the entire examination
| The Board had hot meetings, and 1t Is said that
Captain Peirce went far as to charge fraud and
| collusiou against unnamed candidates in connec-
ton with the examination. He tried another tack,
90 1t is alleged aud declared thut the candidates
| who passed the examination would be assigned to
some other duty than the examining Of merchandise
| damaged during the voyage to this port, because
| the statute permitting that had been repealed
| by the Mckinley Customs Administrative law
which to take effect on August 1. But the
reply TO this was that tho Secretary Of the Treas
ury wns the proper person to decide all technical
questions OF this nature. and that the duties Of
the Board were confined to examining candidates
| for the service and for promotion.
Now it is asserted at the Appraisers Stores that
| when Captain Peirce found that there was op-
position to his questioning the right Of the heads
Of the Appraisers departments to assign examiners
of damaged merchandise to the examination OF
any classes Of merchandise, he said that the Qucs
tions submitted In the examination not proper
| because they did not afford sufficient test Of
the candidates. 1t is charged at the Appraisers
Stores that Captain Peirce made ex partc state
menu to Commissioners Lyman and Thompson and
succeeded in inducing them to throw out the ex-
animation. There are rumors that Captain
| ton was because o friend OF his failed
to pass it, But he denied that G,
| inquirers TO Theodore BabcOck, jr, secretary OF
the Examining Board, who did not throw any
| light on the trouble. Both Mr.. Babcock and Gap
| tain Perce were considerably excited when they
| laarn nnd
resigned from the Examining Board. Mr.. Bah
cock showed a note from Mr.. Lyman at Wash
ingtOn announcing that the the protested eH@mlma H ina
tried it should be informed to that effect
The wrath at the Appraisers stores found ex;
span PePce Seearns ahas hs sAc cas
trouble in the service here than sny other en-
ployc. I'VE feel asgrieved,' said he, that our
representatives. should he discredlted BY TINS Con-
Civil Service law, and for his assai ling their in
tcgrity, as it were, In the preparation of exam
inations. lie Is recently converted aeAlct TO 10
the sole custodian Of the goddess Of Civil Service
reform. Why, he Is selfconStituted detective
to spy ont fraud that exists only In his diseased
Imagination. The old soldiers feel that he is still
fighting the Government. and trying to make 1t
| offensive
Messrs Birdsall Ryder and Walden declined to
not care to speak authorltatively and Collector
Erhardt is out of town Captain Peirce was ap-
| pointed to the Board year ago over Major Rlch-
| ard Allison, Major James w. Cronkite and two
| other Union soldiers who were nominated by the
| Collector Colonel Erhardt refused to nominate
| Captain Peircc but he got there" through Com
| nissioners Lyman and Thompson.
| Mr. Wrdsall has been member of the Exam
| lining Board three times, and was once president.
| He has been an Assistant Appraiser since 1873.
Mr.. RYDER has been in the service for years and
Mr. Walden since 1885. Captain Peirce entered
the service in 1885, and Is now a clerk in the
Drawback Department. He served in the Confe /
crate Army, but processes to be q reconstructed
| COME ederate lie Is o graduate Of Yale College.
| STILL ASSAILING MR. MORLEY.