The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-01-27
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
Commis sSioner Roosevelt Presents an
Interesting Report of Civil
Service Work
How the Law Is Evaded by Poll
ticians in the Govern
ment Ofilces,
The situation Fairly Good ~ some Places,
While al utter loiut. n
The situation Fairly Good ~ some Places
while at Other roiut> n
l. HAD.

WAsunNaroN. Jan. N.-Civil Service
Commissioner Roosevelt submitted 90
the full committee The report of the
recent investigation into alleged viola
tions of the civil service law in the New
York cusiom-house just prior 10 the last
presidential election. Upon the subject OF
the collecii IN Of political assessments dur
ing that campaign. Roosevelt snys the pres
emf law has put complete stop 90 open
spsliaiion OF poor clerks. and makes il I'M.
peratiyely difficult 10 mulct them even
secretly. Governuent employees do not, Hs
rule, contrihute simply from desire 10
help the political cause IN which they be-
lieyc In other woIds. employees ARE eoerced
into making them Tor fear them position
may he ieopardized If they fail To
do so, II Is probably safe tn say
that 10 per cent. of the money
collected for political purposes from minor
governmental employees represents 50 much
blackmal. Those who agree in politics
with the party IN control feel some assur-
ance of protection IL they refuse 10 lac CO.
creed into parting with their money. But
unfortunates of an opposite political faith
who feel they have no power behind the
throne OH which 10 rely. are neryously
when threatened. The amount paid is not
absolutely very great in individual cases
but Ia poor clerk, Just able TO get along,
the losS of 3 per cent of his salary NAV mean
Just tho difference between having and not
having winter overcoat for him
self, Il warm dress for his wife,
or n Christmas tree for his children.
Another fact to be remedicd is that much
of the money 50 collected il never turned
into party campaign chests at all. being
kept for their own private uses 10y iackals
who have collected the money. One of the
witnesses IN the present case. u strong re-
publican. who was holding oilce under the
last administration. testified hc was advised
10 contribute to the democratic campaign by
one Of his friends. II New York republican
aud district leader. as being the only thing
to do il he wished 90 keep his place. In the
investigation of alleged violations of law
against making political assessments. |
have made more OF less complete examine
ton into the conduct in this respect in the
offices Of collector, surveyor and naval
officers of the port Of New York during
the presidential election of -. In the naval
Office under Alf. Burt, my invest igation goes
to show the law gas. observed absolutely
both IN letter ga i,,rii. g. lar as ! eau
ind out there NSre 10 collections made for
political purposes in any shape or f0rnl, and
nothing like political coercion was tOler-
ated.
In the collectors office. under Magone,
there WnS apparently widespread Int not
universal, and by no means always success
full effort 10 eNade the law 10y persuadng or
forcing republican clerks 10 contribute.
Some of the Inst of these republican clerks
must have been kept because they were es-
pecially singled out for more or less indirect
l.
lar: and there is testimony ON witness That
tins solicitation was undertaken by express
command of Mugone's private secretary,
there being nothing 10 show, however. TINT
Magone WAS aware OF his EecretRTv's action.
The effort 10 make them cont ribute was
made indirectly and usually So guardedly
that il is difficult % say that the law was
actually violated in it's letter.
In the surveyors office. under Beattie,
contributions MS far as is shown by the tcs-
timony of witnesses examined were univer-
sal. Democrats generally give their money
of their own accord. hut republican clerks
were practically forced against their will To
puy what were IN reality political ASSESS.
monts for the benefit of the opposite party.
This WINS accomplished by an Ingenious and
widespread system OF yeiled threats and
iniimldations, SO well carried ont that j;
WIS completely successful. Every method
WIS rcsorted %. while at the sime time
avoiding actual demand of money. For in
stance, some of the witnesses we're forced
10 contribute 10y Icing made very uncom-
Portable in their work until they did 80.
They were originally at work NJ stations
near homes, and suddenly shifted 10 Others
far distant and very iIconycnient Tor them
10 20 10. Their inquiries failed 10 discover
the reasons for The change and they were
kept at new stations until they finally made
up their minds to pay when they were
word being said.