Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-03-04
ME- AND SHIDY.
Postmaster Paul Backs and Fills and
Then Protests.

Postmaster Paul Backs and Fills and
Then Protests.
CONTINUATION OF THE CIVIL SERVICE rNvEsrIaA-
TON YESTERDAY AFTERSooS-MR PAUL TELLS
HOW HE KNEW THE ELIGIBLKs AND THEN DE-
MES IT.
Ex-Postmaster Paul of Milwaukee was again
on the stand before the civil service investigat-
ing committee after recess yesterday. He
finished his direct testimony, in which he de-
MED generally and in detail all the things
Shidy said about him in connection with the
violations Of the civil service law in the Mil
waukee post Office. He said he had never
asked Shidy to violate or evade the law in any
way. He acknowledged that Shidy had shown
him the registration list of eligibles frequently,
and that he could have seen it at any time that
Shdy was there to show it to him, but denied
that he ever examined the list for improper
purposes. He tried to show that there had
really not been any Irregularities of a character
to make fraud, but that the apparent irregular
tiles were the result of general recklessness
and indifference on the part of Shidy. He said
that Shidy was lazy and neglected his work, and
that to cover up errors made through his
neglect he had sought to implicate him (the
witness) in irregularities, in his testimony be-
made mistakes through laziness and ignorance
but had not intended to violate the law.
He produced copy of the Milwaukee Sentinel
with q publication by Shidy of the entire eligi-
bic list, the disclosure of which was then a vio-
lation of the civil service rules. He said he knew
Shidy was the author of the publication, for a
reporter had told him so. He thought Shidy
violated the rules through ignorance. The
publication, he said appeared prior to the visit
of the commission He (witness) had kept q
clipping of the publication, but had not used it
for purposes Of violating the law. On the
question of Shidy's dismissal he sal d that he
had never had an idea of dismissing him for
giving testimony before the commission.
Shidys dismissal had been the result of an at
tack by him on witness in a newspaper. Wit
ness said that at the same time Shidy was telling
the commission that he was under his wit
nessO duress he was telling witness that he
was under the duress Of the commission.
SOMEWHAT TANGLED.
On cross-examination the witness was pretty
hard pressed by Gov. Thompson and Mr.
Webster. Gov. Thompson asked if he re-
membered to have told the commission that
Shidy was a faithful and efficient clerk and
asked them not to be hard on him. Witness
said he believed he had said something of
that sort to them; that it was true. He was
then asked how he reconciled this statement
with the one made but short time before
that Shidy was lazy and negligent
Witness denied having called Shidy lazy and
the record of the official reporter was referred
to, showing that he had made the statement
very clearly. He said then that hewould retract
that statement.
He said further that he could not see the
eligible list when he wanted to; that Shidy kept
il carefully and well guarded.
Maj. Webster took up the cross-eXamination
and asked witness il he remembered to have
made a statement to him when he was making
the investigation at Milwaukee, which state
ment he had read over carefully and then
rRa1 81 IL - VIA
ness said that if he signed the statement he had
read 1t carefully first Then he said he thought
he had signed it. Maj. Webster said he knew
he had and that he had the statement in his
hand with Mr.. Pauls signature attached. The
81 atement was one made by Mr.. Paul to Maj.
Webster and taken down by a stenographer
and their transcription read and signed by Mr..
Paul
HOW HE KNEW THE ELIGIBLEs.
Maj. Webster asked if he had not said in that
statement that he sometimes went to the regis
ter of the eligibles when Mr.. Shidy was at din
ner. Witness said he did not remember.
Maj. Webster asked if he had not said that
tons of candidates before they were certified
TO him and kept well posted. Witness ac-
knowiedged that he had stated this; that it
was so.
How were you able to do this if you did not
know that they were on the eligible list and
would be certifed?' was asked Witness hesi-
tated and fumbled with this question a long
while and finally said that applications poured
In upon him and he came to know the appli-
cants, and in the course of business investi-
gated their characters. He said that applica-
tons were made to him and that he sent the
papers to Shidy by a messenger. He was then
asked II he did not know it was against the law
Tor the postmaster to receive these applica-
tons.
RESTLESS AND CONFUSED.
When the crOsa-axamin ation had oopa xh;a
far witness began to get restless and protested
against being Investigated again.
He was asked how it was that he had failed
to make any selection out Of the four eligibles
who had been certified up to him in certificate
No. "a, though the vacancy then existed, but
1ncation the name Of man who was one Of
those first certified.
Witness protested particularly against this
question and finally declared that no certifca-
non had been made to him in the first instance;
that 1t was one Of Shidy's blunders and that he
did not want to be held responsible for Shidy's
blunders
Mr.. Boatner objected after there had been
considerable beating about this question to
broadening the investigation SO that they
could never get through with it
DE thought the examination Of this witness
should be confined within the limits of the
commissions report on his case. He was in
formed that this was being done and was at
once satisfied
Mr. HArroH PRorHsrs
Then Mr.. Hatron made quite lengthy pro-
Test against the course things were taking. He
said he did not care how many good civil
service reformers like the witness Mr.. Roose-
welt convicted Of violation of the law-the
more Of them the better he would like it-but
he wanted the examination of this witness at
this time kept down to the Shidy charge.
The Chairman and members Of the commit
tee thought il but Just that, since Mr.. Paul had
declared that they had not treated him fairly,
the commissioners should be given an oppor-
tunlty to bring out the facts in the case-not
let the witness state what he wanted to ON his
side and then stop.
Atthis point an adjournment was taken until
10 O'Clock today, the examination Of Mr.. Paul
70 be taken up where it was left OF.
Popular Route to New York.
The B. and o. express train service to New
York has been established less than a wear hnt
IL 10 already the popular route to Philsdelphia.
New York and New England. This in because
Of the excellence of Its equipment and the
punctuality of its trainA
Census Of Greece