New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-03-05
WHO STOLE AUSTIN CoRBINS WINE'
THE COLLECTOR SAYS THAT OWL sEhViOI
DOES NOT PROVIDE GOOD DETECTIVES.


Austin Corbn recently imported some valuable port
wine and when it reached this port ana the cases
were opened at the Public stores 1t was ioulu 'n''
oumber NJ hotties had distracted from the CASTS
II was not known whether the theit hau pcen '''
mitted while the wine was In transit OF "'nio ~ va"
AT the Public stores, and that Is "hat No'''''
Frhardt wants TO know as well as APPRAISER 'oop'
An investigation has been begun Al inc SAM '''"0
the discovery of this theft has given the Collector an
n,rotupitv 70 express himself about feature of tho
cvil Service law in the following letter to Mr. Corbn
vorr letter of March 3. complaining of the theit
NJ certain wines while in the custody oI te "oNcIn
~ the Kind to which my attention has been called
and which has been investigated 10 thc Dest Vi nS
herS goods have been stolen. the crime was com
nitted abroad and wrongfully charged to the custom
Uouso authorities here Unless one sees ms GOODS
naked and shipped himself IL l. difficult To detcrhc
Whether the theft occurred in Europe or IN tc iupnC
stores here | have doubt that in some instances
ile theft NAV have taken place here. hut ! WISH 10
cali YOUR attention 10 ono serious dlncuIN uLue
which the Collector abors in his efforts 10 ascertain
the facts in such cases would suppose that the
Government would have In rs employ talhcu
detectives TO cases o., ns sS for aa
al the Public stores but unfortunately applicant, mus
pass a Civil Service examination before appointment
trhe last ADMINISTRATION removed of these de
ectives for w6rthlessness and made recommeiaao.
for the appointment Of detective in ms place nu,
il was denied on the ground that the law provided provided
that he must undergo competitive eAahin la
NAMED some eight or nine months. and found to
be of absolutely value in that capacity ana was
Application has been made to the Civil Service
Commission to take the office OF detective out Oh Inc
classified service. Then when one Is heed'm h.'
identity shall not first be proclaimed to the whole
world while he is passing Civil Service examination
and his features known to the men he may nave 20
watch The real test for fitness ought TO ne inc
results he has already accomplished IN the de,ece
line and not how he stands III his class MY eA-
pericncc convinces that the best detectives are
have the same difficulty it may be added II
regard TO engineers who also must pass civil servlre
examination while it is apparent. especially 70 r'l
road man. that many a train would he d''cher IL ,ne
engineer VINO pulled the lever was placed the'c w
reason of a Civil Service examination on eener'
culture allude to these matters not IN sprit y.
fault-fndng with the Civil service bul ONLY ~ s1v
Won the difficulty under which labor Inc s'irs
attached Office ought not TO TX IT, M %
hut the character of the work incidental TO the pace
should determine this matter .,,,ot nc
I will look into the matter of Your complaint a.
we'll as / can with the tools at my disposal
Tho other day a thief stole some clothing from an
empove at the Public stores and has not yet been
caught.