Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-03-04

WASHINGTON, March 3.-When the
| committee investigating the charges against
the Civil Service Commission met to-day
Mr.. Hatton, of the Washington Post, who
in the absence of Mr.. Ewart, conducted the
prosecution, called attention to the remain
ing charges against the commission. These
were: First, that the commission has since
its organization to the present time, by the
manipulation of the rules and regu-
iations, brought about results in vio-
lation of the spirit and letter of
the law; second, that by the collusion
with the departmental officers. appoint
ments have been made or brought about in
violation of the merit system, and that fav
orites have secured places with little refer
ence to their qualifications; third. that per-
sons, relatives of the officers of the COM
mission, have been attached to the COM
mission, with the knowledge of the COM
mission, a privilege denied Senators and
epresentatives-without compensation and
in direct violation of law; fourth, that
offenses which resulted in the dismissal of
officers of one political party were condoned
when committed by officers of the other po-
itical party.
BUTTERwoRTH'S PERTINENT INQUIRY
In regard to the first charge, Mr.. Hatton
said that Representative Butterworth
wanted it amended so as to find how it was
at under the Republican administration
nine-tenths of the appointees to the civil
service were Republicans and under Dem
ocratic administration She same proportion
were Democrats. The scope of the amend
would bring the matter to the attention of
the committee when it discussed the general
workings of the civil service system. There
was no necessity, therefore, to take up this
charge at the present time.
In regard to the second, Mr.. Hatton said
it was embraced in the Mitchell case and
the prosecution was willing to leave the
matter on testimony already given on that
charge. AS to the third charge, he said it
relates to the employment of the wife of one
of the officers of the commission and the
sister of anoth or, which was not denied.
As to the fourth charge, Mr.. Hatton said
the prosecution held that it was sufficiently
established in the case of the promotion of
Campbell, Republican, after violation
of law, which he confessed, and the dis
missal of Sturgis, Democrat, because he
was an Indifferent and careless clerk.
sHIDY CAN STAY.
Commissioner Thompson, in reply to a
question by Mr.. Hatton, said the Civil Ser
secure Shidy's removal from the Census
Office, where he is now employed, and he
(Thompson) did not propose to take any
further steps for or against him.
E1-Postmaster George II. Paul, of Mil
waukee, was then called. He was ap-
pointed postmaster, he said, by President
Cleveland in 1885, and at the time was Vice
President of Civil Service Association of
that city. There had been, he said 45 res
ignations in the Milwaukee postoffice DUR
ing his term. Of these only one had been
asked for; the rest were Voluntarily given.
He said that politics had nothing to do with
the question of these designations. The
compensation of the clerks was poor and the
labor hard, and the clerks were frequently
anxious to get out. Proceeding to the
question of the Civil Service Examining
Board of the postofice, Mr.. Paul said the
duties of the board were discharged en-
tirely independent of himself as postmaster.
QUESTION OF vERAC1TY.
Mr.. Paul said that he never had assisted.
advised or controlled Mr.. Shidy in making
false certifcation or in changing the mark |
ing of an examination. He said that he
(PauD had no interest in remarking the pa
pers. He would make the broad statement |
that he never. to mis- knowledge in any
manner improperly influenced Mr.. Shidy in |
the discharge of his duties. The commits |
sion, he said, was wholly misled by the |
cunning and want of veracitv of ShidY. He |
had no occasion to suggest to Mr.. Shidy any |
particular way of making certifcations. |
He declared that he never dreamed of |
dischafging Shidy because he testified |
before the Civil Service Commission. Shidy |
had never told him he (PauD was violating
the civil service law. The rules made it the |
duty of the examiners to report to the Civil |
Service Commission monthly. He did know,
he said. that Shidy undertook to cover the |
of his laziness and Incidence |
and dilatory habits BY making dates that |
were not true. 1t was Shidy's blundering |
records that caused all the trouble, although |
he did not think it was done with criminal
intent on his part, but that his blunders
were innocent.
INTIMIDATED BY ROOSEVELT.
Shidy had confessed to him (PauD that
be was cornered and intimidated by the
and especially by Mr.. Roose-
yelt. and Shidy had told him this in the
presence of witnesses. The commission had
never given him copy of the testimony it
had taken, notwithstanding the fact that he
had asked for it.
To Mr.. Hatton, Mr.. Paul said he never
had access to the records of the local Exam
the two reports made on the Office by the
Shidy came into his Office agi-
tated, and expressed regret at what
had occurred. He (PanD subsequently
told Shidy that he would not
remove or censure him for his testimony be-
lore the commission; that he had done
right. Subsequently a letter appeared in
morning paper from Shidy relating to him
Paul., false in statements and disrespect-
4
WEIeHS