Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-02-21


ion of its Investigation of the civil service COM
missioners. 1t gives peremptory warning in
the grufest tones Of the brow-beating cross
examiner that no evasioDs are to be permitted,
and il wishes to know, in substance, The SrAR's
opinion Of the act of clerk of the commission
IN stealing" examination papers, and with
them aiding q friend to pass an examination.
and OF the act Of commissioner in condoning
this oGenss and promoting the offender. And
il asks to be informed specifically whether The
Stan endorses Campbell and Lyman. In
yesterdays issue TIE STAR indicated
very clearly its answers to these
questions. IL takes no personal inter-
est in the fortunes either Of Mr.. Lyman or
Nr. Campbell, and If the evidence in the in
quiry had developed or should develop the
condition of affairs which the enemies of civil
service reform have assumed to exist in their
denunciations, The STAR would be among the
first to demand the removal of these officials as
traitors who have stabbed the reform which it
was their duty to foster and develop. But the
attempt to establish facts which would cast
suspicion of unfairness upon the examinations
and Of official corruption on the part of those
administering it, and would render the merit
system in its practical working u sham and
mockery has far, in The Stars opinion,
proved pitful failure. II examination papers
containing questions to be used again were
stolen" by clerks with the connivance
OF their superiOrs and sold to candi-
dates, and were utilized to gain govern
ment positions not to be obtained on
the candidates merits, the very purpose Of the
merit system would be reversed, and situa-
ton demanding Congressional investigation
and vigorous treatment would exist. The
enemies of the merit system in their discus
sion Of the Campbell charges have insinuated
or directly stated that this situation of affairs
did exist; indeed if such were not the case their
denunciations would be entirely deprived of
point. But the evidence indicates very diff
ferent condition Of things, of which all parties
to the controversy were long ago fully informed.
Instead OF stealing questions to be asked and
selling them, which is the offense in which the
interests OF the general public are vitality con-
eerned, Mr.. Campbell, according to the testi-
mony, has committed only the technical breach
OF discipline OF removing papers from the files
Of the Ofrice without consulting his superiors,
these papers containing no questions to be
Used again and giving no information except
OF the general kind which the printed ques-
mons in the commissions annual reports might
supply. Mr.. Campbell would have committed
the same offence whatever the character of
the paper removed. and according to the tes-
tmOny the fact that the document was an
obsolete examination paper furnished no ag-
grsvation of the offence. This explanation
Vas made long ago in the newspapers, and
the enemies Of the merit system should not
have continued their clamor and forced
the charges to congressional inves-
tigatiOn unless they had proof
which would overthrow tine defence
and make the issue one OF great public interest.
I he position Of The STAR, and on this point it
speaks for the government employees at the
capital and Washington itself, is not so much
Endorsement Of Campbell or Lyman or any
body else. rs a condemnation of those spois-
men who. knowing that Campbelrs offence was
not one which affected to its detriment either
the principle or the fair administration OF the
merit system. have treated it as q conclusive
evidence that this sys stem is a hypocritical
sham, and, suppressing the truth, have at
tempted to use the matter as an instrument to
JDsuuct the reform of the civil service, to Sc
,ure a repeal Of the civil service law, and to
damage in so doing the local interests of WASH
lngton and the general welfare of the republic.