Morning journal and courier., 1890-01-27
CIVIL SERVICE WORKINGS
Investigations In The New
| York Custom House
ABOUT CAMPAIGN FUNDS.
The Way They Were Col.
Iected From Republicans.
VERY HEAVY GALES At SEA.
Banker Joseph b. Dit
mans Dead Body Found.
ABOUT CAMPAIGN FUNDS.
VERY HEAVY GALES At SEA.

oAV LIZ . n ~ AOh AN ES GHA 4VNs
what Comnaissie ner Roosevelt Found
In the New York Custom House.
Republicans Forced to Contribute to
the Democratic Campaign Fana.
WASHINGTON, D. O., Jan. 26. Civil Ser
vice Commissioner Roosevelt has submitted
to the full commission a report of his recent
investigation into the alleged violations of
the civil service law in the New York GUS
tom house just prior to the last presidential
election. He says: In investigating the
alleged violations of the law against making
political assessments have made more or
less complete examination into the conduct
in this respect of the Office of the collector,
surveyor and naval officers of the port of
New York during the presidential election of
1883. It is most instructive to note the diff
ference in the way the law was observed in
the three Offices named. In the naval Office,
under Mr.. Burt, my investigation goes to
show that the law was observed absolutely,
both in letter and spirit. As far as I can
find out, there were no collections made for
political purposes in any shape or form, a9and
nothing like political coercion was tolerated;
each employe was left entirely free to con-
tribute to whichever political party he de-
oAIoO3 VI 0Ot W COutIADuto az I'LL ne OlO uO6
wish to. In other words, the subordinates
were treated as American citizens ought to
DO; they were required to do their fall duty
to the government and, this done, were left
free to exercise their own Judgment in po-
litical matters.
In the collectors Office under Mr.. Magone
there was apparently widespread, but not
universal and by no means always successful
effort to evade the law by persuading. or
Some list Of these Republican clerks must
have been kept, because they were especially
singled out for more or less indirect solicit
alton, either personally or by circulars and
there is testimony of one witness that this
solicitation was undertaken by the express
command of Mr.. Hagones private secretary
(there being nothing to show, however, that
M.; Aagone was aware OF MS ,s ssoresa EYE
tainly no active coersion of these sap. Jerks,
for az a matter of fact very pay OF them
refused to contribute and aevertneless were
not molested on ACCOUNT OF their conduct.
Moreover the effort to make them contribute
was always made indirectly and usually 90
puardedly shat it is diAcult to say If the
law was actually violated in its letter.
In the surveyors Office, under Mr.. Beat
tie, the contributions, a. far as 10 shown by
the testimony of the twenty. eight witnesses
examined, were universal. Tho Democrats
generally gave their money of their own ac-
cord, but the Republican clerks were prac-
tically forced against their will to pay what
were in reality political assessments for the
benefit of party to which they were oppos-
ed. This was accomplished BY q very inge-
NOUS and widespread system of yelled
threats and covert intimidation, 30 well car
ried out that 1t was completely successful,
the extent of the success being shown by the
fact that all, even the most unwilling of tho
clerks, whom examined, were in the end
forced to pay. Every method was resortsd
to to extort the contributions, while at the
same time avoiding tho actual demand OF
money. For instance, some of the witnesses
| were forced to contribute by being made
very uncomfortable in their work until they
did SO. They were originally at work at
stations near their homes and were suddenly
| veuieut for them to 60 to. Their inquiries
failed to discover the reason for tine change,
and they were kept at the new station until
they finally made up their minds to pay,
when they were usually promptly transferred
back to their old posts without word being
said.
Other witnesses testified that If they failed
to contribute special agent would be put
to watch them and make out cases for their
| discharge. Others were informed that
black-lists were being kept at headquarters
Of all who failed 10 pay. Others were mere
" asked again and again if they cared &c
contribute or If they knew whore they could
contribute If they wished, the place being
named, or If they had been down to visit
this place. Generally these questions were
; asked with much pretence of persona
friendliness; sometimes, however, this mash
was dropped and the advice was given OPEN
~, perhaps accompanied by scarcely hid
den threat. The campaign circulars de
handing funds were sent to all the employees
The man who was collecting these funds WA
one r. Jordan, in Liberty street, and hi
cards were also sent, sometimes severa
times, to the employees and on several occas
ions they were distributed by hand. FINAL,
some of the more refractory men who helG
out longest were told outright that IL the,
wished to avoid trouble and retain thei
places they had best pay.
By these various means SO much pressure
was brought to bear ON the employees that il
the end they all succumbed and paid thei
money. / do not charge the head of the Of
fee, Mr.. Beattie, with completely in thi
f. wrong doing, but the fact remains that thss
acts were committed in the Office under hi
control. OF course no chief can be held Il
tho slightest degree responsible for isolate
cases of violation of the law among his sub
ordinates, but according to the unanimou
. clerks examined there existed in the sui
veyor's Office . system of combined extortio
and coercion, which WAS seemingly organize
with minute thorouehness, which was Q
comprehensive an to take in ever
one of the numerous subordinates, whom
choosing in many cases merely at random
: ] had before me, and which .ws
completely successful in the attainment {
its objects. Such widespread and far-reacf
ing evasion and violation Of the law speal
but i'll for the vigilance of those whose dut
it was to see 1t enforced. The contrast
this respect between the surveyors Office III
der Mr.. Besttie and the naval Office III
der Mr.. Burt rejects credit on the latt'
and does not reflect credit on the former.
AIR. Roosevelt has made specific recon
msndations in the cases of a number of en-
ployes of the custom house, which will n,
be made public until they have bsen sui
mittsd to the proper prosecuting officers.
Tho Chess ChamPlOnshiP.
HAVANA, Jan. 25.-The match for Il
!. chess championship and a stake of 81 200 b
8, tween Mr.. Gunsberg and H. Tschigorin r.
70 sembles game of ssa-saw, inasmuch
Gunsberg wins one day and Tschigorin Il
n next.
Ct The thirteenth game was played to da
! and Tschigorin defeated Gunsberg in a kinl