Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-02-28
THE CIVIL SERVICE INQUIRY.
The Promotion of Clerk Mitchell In
vestigated Today.

He said that he wanted to correct the false i'm
preston that had been given as to his testi-
mony concerning the transfer Of Sturgis. He
said that he had not intended to say and did
not think be had said anything to indicate that
there was anything irregular about Mr.. Sturgis
appointment The transfer of Sturgis to the
War department twas made with entire pro-
priety and not by any political influence. He
read the letter he had written to the Secretary
of War.
He said that he was perfectly satisfied with
his action in this matter. There was no poll
tics in the transfer whatever. With relation
to the statement made yesterday that he had
asked MIR. Roosevelt to see the Secretary OF
War because he might have some influence
with him, Mr.. Thompson said that he had no
reference to political influence. There was no
sort of politics In the matter. Had he
known the Secretary Of War he would have
gone himself. He would not ask political
favor, hut be would Lot hesitate to make per-
sona request Of Mr. Window. Questions were
asked by the prosecution which gave the testi-
mony turn off the regular track.
THE WITNESS EXPERIENCE IN THE TREASURY.
Witness said that when he was in the Treas
ury he had never dismissed any clerk for polit-
icai reasons. He had never made promotions
without examination or for political reasons.
appointments on political recommendations.
The reason he had insisted on examinations
before promotions while in the Treasury was
not because he thought the law required it,
but because he thought it the best method of
determining the fitness of candidates. There
were several hundred clerks in the Treasury
and he did not know more than probably thirty
i've OF them. He could not know of their tit
| ness without the test OF an examination.
Witness WAS asked about the appointment of
persons on the laborers' roll and putting them
at clerical work. Witness said this Was a thing
that had been done time out of mind IN the de-
partment service, but that he had put stop to
1t III the Treasury, with the approval of Secre-
tary Manning and President Cleveland, because
he did not think 1t lawful
MR.. ROOSEVELT EXPLAINS THE CASE.
MIR. Roosevelt took the stand. He said that
he had refreshed his memory as to his CONVEX
sation with Gen. McKeever concerning the
transfer. He said that he had told Gen Nc
keever that MIR. Sturgis was not fitted for the
duties on the commission.
He said that ne told Gen. McKeever of the
mistakes MIR. Sturgis had made and of his unfit
ness for service III the commission and for that
reason they wanted to transfer him. He
thought that he was a young man of good
capacity and good character and that he would
do very well with a change Of surroundings. MIR.
Roosevelt stated further that his understand
ing OF the reason he (witness) was asked to see
about the transfer was because of his being
known to the Secretary of War, and from the
speaking was democrat he thought that
he, republican, could not be suspected of
partisan bias in the matter.
Mr.. w. G. Wallace and Mr.. johnson, en-
ployes OF the civil service commission. testified
that Mr.. Morgan had expressed the hope to
them that Mr.. Bailey would be promoted to
fourth-class clerkship and stenographer's po-
sitioD.
MR.. BALEY's EXAMINATION
MIR. Thompson then produced the examina-
tion papers Of Mr.. Bailey and stated that the
examination was the same as that Mr. Morgan
had taken, and that Mr.. Morgan and Mr.. Bailey
had mad the same advantage as re-
CARDS access to the general dicta-
tion exercises. Mr.. Bailey was put on
the stand and testified to this effect, saying
that Mr.. Morgan, who was examined short
time before the examination of Mr.. Bailey. had
OFTEN given dlctatlon from these general aicta-
ton exercises; that he had had about the same
opportunity that Bailey had had in
the matter of reading dictations from
| these exercises. He did not consider it any
particular advantage to have given dlctations
from these general exercises.
Chief Examiner Webster was examined and
| testified to the same effect He SAID they had
both dictated from the general exercises but
neither could tell just what exercises he was
to be examined on. He did not think
there was any especial advantage to
either, but whatever the advantage
was, if any at all, it was the same. He did not
think 1t would have made any difference if the
| dictations had been made from some other
exercises. 1t was no more advantage TO the
| candidate to know that he was 10 be examined
from that set ol exercises than IT would be to
one examined III arithmetic to know that he was
to be asked questions out of Dawes. Some OF
these exercises were printed in the annual re-
port; any one could see them
ANOTHER CHARGE TAKEN Up.
The third charge was taken up after the close
of mir. Webster's testimony. This charge was
that Thomas Mitchell of Connecticut had been
appointed to position in the pension Office:
had been dismissed for cause; that he had
taken an examination for reinstatement and
and had failed but that his papers had after
ward been marked up and he had been ap-
pointed
Mr.. Mitchell was called to the stand. He
said he had occupied position in the pension
office for number of years; that he had been
dismissed, no cause being given. Afterward he
took an examination. At the close of
| the day the examiner told him that
the examination was over and he de-
parted. Afterward it was discovered
| that one set of law questions by mistake had
not been furnished him on the examination.
Afterward he WAS sent for by the commission,
and 1t was shown clearly that the questions
NV OcCu given W dusWcE: tuercIOfG
| he hao omitted part of the examination with
out knowing Of the existence of the questions.
HAD RE-EXAMINATIoN.
Mr.. Mitchell said he sent letter to the COM
mission asking for a re-examination in place of
| one taken by him on July l9, 1889, nwhen the
full list of questions was not forwarded to him.
He received an order from Mr.. Lyman to 60
| to Baltimore and take an examination at that
| place. This MIR. Mitchell did, and on August
| ~, 1889. passed the examination special ex-
| sminer in the pension office. He was ap-
| pointed special examiner on September %,
| 1889. There is not a word of truth in the
| charge that any favoritsm was shown me-" the
witness said. To the question as to whether
| any Senator or Representative had interested
himself in the case Mr.. Mitchell replied, Most
emphatically no."
| Two letters were put in testimony written
| by Mr.. Mitchell after his dismissal from
| the pension Office in 1887 to the commits
| sioner OF pensions asking for his reappoInt-
| ment. The attempt was made to bring
out the idea that Mr.. Mitchell was removed at
| that time for cause. MIR. Mitcheli's letters,
however, merely showed that he wrote
that he knew Of no cause for
| his dismissal, although he surmised
| that the reason was his republicanism
Q. (by MIR. EwardO Do you deny utterly that
you were removed for cause?
| A. do.
| IMPEAcHINa THEIR OWN WITNESS
The prosecution was not very well satisfied
| mill fba faS of