New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-06-04
Mr.. ROOSEVELT HITS BACK.
HE WRITES A CAUSTIC LETTER.
ANSWERING CHARGES AGAINST THE LOCAL

ANSWERING CHARGES AGAINST THE LOCAL
BOARD OF CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINERS.
Theodore Roosevelt United States Civil Service Com
missioner, has written letter to the chairman Of the
committee of the XXIst District Republicans which
is conflicting investigator into the methods OF the
Local Board of Examiners. The examination Is the
result Of a series of resolutions which attacked .ie
Board and which were introduced at recent meeuns
Of the district organization. 1t has been hno"h ioi
several days that the letter was in existence anu
knowledge Of its contents will have conslderaO'e IN
auence ON the character Of the testimony which inc
committee will obtain from this out. IL was "ii''0"
on May 20 and is as follows:
In order that we may hive some schlutS p v,s an
which 10 take issue will take up inc aNeiH'0H'' "
detail. oor,,v IN the
TIE first whereas, referring apparehty r 70 sto
loci beard, asserts that pennShean party This
on the seven members, four are Republicans; WHO
were appointed 10 the service prior 10 the adopt9u "a
the Civil service Rules In 1852 under nnSer
PRESIDENT ono S Rep9onT nem fpPV Of the Union
League Club Two are Democrats appVsihttsSo u
membeI ave are Republicans, one Of them being
Grand Army man. Ny only resrco N tn.t we have not
the p9,i1iea .,r asP ns1oS or iC on IT,
NOR The e"s second whereas retes that the Civil service
ooenY svowed opponents Of Republican party TINS
IS simply UNTRUE Apparently the E Tpc Nma always
ro home to vote and he informs me that ne has neyer
voed anything but the Republican ticket ia a6d man
ner OF conducting tie examinations by the local HV
service examines which a1 1Se y sS specific instances
in sI,pport OF It to be given. If the mode ana na9T
Of aS% SsSe fhe as sooS '
Of sneh II Inc aRestons be
ASKED BY the local board The Questions aSkeq now
are practical and relevant In the cases o. e ~ he
performed. IN the lower grades we ASH 9uesuoit
Simply TO test general character and lhtelgece VI
IVA WOuI
Suggestions made 10 having our questions moie
teal out VIC w sc those who are most fond of complain
nc tnat our anetions are impractcable are utterly u
able TO & To any scyyes to saw that the questions
impracticablc unless some Improvements can 9e sus
cested OF course the most impractcable ana most :.
Irrelevant of ali questions asked are The questions as 70
mans politics. and as 70 the distinct aSsT S H ro
" his "T naTy' We 1nd that these usually the
questions which those who camor Iondest Ior @ al
tests really wish to have asked VIII NOV you hH
the examination papers we use and VIII sIs9 SnEw
YOU the questions in use an the IeS9 par pr
motion therein We have largely modelled our exam
nations upon these examinations %ne we usee the
Department Itself and which, as the eAPeen.He 90
Department has taught produce TIC most sa"siA''oiS
Tbe rcsoutons then request the reorganization of
the Board by appointment Of competent RepeDcaH
citizens Most assuTed IL ,ne peeMf see that
the board is reorganl1ed and n such case canal
appoint none but compeehs neso eopeent citizens
represent both Republicans anc DenOcra's a. heai'
e4TSs crave portions Of the charges however are
those in which the resolutions denounce the PARTISAN
ship OF the present members OF the 6Oa anu agansf
Republicans, and preventing by their c0nduei; inc
promotion and appointment Of SomPe ran IL tTe first
place they show great ignorance on the PaIe VI f
making them The board Of Civil Service examiners
at tho Custom House has nothing 70 do with either liner
the promotion the admission OF cahdlddIes az u =.
hinder or prevent the promotion OF Republicans OF
anyone else through these examinations. II u'e ai
bers Of the present board IN fQnuuT n1forv or nm
nations have shown partsanshIp or uiarN Gother
Justly Disseminated against any candldetej Wet I
Republican or otherwise they nave Toqd ,ttornav
and should be prosecuted by the plstrcgAl,C T G
as well as removed from Office BY the secretary OF to
Treasury 1t IS an eNtLa2rdinafy INN agi+ontion Of
onelces have been committed that the altehnV WI Vi
the Commissioners has not been calico UieIeo W. W.
ever introduced those resolutions before NV GaeS
association should certainly II these grave cnuE
are true have brought them to the attention oil lne
Civil Service Commissioners and we wonG dr na0s
promptly INVESTIGATED the same l. OF course oena t
TO know the full particulars Of the alleged MISCONDUCT.
From what Is stated in the press j. appears rS'
Spencer and QuackenbosS, all in the Goyernme,hS
employ and like the individual against whom te
Treasury II these charges true. the members OF
the board have been gn .S OF cT emnya M tRe Sec
rotary OF the Treasury, but also their prosecution by
the District Attorney; If these charges are fsse'
nl and contemplate fasehoOd and SANDER, and shall
promptly present their names to the Secretary OF the
Treasury for such action as he may deem proper, IN
view of their defamation Of other employees in the
same Office. 1t is impossible TO imagine worse mis-
malfeasancc in Office and It is almost as shameful
to bring charge Of malieasance against public
servant who has not been guilty thereof. The man
who exposes criminal conduct the part of public
officer performs great public service, and man who
feasance forfeits all claim to the companonship and
respect Of honest men, Fortunately, the charges
no room for half and half opinions in the matter.
ef hsy matter sFf t S GT bf 1e Attorney and G Unless
1t matter for the DisrictAttorney they are false