New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-08-17
PRICE THREE CENTS.
FEDERAL OFFICERS BLAMED.
COMMISSIONER RooSEvELTS REPORT ON
THE BALTIMORE INVESTIGATION
VIOLATIONS OF THE CIVIL SERVICE LAW ~
THE PosToFHCE AND MARsHALs OFFICE
MANY EMPLOYEES PREsENTED FOR
DISMI SSAL - THE WARD
wORKER' NUISANCE.

Washington, Aug. 16.-ln the latter part OF
March information was received at the office OF
the Civil Service Commission that the provisions
Of the Civil Service law relating to political
assessments were being violated by persons in the
official service of the United States in the city
OF Baltimore, and that the influence of United
States officers in that city also being unlaw-
fully used to control primary election. An in
vestigation was Immediately begun, and continued
through part Of the month of April, conducted
by Commissioner Roosevelt, and copy OF hiS
report together with the testimony taken, SHOW
ing that the investigation was amply Jusuhed,
has just been submitted to the President WIN
the approval Of the Commission. The Attorney
General. the Postmaster-General and the Secretary
Of the Treasury have also been furnished win
copies. The following statements are taken nom
Commissioner Roosevelt's report as embodylng
some of the results of his investigation:
The primaries held March 80 marked by vefy
contest between factions Of the Repubhcsn
party one these factions generally known as The
johnson crowd 'Johnson-Airey faction, MI John'
being postmaster and Mr.. Arey the marshal IN
Baltimore. faction known, similarly as
the Henderson faction" "IIendersonstone facton
Messrs Henderson and Stone having been, respectively
candidates for appointment to the positions OF postmaster
and marshal There were side issues that complicated
the struggle somewhat but in It's 1t without
doubt mainly fight between the oniceholders on one
side and the disappointed onceseehers the other the
johnson Airey' I5S representing the former and me
ienderson. .Sone' the latter. Apparently they cared
pr.mariiy for the Offices party success being purely
secondary consideration, important only because it
facilitated getting them 1t to that this facu
alone toeraby accurate measure OF the mucn-
vaunted usefulness party OF the oncechserlnB'
ofce.seekng and Ofce-holdng variety OF wsfd worker.
As a whole the contest was marked by great fraud
and little violence. At present the ordinary ONCE
seeking ward workers and very large percentage OK
Ocehoders have grown believe that it is part OF the
trhn
hold the Offices should exercise the controlling influence
In political contests. The Ciyn Service Ia" j. uohs
much disabuse them OF the fact, and the further
be extended and the more rgidy 1t can be eNecutfo
the healthier will be. The ward WORKER VINO
Is simply in politics Offices is curse to the com
munity and this is recognized the better MS
political activity is purely unhealthy and miSehe'os
Take power politician to give him any
he Will from his noxous labors In very
space time. the Government oficehooef
he be taught in another that ms duty Is
the OF the Government for the whole people
and not to perert his office for the OF any party or
any faction.
The examinations for the Custom House have bee.
perfectly straight vacancies have been made Tor us
purpose allowing partsans TO be appointed ana no na
has received appointment unlss he has passed 50 H
that be one OF the first three on the list; out
seems clear that Mr. Marine believes that he has tho
right discriminate between these three for poiucH
reasons Now undoubtedly, he has no such nght' he
a right OF choice among them but ne mas ho
grounds Any discrimination of the sort calls for severe
rcbuke and If persisted in. for prompt punishment Iha
is the only criticism however, that IS TO be made upon
Collector Marines conduct OF the office
The Internal Revenue Collectors office at Balamore
was not used in tho interest OF either faction.
The Custorl.House likewise. was not used in tho
interest OF either faction
The case is very different regard 10 the Dostohics
and the Marshal's Office The evidence seems TO be per-
fcctlv clear that both these Offices used with the
purpose interfering with controlling The result oil ho
primary election, and that there was Systematic Ough
sometimes indirect effort made assess the Government
employees in both political purposes Marshal Ahey
was undoubtedly one OF leaders OF OF the cuons
at the primaries active part therein even
to the extent coming into physical collision Win ono
OF the opposition judges whom he accused whether rgity
or wrongly, cheating In my opinion, fhe following
Governmental employees should be dismissed frcm office of
violating Sections II to "A OF the Civil Service law
Edward Blddleman and william II. II. Sultzer, Of the
Mars.ai,s Office; John Fcnsley and W. II. Ray. Of tho
customs service Jonn A. Bell james Wilson, william
IT, Mitchell James L. Weber, Robert f. Reed, Henry
Martini Henry Glars, Louis T. Glsdfelter, John b
Tweedle Charles G. Smith, Charles W. Hammel. george
g. IIoltz William T. Birmingham, Joshua N Richardson.
Edward Perne Erwin FOutz, Oscar W. Gibson, H. l..
Thesis john Bond, Daniel Phelps, and Noah PierSon.
The testimony OF John j. Horner and John Reed oil inc
Custom House. betrays certain views of political morality
which in my opinion entte call the attention of
the Collector Port to their cases. to determine
whether they ought to be retained In the service
am well aware that in recommending so many re-
moyals there sembance OF harshnes and that among
these men there may be few who have some apparent
claims 20 indulgence. While large proportion are
evidently simply local professional politicians with very
low standards Of morals others are apparently reputable
men, who acted they did partly from real ignorance rs
10 the law but mainly because they did not believe u'
law would be truth intended 10 be enforced
and the abuses which appear to have houfshcd IN inc
Federal Offices in Baltimore under the late Administration
made this belief their part b. no means unieasoh"o
Nevertheless l adhere to recommendation OF dismissal
in every case specified for satisfied that only
by will this class Of offenders BE- ""shS
10 respect the law and consider few instances OF hard
ship to individuals less e than 1t Is 10 nave ths Jaw
generally eyaded, and often brought into public contempt
by the impunity with which it, may be even openly
violated. .
It is evident from the testimony that the non-clasih"d
service Baltlmore Postofce, is the case Win e
nonclassfed almost patronage ONCE vas
treated as bribery which 10 reward innuen'al
ward workers. who useful or likely 10 be usFui 70
the faction I'm power The appointments were MADE Prl.
mary IN the OF the local leaders ana OF ehe '''
organlzatons only very sccondariy with view 70
the wcll.beng the public service therefore, "hie
doe, not appear that Mr.. Johnson himself used e posi-
offices 10 influence primary election, IL Is eNde 'nas
wa, so with his full knowledge ana uat ne "'H
no elective steps whatever 10 prevent such use hereo
1t seem, almost much Of offence Tor the near {"
an office suplncy 10 allow the Civil Service law or rules
to be violated by his subordnates, or trong hef h
strumentaty rs Is for him 70 violate the sau III" anu
ruos py..n General Rule l. already quoted, provides
for the dismissal from Once OF officer who uses MS
oocil influence TO interfere with election 1t has
nor boen shown that Mr. Johnson did directly 30 use his
official influence; but it has been shown that WIN MS
knoedqe the entire of his Office was 50 used
by Others in the case OF Marshal Aifey however
must bo said that this rule has never hitherto been
strictly construed in fact that IL can hardly be SAID
that there has any effort construe OF enforce IT,
A. anears in the testimony taken before the Senate COM
pittee in 1855 1t then charged that Mr. Johnsons
essor I'm the postOnice had used his official position
nnuence the election delegates to nominating Goa.
vention but no heed was rad 10 the charge
am strongly the opinion that at least decided steps
should be to show that this rule Is net hereafter 10
10 oc,rded As deadleer, aud that nom hcneeforth any
to,tion thereof shall treated furnishing
dismissal.
GOOD BLUEFIsHIyG AT BLOCK ISLAND.