New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-06-06
IN THE POLITICAL FIELD.
AN ANSWER TO MR.. ROOSEVELT.

A LETTER FROM JOSEPH MURRAY. EX-SuPER-
INTENDENT OF THE CUSTOM HOUSE.
Assemblyman D. Morgan IIildreth jr., the chairman
Of the committee OF the XXIst Assembly District RepuD
lcans which Is investigating the charges against tie
local Civil Service Board. has received from joseph
Murray, disappointment OF the Customiousc let
ter In reply to the mssive from Theodore Roosevelt
United states Civil Service Commissioner, which was
published in The Tribune Thursday morning Mr.
Marray's letter is as follows:
New.YorlS, n. v, June 4, 1901.
My Dear Mr.. IIildret: The papers tooay contain ~
statement from Mr. Roosevelt, III which ne uenes IN
I TO the charges contained in the resolutions DO
not of know whether or NOT te .taemen' -
authentic but whether IL he or not It's erect VIII be
the same. , ,,,.o. Mn. Dn
cock pierce. G mstock, Cannon and Walden the
only ones who took part in eAalhations az the tlme
The resolutions we're int oduceu, ana Wlhle ! Know
publican organizations of the districts in which Messrs
10 Them and Messrs Pierce aud Walden are Democrats.
Ini 20 that hoard and tell the Repu lcan party Why
PoI has 10 no why majority of the board
should not be pronounced in their sympathy with the
As 10 the examinations they farcical because they
are not practical because they are merely theoretical
a. the hundreds Of applicants who were In the last ex
min stions can testify.
In referring to The examinations Mr.. Roosevelt has
been quoted as admitting tiat IN the cases % .de
10 he performedH Now why should the questions for
all the other grades not "have direct reference to the
Mr. Roosevelt denies that the board can hinder Re
publicaDs from examinations prevent their promo
lion but know that examination held for damage
examiner last July was nullfed for as believe, simply
political reasons. .
As TO the insgatOrs of the resolutions, Mr. Roosevelt
Is again In Messrs. Quackenboss and spencer
had nothing to do with nStgating the resolutions fOI
which alone stand responsible ] have not The
pleasure Of Mr. Quackenboss's acquaintance and as Mr.
Spencer had nothing whatever TO do with the matter
cannot understand why Mr.. Roosevelt unjustly
charges IL against him.
As 10 Mr.. ROosevets threat against me, now or al
any other time ! do not a button about It, AS
to his sur upon district organizations and party lead
ers. IL shows that his ideas about them have greatly
changed during the last year, probably the eject OF
Washington air When he was candidate for speaker
OF the Assembly of New York State and later for Mayor
Of this city. the organizations and party leaders were
good enough MOrgans" for him until after the cleo
tons.
As 10 the politics of the Commission my opinion Is
in full accord with that expressed by General j. >
ClarIsOn, president of the Republican League.
While II would be a pleasure TO furnish your com
mitee with reliable information Of the gross injustces
claimed to have been done by the incompetent local
board, the information cannot now be obtained as Mt
Roosevelt has taken time by the forelock and senced
every empoye of the Custom House with his budozinG
threat of removal. Circumstances make me able &c
treat such threats with the contempt they deserve but
poor clerks cannot afford to sacrifice their places, tC
commit official suicide by telling what they know tC
JOSEPH MURRAY.