New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-26
MR. ROOSEVELT BEFORE THE COMMITTED.
THE POINTS At ISSUE BETWEEN HIM AND Mr.
wANAMAKER IN THE CIVIL SERVICE
INNESTIG ALTON.

Washington, May 25.-Civ Service Commls sloner
Roosevelt this morning appeared before the House ON
mtee Reform in the Civil Service and had some
thing u say with reference 10 the statements OF f"s-
mast General WanamakeT 10 the Baltimore post
office matter Mr.. Roosevelt said that on Nav IL ho
sent 10 the PostmasterGeneral, 10y registered maI
letter which said in part
In the report Of your inspectors on the laiumore
postofce, submitted hS yon 10 the committee OF ihe
iIousp these inspectors state that my inVcsleaton
was unfair and partial In the extreme, thai my
questions were calculated 70 deceive anf mlSle,n,
such committee Of investigation hnnuhs Ior
nothing but the truth, and DESTROYS Of doing exact
justice would practise or allow ana that my report on
The pOstmaster's conduct was not only unln'uhape,
but malicious" Thee are reflections. not ONLY on ny
actions, but also my motives. ny Submitting iblS;
report without expressly discalmng any personal
RESPONSIBILITY for it, you to assume Tint re pons-
hilIty and make Il Your own. can hardv suppose
TINT this was your intention, but shall he Obliged
to treat these statements which IN any, way reflect
upon my acts and motives as your nnierr I9 hn
avow them with the same publicity with winch ueS
were made TO the committee.
Mr. Roosevelt said he had received no answer and
was therefore reluctantly Obliged TO assume that the
Postmaster General made these statements Ms own
Said Mr. Roosevelt. The statements above quoted
in nv letter are sanderous falsehOods have noth
Ing to do with the inspectors and the Baltimore post
master have 10 deal only with the Postmaster Gen
cra the responsible head OF these men, and refuse 10
allow him TO shift the responsibility upon BIS SUB
ordinates. II this investigation b. the Postofcc De-
gartment had made with the deliberate intent OF
shielding the accused covering up their wrong DONG
and tempting them o perjure themselves. so that the
Office could be cleared from the effect of their former
truthful confessions, II would have been managed pre-
cisely a. il actually managed
Mr.. Roosevelt read copous eAtracts from inc "'"
mo,y given I'm the inspectors rcpon laid before me
committee BY Postlnasto t''sierid Walamahef hS
confrmatory Of what he Ind himself reported
speaking OF the general declaration OF the Postmaster
General that the Postoficc Department; was not an
taconisc 10 the Civil Service Mr. Roosevelt said that
he regretted that he must empha,lcally dissent from
the statement, a. many OF the actions OF the Depart
ment seemed explcable only the theory that II Is
opposed 10 the Civil service law. II the Postmaster
General so requested he would from the Official
| records, support that declaration.
Commissioner Roosevelt evidently expects 70 have
| considerable work OF Official character between
now and election day Reference having been made
to charge that political motives had acluated the
| Commission In baltimore I've said ouppo,ing
| retain my office, going To nave lot Of trouble
| during this campaign. ! will do what ] properly can
to aid my party, but | am also gone 10 do my level
best 10 Interfere with the collection Of assessments
| for either the Republican the Democratic
party | am oging to get lots ~ complaints
shall try To ascertain the facts To any charges
The committee voted TO request the Postmaster
General to furnish a written copy Of the report he
had said the Assistant Attorney General had mndc
verbally I'm which the law oihccr had held that con
tnbnons 10 primary elections were not political
trbutions as contemplated In the Civil service Law.