New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-03
SECRETARY FOSTER ON THE STAN
TEST1FYING AS TO THE CHARGES AGAINST TWO
CUSTOMS EMPLOYEES IN RITIMORE.


CUSTOMS EMPLOYEES IN BALTIMORE
Washington. May 2-Thc House Committee on
Civil Service Reform today resumed the lnvestica.
lion into the conduct Of certain empoyes I'm the Civil
Service in baltimore. secretary Foster was the first
Witness There were two persons, Fensley and Ray,
in the customs service In Baltimore charged with vo
a,lon Of the Civil service law. The Secretary said
he had heard this unoicially lie had received in
| confidence a copy Of the Roosevelt report The
re,ort vns highly complimentary 10 the baltimore
customs service general. but it charged Ray with
mcndacl,y and Fensley with collecting campaign
funds.
Witness lad been told that while Ray might have
hccn mendacous. he one Of the best clerks in tbs
service and that Fcnscy had not Intentionally vio
lated the law. Taking into account the good char
acter Of the employees, they Lad been let of with
rcprlmand
Mr. Andrew asked If witness held that n Govern
mcnt cmplovc paid money FOR campaign purposes 10
another employc there no violation Of the law
The Secretary replied that he did not 10 give an
onin,on lie had in this case confined himself to
rcprmand because dhe election related to primary
meeting.
Mr. Andrew asked II primary meeting was not n
no,it,col meeting. Tho Secretary replied that he was
not nresent to be criticised lie had given his answer
once.
Mr. BOatncr turned attention TO the cases OF Horncr
and Reed and commented upon their lax notions OF
tentlon Of the Collector had been called to the cases
and his opinion would be taken TO whether the men
should be retained in the Government service. IRIS
did satisfy Mr. Boatner and he pressed tc Hec'"
tary. who finally said that one could liN oo"h
an ironclad rule for every case.
Mr.. Boatner Continued TO question the Secre'arV'
.aying II matter Of Importance to ascertain
what view the heads of departments took OF the law
hut the Secretary was on his guard ana rcphed
briefly that he should want to investigate the subject
further.
Mr. Roosevelt had entered the room while the secre-
ary was under examination and at this point 'here
,ecned TO be some confusion in the minds OF the per
present. growing ont OF the fact that TWO cases
were referred ndi<crminately As matter OF iact'
only two Of the men named had been accused by the
Commission Of violating the OWL Service law i"eN
RAY ard Fens!ey. As for Reed ana forher' '''
Commission had found that. although they haa NOT
yioatcd the law the attention Of the secretary shoud
be called to their conauct.
Mr. Eoatner remarked that the object OF the law was
to divorce public service from politics These TWO
men Rccd and IIorner) had been shown to be active
politicians Now" said he. trying once more, IN
rOur Judgment Is IL consistent with the sood OF ''
puslic service and the spirit OF the Civil service law 10
keep men in Office who confess themselves TO be poll
tlcanS Of this kind?"
well" replied the Secretary at length, u shonln
very much doubt il. but I want to know all OF the
facts"
At the conclusion OF the Sccreary's examination
Commissioner Roosevelt TO the committee long
statement drawn up by him after he had read POST
master General WanamahCrs testimony before the com
mittee last Monday. The Commissioner said that In
the first place he would stand by his Baltimore report
Bearing on the statement Of the PosmasierGencr;
that II is net the duty of the Commission to make any
report 10 the head OF Department. Mr.. Roosevelt
offered two letters from Mr.. WanaInnkcr 70 the Com
mission. The first of these was dated July II. ieso
II transmitted to the Commission payers relating TO
the dismissal Of certain CLERKS at the Baltimore post
Office In violation OF civil service rules. and asked the
Commission 10 investigate and advise him tNr wanna
mahcr what course Il recommended. The second was
dated July 10 1859, and transmitted FIR such action
as the Commission deemed proper an incl~ed letter
from the chief inspector informing him OR. Wana-
makerD. Of changes in the Baltimore postoiice.
Mr. Roosevelt quoted from the testimony. Of Mr.
Wananalcr when. IN speaking Of the accused men. he
sac: When they declare that they have not made
such statements. and thes do That under OATH YOU
are bound take thtiT statements
IL seems % me-" said Mr. Roosevelt that II IN
a private business Of large size au investigation INTO
one Of branches should disclose that twenty one
unwisc to accept the Oaths Of these same men, SIN
months later. that they were Innocent ana hah ~,
when they made their confessions" Mr.. Roosevelt
concluded his statement by saving:
The amount Of II Is that all these men are plainly
gully upon their own confession. | am glad that
lions Of my report which show hat the violations Of
the law wcre even Gagrani in Baltimore under
the las. administration; but must respectfully
point out that In my opinion, N the wrong 1"ig i
year, to have been Just great under this admin
ista:ttiOn."