New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-13
fact "''" cN"4"''"e ''S
MIR. WANANlAKER AGAIN on TIE STAND

CONFLICT BETWEEN TIE REPORT, OF THE POST
OFFICE lNsPE- TORS AND OF THE CIVIL
SERVICE COMMISSION IN TIE
BALTIMORE CASES
Washington, March 1.-THE IIouse t.o,nmi,,oe nm
Reform in the Civil service today resumed I'm. in
vesgation Of charges that certain Federal employees
in Baltimore have violated the Civil ecrvic. law With
out incurring punishment. Posma iencgal Wana-
maker appeared bringing with him. al the reauc., OF
The committee the report OF the postoce insp ,cor
giving the result OF their investigation into the Ba
postohcc. lie aid lie desired 70 correct his
former testimony 50 as TO say that he regarded the
question presented to him single question and not
"a small question: referring TO the question Of
veracty which, OF course. he would not % charac
tcrize. lie had been Informed that f. C. Perrine.
recommended iof removal had never testified before
the Commission. Alo lie desired 10 CAV in view OF
the comment upon the time that elapsed between the
investigation and the dcnals Of the en,plovcs that
more than four months had elapsed after the Com
missions investigation before the report reached the
President, so that the men had opportunity make
an earlier answer 10 the charges The Postmaster
General SAID Il nave had no disposition 10 defend
these men, but there were Complaints arising and
cannot personally investigate these cases. I turn
them to the proper officers and must be governed
by their reports
Mr. EOatneT-It appears that these parties were be-
fore the Commission aui horned to make this inves
CATION. They admitted their guilt and the postmaster
whose duty II was under the law. to dismiss these
men, because Of their confessed violation Of law. took
no action at ALL and when the matter came to yon In
stead of acting upon the confession of the parties
Instituted another investigation for the purpose OF
enabling these people to deny what they had already
admitted.
The Postmaster General moved his hand in rcmon
STRANGE while Mr. Boancr putting this question
and then replied Il respectfully protest against the
cJ fbp
purpose Of having these men deny. 1t is not the
truth"
Mr.. Boatner-But the report Of the Civil Service
Commission
The Postmaster Gencral-lt does not manage the
Postofcc Department.
Mr.. Ranes requested that the Postmaster General
be permitted to proceed and read the statement he had
prepared but Mr.. Boatner would rot be diverted, and
insisted that the committee wanted light upon the
point he had suggested.
After some discussion between Mr. Raines ana Mr.
Boatnc-. the Postmaster General remarked Tn"
p;cy of the Department ha, been TO give everybody
IA hearing. When these sid they had been wIong
fully accused from political motive and with view
preventing them from exercising their right to vote
there nothing else 10 be done. In fairness than To
give thc., men opportunity to be heard The test
mony. when received was carefully eNamned' ana
cannot feel that there has been any mistake
Mr. Boatner-Did IT not sem that you were throw.
Ing dscrcdt upon the Commission Won'd II not have
coaduced to the maintenance of harmonious iei"uoh>
between Your Department and the Commission IL you
had referred the matter back 10 II for rnvctigltin
The po>tma General There i, no reason WHY the
Commission cannot make The demonstration to day
have nothing TO do with their action. My dn,y was
plain-to investigate the matter.
Mr. Brawley-Did yOu have any reason to believe
that political considerations figured
The Postmaster-tieneral can see that j could
IIa aAh oh hat
the Investigation conducted on election day. and
that he could have knowledge OF the motives OF the
Commsson
Finally the Pos,master-t'enerl was allowed 10 read
his Or, pared statement. Mr. Wanamaher's statement
was mad, up Of detailed analyst, Of each OF the cases
touched upon in Tie report Of the Civil service Com
mission lie compared the latter report with the
testimony taken by the inspectors 10 show how
tn. Two statements conficted in many respects.
The Inspectors report upon which Mr.. Wanamahcr
based his action in the Batmor case was made by
Chief POstofce Inspector Wheeler AID inspector
Sharpe November "A. 1891. We are OF the opinion.
saws the report that the facts do uot justify The dis
mssal of the twentyonc men named, nor any one
OF them for violation Of dhe civil Service law rs
charged The statements OF witnesses before Mr.
Roosevelt and upon which his accommodations were
based were taken at time. under circumstances ana
In manner that Justify Us IN saying that they were
not proper material upon which u base recommends
lions for dismissal or severe ~
saws that the evidence taken ana accompanying Mr.
Roosevelts report Itself shows on IT. lace that the
Investigation Wa, unfair and partial III the extreme
The Questions asked We're generally leading ana ca.
c,.atnd 10 deceive and misesd, such a. no court or
committee Of Investigation huataG for nDlinr Dul we
;iu1h and d.>irOus Of doing exact justice WOuiu
practice OF allow. In two CI"N. ,sI me report .n'
.rcu,ed Inen admit hat their Statements 10 Mr.
Roosevelt were not the tiTth-W. n. Mhchcl ana
Daniel W. Plcliz. 80, A., -. ,.,,
Thc Iostma ster- General also left with the Committee
long addressed 20 h!m 10y Postmaster john ~
on sep cmhcr D. 1891 commenting on MI. hprc'tIt
report. Postmaster johnson challenges the )nWa
.i6uer or any other living man. to the proof I'm,
have I'm the slightest dcprcr been drrclct ~ o"'lai
du,y or have violated directly or indirectly ether by
acts OF commission omission the provisions OF any
law" . . ,.,., o.
Further on, Ny. johnson says that although ever
courtesy and facility Cs-ible WIS an0id"l VT lt')'c-
welt In the pursuit Of his inquiry. yet ~ ms op'hDh'
tho me hod and manner Of the Commissioners pro
trcdimg unwarr'uted. unfair. entirely cx PAT
and without precedent under American llsfl'itl"h''
some OF Mr. johnson, references 10 MI E0Je'cn a'r
Caustic and ihe postmaster intimatcs that the Com
missioner IS not consistent.
Adjourned.