Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1892-05-13
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
House Committee Resumes the Investigation Of
It's Workings.

WASHINGTON, MAY l2-rhc House com
mittee on reform in the civil service today,
resumed the investigation of the charges
| that certain federal employees in Baltimore
violated the civil service law without incur
ring punishment. Postmaster-General Wan
amaker appeared bringing report of the
postoffice inspectors, giving the result of
their investigation into the Baltimore post
office. He said he desired to correct his
former testimony, to say that he regarded
the question presented to him single
question, not IA small question, referring
to a question of yeracity, which, of course,
he did not SO characterize, and he had been
informed that +. c. Perrine recommended
for removal, never testified before the com
mission.
He also desired to say that in view of
comment upon the time elapsed between
the investigation and dcnials of the en-
ployes. that more than four months elapsed
after the commissions investigation, before
the report reached the President, so the
men had no opportunity to make an earlier
answer to the charges. The postmaster
general said II had no disposition to
defend these men, but there were com
plants arising. | cannot personally inyes-
tigate these cases. turn them over to the
proper officers and must be governed by
their reports"
Boatner--lt appears that these parties
were before the commission authorized to
make this investigation. They admitted
their guilt and the postmaster whose duty
it was under the law to dismiss these men,
because of their confessed violation of the
law, took no action when the matter came
to you and instead of acting upon the con-
fessiOn of the parties you instituted another
investigation for the purpose of enabling
these people to deny what they had already
admitted.
The postmaster general moved a haud in
remonstrance while Boatner was putting this
question and then replied II respectfully
protest against the statement that the in
vestigation was instituted for the purpose of
having these men deny. It's not the truth" D."
Rines requested the postmaster-gencral
to be permitted to read a statement that he
prepared; but Boatner insisted that the
committee wanted light upon the point lac
suggested. The postmastc-geucral had sent
two inspectors to re-investigate the matter
and, acting upon their report, declined to
dismiss the men. The postmaster had adj
mitted that the men confessed their guilt
and to exculpate himself said he was not
responsible for it and now, said he, wish
to know why his department ignored the
recommendations of the commission and
accepted the statements of these men. made
in exoneration of themselves as having
greater weight than the statements incul-
pating themselves.
Raines protested against this construc-
ton and he and Boatner had some words
upon points that the latter insisted on. The
postmaster general remarked that he had
no information on the subject that he was
not willing and anxious to lay before the
commission ''but it is not true" said he,
THAT any attempt made to shield
these men or any unsual course had been
pursued" He read from the report of the
commission, Mr.. Ro0seveit's suggestion that
the law be amended to permit persons ac-
cused to defend themselves; and added
that the policy of the department had been
to give verybody a hearing. When these
men said they had been wrongfully ac-
cused from political motive, with view
to preventing them from exercising the
right to vote. there was nothing else to be
done. in fairness. than to give these men
the opportunity to be heard The testi-
mony when received was carefully exam
ined and cannot feel there have been any
mistakes.
Brawley asked why employees did not
apply to the civil service commission for a
rehearing. The postmaster general did not
know.
Wike-You did not refer them to the
commission for rchearing:
Postmaster -general-No; they came to
me AS a superior officer. The question had
been transferred from the civil service com
mission, and it seemed to be my duty to
hear them. After replying to many more
questions the postmaster general read the
report of the postofiice inspectors, which as
serts that there is no proper material in the
investigation of the civil service commits
sion upon which to base recommendation
for the dismissal or severe criticisms, and
the investigation is unfair, and partial in the
extreme.