New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-04-26
TIE BALTIMORE POST.OFFICE.

MT. wANAMAKER BEFORE THE HOUSE COM
MITTEE on REFORM IN THE CIVIL SERVICE.
Washington. April 25.-The House Committee on
Reform in the Civil Service today began It's Invest
CATION into the allegations that the Civil service law
has been viola' by the Federal officials at Bat
more. The resolution under which the COMMITTEES
Is proceeding recltes that Commission Roosevelt in
May. 1891, reported 10 the Civil Service Commission
that n number Of Federal Oiicc-hoders III BIltimore
took an active part IN the primary election there.
and. they admitted, violated the United States
Civil Service statutes; that the Commission recon-
mended TO the President the dismissal OF the guilty
officials and that the Civil Service Reform Ass)di-
ton Of Baltimore called attention TO tie fact that
no official action has been taken IN consequence.
Postmastcr-G General Wanamakcr the frt witness.
Chairman Andrew briefly reviewed the purpose Of
the investigation stating that twentyonc Of the en-
ployes found to have violated the law were In the
Baltimore post-oice. lie asked whether any OF
these persons still In Office or had been in
dicted.
The Postmaster G enerni replied that the persons
were all in the employ Of the Government, and none
he'd been indicted. Immediately after witness had
received the report Of the Civil Service Commits
sion the postmaster n, Baltimore had protested
against the proceedings, calling them stnrchnmDer
sttings Witness had thereupon ordered m mVc'-
gat!on by the pOstoicc Inspectors The Inspectors
had reported 1T Is our opinion that the facts d"
not justify the dismissal IF the twenty-onc EN-
ployes. any Of them, for violation oil inc
Civil Service laws as Charged Tae Inspectors
opinion sustained upon review by the Assistant
Attorney General for the Postofce Department ana
by other authorities The employees in the case dc
clared that they innocent Of any intent 10 Nio
late the law, and. as 10 some of them, dened tha'
they had violated the Law at all.
Mr.. Andrew wished TO know why the postmaster
had been rcprimanded.
The witness replied For allowing his men 10 oe
In the position Of making statements that coud DE
excepted to- II these men gave impression TO the
Civil Service Commissioners that could not be Vernen
under OATH that makes trouble for the COMMISSIONERS
Mr. Andrew read from Postmaster Johnsohs 'esu-
mony 70 the effect that he had TO parcel out the sAN
places in the unclass6ed service TO the diicreht warns
~ tbe city. lie asked the PostmastcrGencra con
corning further statements OF the postmaster u lc
effect that lie was acting for some one outside OF the
eorvice and that he had 10 control over the men
Mr. Wanamallcr said that he did not understand inc
postmaster to mean that, but TO mean ula' ue uie
would act for themselves politically. certainly lit
said no sane man woud give heavy Dohu iof N''
administration Of the posioice and not have the once
absolutely under his control.
Mr. Wanamaler made statement OF his oplniohS
IN regard TO- and his actions in the administration OF
ho civil Service law He considers himself the high
est tvpe of Civil Service ,refomer. ana nc had urea
govern the postOicc In accordance with the 'Ni set
vice laws 70 Mr.. Boatner. tie Postmastcr'"cher
soid that II the were engaged III asNHN'hs cav"
other or In coercng votes, these actions were ccraH
,do,otons OF the law but the men denied that 'he>
| had done So Mr.. wanamahcr said the t"chty-oh'
accused men had obtained the opinion of an attorney
!, baltimore 10 the effect that the election In con
nocton with which the charges OF violation OF INV
,ore made was not such election III inc coh'cu
,ation of the statutes, they were foTbiddeh 10 Par
u,ipate in The Assistant Attorney General ior '''
had
Mr. Andrew asked the Postmaster General II an EN-
Move who had made one statement In Apni ana an
other at subsequent time. contradcung noSSu n
~ CORNER Statements ought to be retained IN once;
Mr. Wanamaker called attention to the iao1 ,na, ,
nineteen of the cOntended that they dlu nue ~,
The words attributed TO them lie wona not vi ", a.
dishonest man in his employ. but he rcieiTen u t'
CT that man light say that he had done Somcthh-
and had told another person through fear lia' ne n
not lie admitted that he Ind not read an lls cNl
dence taken by the INSPECTOR but ne vas sa'isnV
,ba tho inspectors were ntegent,and abic men; an,
that they gave proper attention ~ the WORK asss"o
them. ,,.,.o.,. ox,rinotion ant
The committee adjourned until next Monday'