The sun., 1893-06-08
LIVE WASHINGTON TOPICS.
INTERESTING CASE BEFORE THE cIrIL
SERVICE COMMISSION.

intinr the Law, Discharged for 1nsuhor-
dination-Trentcd ns n Dangerous Crank
Mt the White House, He Appen TO the
Civil Service Commission for Redress.
WASHINGTON. Juno THE Civil Service
Commission has an important question before
it. involving the right OF n Cabinet officer to
dismiss Government clerk in the classified
service on the general charge OF 'insubord-
nation Tho facts in this case are very in
terestng. w. s. Bransom. 5000 clerk in tho
Post ONCE Department. recently sent a com
municatiOn to Postmaster-General Bisscll
calling his attention to the fact that tho then
Third Assistant Postmastcr- General. A. d.
Hazen. had violated the law in accepting from
the clerks under him gift OF silver
on his wedding anniversary. Mr.. Bransom
pointed out to the Postmaster General that it
was his plain duty under the law to dismiss
Mr.. Iazen. Before Gen. Bissell had replied TO
this communication Mr.. Hazen had resigned.
Mr.. Brausom promptly callod upon tho POST
master General and urged him to dismiss tho
official instead OF accepting his resignation.
His advice was not taken. and Mr.. HaZen was
allowed to resign. Then the persistent Mr..
Bransom went to the United States Attorney
for the District OF Columbia and endeavored
to have suit brought against Postmaster Com
cral BIssell for violation of the law. Not being
able to do this. he permitted tho matter to
drop temporarily.
Yesterday Postmaster eneral Bisscll. upon
his return from Buffalo. ordered the dismissal
Of MIR. Bransom. The discharged clerk re-
ceived tho notice Just before the close OF bus!-
moss hours yesterday. and this morning he
called on tho Postmaster-General FOR an cN-
planation. He was promptly informed that
he was dismissed for "insu bordination." Tho
Postma ster-G eneral refused to listen to any
explanations. and bowed Mr.. Bransontout OF
his office. with the statement that he know all
about the case. and the dismissal was irrov-
ocable Mr. Bransom then decided to
bring his case to the attention Of tho
President. He went to the White House,
and on presenting his card to the nshor
ut the main door very much
surprised to find himself placed In charge Of a
sergeant OF police. who told him that he was
under arrest as crank who had threatened
bodily harm against the Postmaster 6 GcneraL
Tho prisoner was taken to q private room
and examined by tho officer. with the
result that the order for his arrest
lsliceman aec"mpan MED Mr. BraHsom to Mr.
he saed to Ss prate tha he
simply desired the opportunity OF explaining
to he the Sss IL his and A.
pot ne SLIGHTEST toundation for such q charge:
M to setos on the the rFIsaSna saSna
.ha ha he Il resdsst ss ,he ned s,stss
could not In any way interfere with the action
q ths s % M
Civi Service law My. Thurber added that the
Civil Service Commission has complete and
entire jurisdiction in such cases. and that 1t is
their business to see. that Government en-
RRoyess are II their rights NJ
statements were saomitted in writing; they
The 0 Gommssiol. % o 0sS Mr. Brsnsom vii turnish
The written statement OF his case to MIR. Roose-
Mr.. Branfom claims that he has not at any
time been insubordinate. but that there are
political reas N onf for his discharge he being
erat. whose views have not been agreeable to
ment. me T lie denies that no ia il in fu any sense sense,
crank or that he ever made threats OF bodily
the troatment which he received at the White
House this morning. and is at loss to
notified In advance TO be on their guard
AGAINST him as a dangerous crank, He is a
III treated. and who intends 10 obtain justice
Il there Is any Law under which he can do so:
the the tsssn T tho OBJ % the
in the case Of Pulaski. the letter carrior to tho
effect that a man cannot ne discharged from
tho civil service unless Tor bona Tide cause. en-
eourages Mr.. Eransom to believe that the
Postmaster-General will be compelled to
Justify his action In legal way or else restore
him to duty.
Representative Tracey of Albany called Mt
the White House to-day and had talk with
the President about the Federal appointments
in his district. He was accompanied by Editor !
Chamber lin OF the Albany .Arg7,s. who is also |
Tie result Of their interview VI wi Is ' deeply ocEei s
In the breast OF the ardent antl.snappcr. 1,
ment. where they ca led upon Secretary Carlisle
and Assistant Secretary Curtis. Mr. Tracey ,
tered Secretary Carlls!e's Office he had in his I
hand large bundle OF Rapers. which he said |
constituents. He suggested that he would .
Ike to make personal explanation in eornec- |
vas % ysiby aected by this
and he looked as though no might make al
most most any sasriiice rather than go through
inmate later. when Mr. Tracey .laughngly in
formed him that tn" unpers had nothing to do
20 NY his respecls. lie then in,roluc Idi-
tor Chsmberlin and at,r exchanging fow
Withdrew. laughing at the Joke he had played
on secretary Carlisle
Some uncertainty surrounds the action OF
the President and the members OF the Cabinet
with regard to ,he invitations rendered them
to attend tho launching OF the battle ship Mas
sach usetts at PhilGdelphin next Saturday.
Secretary Herbert will attend, and it Is likely
that he will be accomranl-t by Attorney Gen
e:al Olpey, the repre,cntaiive IN the Cabinet
Of the State after which The vessel j. named. !
but nothing definite Is known Of the ntoutons
of their official associates. The President has
not made up his mind The early hour at
which the Washington party will leave this
city, o'clock SATURDAY morning-may out
weigh other considerations and cause the
President to decline the invitation.
To properly comply with the order OF Secre-
tary Hoko Smith Of May ~ 1893. revok!ng
Order lU4. and directing tho Commissioner to
have an examination made 10 determine
what pensions have heretofore been allowed
under section OF the act. approved June n.
1850. In disregard Of the terms OF said act.
md in conflict with the ruling Of this derert-
ment in the caso OF Charles +. Bennett Com
missioner Lochren today organized u Board
oi Revision. cons sting OF tweniy-threo mon.
VINO have been selortcd with special reference
to their iltness ior ;he place. The duties OF
The ioari ol Revision will he to draw from the
Ldmifted files. as rapidly as may he practi-
NI