Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-11-30
THE CIVIL SERVICE.
COMMISSIONER JOHNSTON REMOVED
By THE PRESIDENT.
j. VI. Porter, of Kentucky, Appointed to
FIJI the yscancy-C correspondence I'm
the Matter.

j. ii. Porter. Of Kentucky, Appointed to
Fi'i the vscancy-C y-Corrcspondence in
the Matter.
| WASHINGTON. ID. c.. November o.
AT the White House to-day the state
ment that Hon. George d. Johnston had
been removed as a Civil Service Commis-
sioner was officially confirmed. No ex-
pianation of the cause Of removal is
| given.
III mas been known that the resignation
OF Mr.. Johnston had been called for, and
when that was not forthcoming, the re-
moval followed.
! Later.-John II. Proctor, OF Kentucky,
has been appointed Civil Service Commls-
sioner TO succeed Mr.. Johnston, OF LOU
isiana.
Professor John ii. Proctor, the newly
sppointed member. of the Civil Service
March lS 1874. He was educated at the
noted academy at Maysvllle. and at home,
atterward completing his studies at the
! University Of Pennsylvania. He soldiered
| through the war with the Confederate
army In 1873, on the organization Of the
geological survey. he was appointed an
assistant ei and steadily advanced in posi-
| Ton until he was appointed chief Of the
department This position he held with
! great credit until this year
ar' johnston was appointed In July, lSt2.
His removal recalls the fact that Presi-
| dent Cleveland during his first administra-
ton removed a Democratic member of the
! commission, Mr.. Edgerton. The removal
was made upon the ground that Mr. Ed
| gerton was not in accord with the spirit
] OF civil-service reform.
THE ANNUAL REPORT.
| / eta tod hty I,
| congressman, who IS perfectly familiar
with the facts. that Mr.. Johnston filed
with the President minority report on
| the operations of the commission during
the last year, and took such radical views
| upon important questions, differing so
widely from those of the other members,
| that IL became practically impossible for
| the commission to continue as constituted.
| IL is stated that Mr.. Roosevelt made the
direct issue with the President and stated
| frankly and positively that either he or
| Mr.. Johnston must leave the commission,
and that, after examining into the facts
| in the case. the President decided that he
| could much better spare Mr.. Johnston
than Dir. Roosevelt, and therefore asked
| the former for his resignation. This, II Is
| said. Mr.. Johnston declined to give, and
| was at once informed by Mr. Cleveland
that either the resignation must be forth
| coming or he would be dismissed.
THE CORRESPONDENCE.
Mr.. Johnston feels that the removal Is
an imputation upon him, especially as no
| further explanation is made He feels
that II is due TO himself that the follow
| ing correspondence In the matter be made
| public:
EXECUTIVE MANSION, Nov. %, 1893.
Hon. George d. Jonnston
Dear Sir.-I am sorry TO hear through
| vour friends, Senator Caffrey and Mr..
Secretary Herbert, who conveyed to you
my request that you acquiesce in your
transfer from the Civil Service Commission
| to another post Of honorable duty, that you
decline the proposition and refuse TO re-
| sign your present position. am so GER
| tain that the public good requires a
change In the commission, involving your
! retirement, that / am constrained to re-
quest you to reconsider your decision ana
! put me in possession OF your resignation
as early as Monday afternoon, the 9th
| instant, at I O'Clock.
GROVER CLEVELAND.
To this Mr.. Johnston replied as follows:
U. s. CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION,
WASHINGTON, ID. c.. Nov. q, 1888
The President:
sir.-Your letter of the 26th instant is
received. Senator Caffrey and Mr.. Sec
u the consulship at Victoria, which
meant, of course. that you propose TO re-
tire me from the Civil Service Commits
sion. You. did not communicate to me
through these gentlemen your reaSons
for my retirement; nor have you ever
spoken to me in regard to this or slny
other matter connected with the discharge
of my duties, or relating to the cominls-
sion or its work. Though conscious or
having discharged the duties OF my office
faithfully, and. as i believe, in further
ance of the best interests of the people
and the government, j would promptly
acquiesce In your wish that resign had
Won given me an opportunity 10 be heard
before you decided upon your action. Un-
DIR present circumstances, however. II
cannot consistently with my sense OF
duty to myself or my, friends who , re,
commended my appointment, consent
either TO resign or accept g position IN
ferior TO the one now hold.
SaEspsStGifE"ybh GEpSRGE b. JOHNSTON.
SUMMARILY DISMISSED.
Upon receipt of this reply Mr.. Cleve-
land sent the following letter of REMOVAL
EXECUTIVE MANSION.
WASHINGTON. ID. c., Nov. q, 1893.
Hon. George d. Johnston:
Sir.-You are hereby removed from the
Office of the United States civil Service
Commissioner. Yours truly,
GROVER CLEVELAND.
Mr.. Johnston acknowledged the letter of
removal as follows
WASHINGTON, ID. c., Nov. S, 1898.
The President:
Sir,-Your note of this date informing
me that you have removed me from the
Office of United States Civil Service Com
missioner Is hereby acknowledged.
Respectfully, .>,
GEORGE ID. JOHNSTON.
MR.. JOHNsTON'S STATEMENT.
This correspondence states a part of
the story" said Mr.. Johnston. 81 would,
however add the following statement
which will suffice for the present;
II am lifelong Democrat, and have
been the advocate and friend of the Pres
ident, yet he decided upon my retirement
from the commission without ever giving
me a hearing. | have good reason 10 be-
lieve that he did this upon representa-
tions made to him directly by or through
certain Republicans, who were interested
i'm having me out of the COM
mission. The President made up
his mind, and could have made
up his mind only on these ex parte state
ments And yet he claims I'm his letter
20 be certain that the public good re-
auired a change in the commission in
yolving my retirement. Such treatment
of any officer of my rank, particularly OF
one belonging to his party, Is anomalous.
'It Is especially strange treatment OF
one who upon the recommendation or
many eminent and good men had been
charged with the high and sacred duties
of civil-service commissioner. could
not approve the annual report submitted
by my colleagues, and felt In duty bound
10 state my views in a minority report.
While this minority report had no part In
influencing the President in his decision,
that should retire from the commission
for he made up his mind TO do this before
he knew OF my purpose 10 submit the
minority report, IT may have precipitated
his action, as ] know he objected to
my making a report that was not IN
agreement with my colleagues. The public
win appreciate the principle which guided
me IN my official conduct as commission
er when they see and read my report
which was sent to the President with the
majority report on the 2ist instant
THE HAWAIIAN MIDDLE,