New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-05-16
THE TERRE HAUTE POSTOFFICE
CIVIL SERVICE LAW DEFIED By INDIANA
SPOILSMEN
DIsGRACEFUL MEANS USED TO SEIZE THE
OFFICE SAID TO HAVE BEEN UPHELD BY
THE ADMINIsTRATIoN-DECEI
REEORNERs
fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.


| Indianapolis, May 1j.-Lucius B. Swift and
William Dudley Foul!se, the moving spirits in the
India "a Civil Service Reform Association, have made
an investigation of the dsgraceful proceedings in
the Terre Haute postofiice where Dcnham, the
Democratic appontee, attempted TO secure pos
session before the postoffice could be made sub
iect to the Civil Service eligible list. Swift and
Foulke have made report to the President and
Postmaster General which, for the present, they
decline TO give out The last paragraph, how
ever. is as follows:
We feel that the Civil Service law is on trial
in this Office The law should be in the hands Of
those who respect it and who will give it an
honorable and fair enforcement In this Gaze it
is in the hands Of an officer who not only does
not respect il, but who is its open ana avOwe1
enemy. The opportunities for evasion and nulli.
ication in the hands of such a man are too well
known to need statement here.
Mr.. Swift to-day made the following statement
50 There is question but that a conspiracy was
formed weeks ago by gang of political buccaneers,
who claim to be Democrats to get possession OF
the Tcrre IIaute postoce and fill it up with their
own and cheat the Civil Service law. John
Lamb and Crawford Fairbanks were concerned in
this conspiracy. Money was offered to Postmaster
Greiner if he would resign, and he at the same
time given to understand that if he refused SEN
satona charges would be made against MIN.
Hr..y as fast as they could, the Civil Service en-
an .tion likely to ovcrtalie them before
they could get the change made. Charges which
had no foundation and which there was no AT
tempt TO prove, were made against the local eX-
amnng board and week was gained by secur
ing postponement Of the examination. In this,
Senator Voorhees, was engaged. That fixed it for
last Saturday, and the commission TO the new
postmaster did not arrive until last Friday.
He undertook to take possession at once by force,
and afterward disobeyed the order Of the Depart
ment at Washington directing him to wait until
Saturday night. The keys and the office were
not turned over to him until Saturday night and
until after the examination had been held. On
Friday he caused to be delivered to every emplOye
of the office, except three, notice of dismissal
from the service and on Saturday morning he
made an Intellectual attempt to keep them out of
the office by force. Although we had seen plenty
of absolute dismissas in writing and signed by
him, yet yesterday he told Mr.. Foulke and myself
that he had only dismissed two men.
THE motive of these operations was confessed
on every hand. From the beginning the openly
announced object of ali engaged in this business
was to fill up the Office with their men and get
ahead of the Civil Service law. This was not
denied up to the last moment, and is not now.
Cc Saturday night Postmaster Denham said to the
registry and money-Order clerks:
Il interpret This law under the cd spoils sys-
tenn. 10 the victors belong the Sports ~
would not be treating Mr. Brophy and Mr.. Mes
sick Successors Of these Glerlxsl right, WIN haze
stood shoulder to shoulder with me through the
last campaign not to give them places Denham
was chairman Of his party county committee.
Yesterday afternoon in the interview with Mr.
Foulke and me, he said frankly that they felt
that if they could get possession of the Office
before the examination, they could make these
changes, and that the reason why they were
in such hurry. lie further said that every
one Of the men he had appointed was his friend,
and he was very anxious to get them IN; also,
thar he was opposed to the Civil Service law and
wanted to avoid the effect of il. This is a fine
specimen of an officer to have charge of the
execution Of the Civil Service law. lie is tine
plant tool of Voorhees, and Lamb, and absolutely
under their control and directions. IN the couisc
Of these operations the law and the regulations
have been shameleSsly cheated, swindled and
violated. The Administration will soon bt iE
possession of all the facts. There is question
about the people of Tcrre IIaute. They do not
approve of this voorhees, onslaught upon the
Civil Service law. Once more President Cev" |
land will have to decide between a group Of the |
most vicious politicians and the people. lie vii!
not be in ignorance of the facts was repe tedly |
told In Terre liauc by Democratic citizens that |
if the President would strengthen himself in the
estimation Of the people there he had never |
done before all he has to do is to choke off this
gang.
civil Service Commissioner Johnston will have |
TO bear his share of the responsibility for this |
transaction. His attitude since he has been upon |
the Commission has been such to encourage this |
kind of assaults upon the law. lie does not rep |
resent the cause of Civil Service Reform, nor even |
the proper administration of the merit system. |
lie must recognize this, and if he is an honorable
man, he will get off from the Commission and |
give place to such Democrat as John f. An
drews."
dispatch from Terre IIaute late this afternoon |
from Senator VOORHEES, TO John Il. Lamb, whose |
creature Denham Is, SAYS the Postmaster-General |
approves Denham's course. The Reformers are |
much dsheartened, having supported Cleveland
upon this issue.