Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-26
STRIKES BACK VIGOROUSLY
Civil Service Commissioner Roosevelt Re-
plies to Congressional Assertions.
DenOunces Many Statements as Utter
~ False-The LAW Treats All With
Equal ImpartiaHty.

Civil Service Commissioner Roosevelt Is
getting back at the Congressman who abus-
ed his commission in the House this week.
He has written a letter to Chairman DE
Forest of the committee on reform in the
civil service, in which he replies to attacks
on the commission made by Congressman
Pendleton of West Virginia. Enloe of Ten
nessee and Stockdale and Williams of Mis-
sissippi during the recent debate in the
House. Mr.. Pendleton Is quoted as saying
that the commission is so organized that
only the members of one political party
have any opportunity of standing fair
examination and Mr.. Enloe, in the same
connection, that he understood that nearly
all the clerical force connected with the
commission are republicans. and that they
mark the papers and pass upon the exami-
nation of candidates.
Mr. Roosevelt denounces the charges In
these statements as unqualifedly untrue,
and challenges the production or particle
Of proof in their support. he says: Il sus-
gest that the committee hold an investlga-
charge, and / shall be delighted to have
only democratic members take part in the
investigation on this particular point, ana
suggest that you call before you only the
democratic president of the commission ana
the democratic subordnates of the commits
sion.
OF the male clerks and examiners at pres
ent with the commission, including both the
commissions own force and the detailed
force, twelve are democrats, sixteen are re-
rublicans, two independents. three prohi-
tionsts and one populist
Mr.. Roosevelt points out that the commits
sion is powerless to determine the political
complexion of the examining board, as most
of its examiners are detailed to it from the
departments
''As a matter Of fact" he says. sin not
one single instance has the commission or
its board Of examiners ever Disseminated
for or against an eligible because of his
political or religious opinions or affiliations,
and any statement to the contrary is a
deliberate and willful untruth."
He says he would like to meet the COM
mittee and any member of Congress making
the accusations, and challenges the pro-
duction of proof in support OF the charges
made in the House last week. Commission
er Roosevelt denounces as wholly and alb
soiutely untrue" the statement attributed
TO Mr. Stockdale, that the law for appor-
tloning employees among the several states
ana territories according to populati Is be-
ing violated, and that the commission con-
Sents 10 It's violation. He challenges Mr.
Stockdale to appear before the civil service
committee. face to face with the commits
sioners, and prove his assertions. 'If,"
Mr. roosevelt says, he had listened to the
speech OF Congressman Grain of Texas or
70 lhat OF Congressman De Forest of Con-
hecticut, ne would have been saved from
lilaking assertions for which there is not a
particle of foundation in fact"
Congressman Williams of Mississippi at.
lacked the commission in substance he
cause Chder the commission white men and
men OF color are treated with exact impar
tlaiity. As to this Mr.. Roosevelt saws the
commission does equal and exact Justice To
an; that 1t will not make and so far as n
iies IN It's power will refuse to allow others
TO make. any discrimination whatever ON
a s,eS,9, OF color any more than because of
pontics and religion. Concluding, he saws:
ofoer the last administration II was
made reproach to us that we did full and
ehure justice to the southern democrats
ana that through our examinations many
hundreds of them entered the classified
service. although under a republican ad-
mihistration. Exactly in the SAM. way IL
is now made reproach to us that under
our examinations honest and capable col
ored men are given an even chance with
honest and capable white men, I esteem
this reproach high compliment 10 the
commission, for 1t is an admission that the
commission has rigidly done it's duty. as
required by law. without regard to politics
or religion. and without regard to color"