The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-10-16
Pushed Through Congress with the View
of Making Fat Places for the Faith
full and Getting Rid OF Republicans.
SOLDIERS THE SUFFERERS
Cruel Injustice Done Many Dis
abled Defenders Of the Nation.
Spirit Of the Civil Service Act and the
Law Giving Preference to Veterans of
War Violated by the Administration.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1.-THE bill carried
through Congress under the leadership Of
Alexander Monroe Dockery, Of Missouri, un-
der the plausible plea of economy, dispensed
with the services Of $50 clerks. by abolish
ing several important bureaus in the Treas
ury Department and radically changing the
business methods which have prevailed
there with marked success and security to
the public treasury since the days Of Alex
ander Hamilton. Among other criticisms
offered in oppositi ton to this measure it
urged that it was cruel in the present state
OF unexampled business depression to leg
islate out of office many employees many
Of whom were disabled from other than
clerical occupation by wounds and diseases
contracted In the military and naval serv-
ice of the government, and thus augment
the great body Of the unemployed and suf-
fering. To this it was answered that
meritorious and deserving clerks should suf
fer in the changes to be inaugurated under
the Dockery law; that the Secretary of the
Treasury was reserving the vacancies that
occurred from time to time n the depart
ment. SO that when the law went into effect
nearly all, If not all, would be provided
for.
The so-called Dockery law went into ef-
feet on the first of the present month, and
1t is important to note just how the old
soldiers and the Republican officials and
clerks have Jared under the changes and
transfers that have taken place. Every
one Of the Democratic officials and chiefs
of division who were legislated out of of
fee Gn the offices of Second Controller and
Commissioner of Customs which were abol-
ished by the Dockery law, and in the Of
fees of First Controller and Register. which
were greatly reduced in clerical work. have
been given places equally as good, and in
many cases better, in other bureaus, where
old and experienced and valuable officials
were dismissed in order to make places to
be filed by these favored ones. In the
transfers of the clerical force under the
new law no Democratic clerk has suffered:
every one has been provided with place
at a salary equal to that he was drawing
before the change, and in many cases. in
deed most cases, they have received pro-
motion. some of them very marked, as from
1900 to 5000, from $1,400 or s1.e00 to 5000,
f~em sl.4OO and $1,000 TO $500. and so on.
But with the old clerks, nearly all soldiers,
and who are supposed to be Republicans,
the reverse has invariably taken place.
Many of them, who, after long years of
noted to 81. 800 places, which they were fill
ing with ability and entire satisfaction,
have been cut down to $l,2O0, from $1,000
to s1.OO0 from 81 400 and $1,000 to 5000; and
what is still worse, most of them so re-
duced in salary without any just cause or
excuse have been placed upon what is
termed the temporary roll This roll is paid
from lump appropriation of $4,000, pro-
vided by the Dockery law, to pay for clerks
necessary TO bring up the work in arrears;
ana as soon as IL eXnaus,ed when me Il9st
borne upon this roll must go, because there
are no places for them.
The misfortune which has befallen these
clerks is cruel and without the slightest
foundation in justice. AS rule. they were
more valuable than their more favored
Democratic associates, because of longer
experience and training In the public serv-
ice. and no one can truthfully assert that
they were not In every respect capable, ef-
charge of their duties. Certainly such ia
voritism is repugnant to the spirit of civil
service reform, of which President Cleve-
land has been SO pronounced an advocate.
Furthermore. nearly all of the men SO re-
duced and put upon the temporary roll are
ex-soldiers and such action, If it does not
violate the letter. aSSuredly violates the
spirit of Section 1754 OF the Revised Stat
utes of the United States which requires
that preference snail be given In appoint
the government to honorably discharged
soldiers and sailors.
While the wages of the workingmen have
been cut down to the lowest pittance by the
hard times brought a.bout by so-called
tariff-reform legislation, and thousands are
out of employment or the means of earn
ing a livelihood, and under the operation
of the Dockery law, as shown, hard lines
have fallen to many gallant and meritori-
Gus ex-solderS who were rendering valua-
BILE and faithful service, this same Dock
cry law has given a handsome increase in
the salaries of many of the Democratic
he froo For r1,rte oh
of the six auditors have their pay increased
from $3.50 to $1,000 per annum, each of the
deputy auditors from $2,250 to $3.50; the
Controller of the Treasury from 5000 to
$500 per annum, and he is provided an
assistant at 5000 per anuum, instead of a
deputy at $500, as heretofore; also. a chief
clerk at s2,750 per annum, a chief law clerk
at $50 and seven law clerks (two at 81 100
per annum and five at 5000 per annum),
making an aggregate of s19,700 per annum.
against four chiefs of division at 81. 100 per
annum. aggregating $500 under the old
law. These facts should be placed before
the people, especially the old soldiers, be-
fore the coming elections in November.