The morning times., 1895-10-13
LAYTON MiY Be LIABLE.
How Far Do Clerk Bakers Opera
tiOns Involve Him?
REAL QUESTION AT ISSUE
Civil Service mmissioner Rtce's
Guarded Replies when ipterro-
gated With Reference TO the Matter.
Would Gladly Investigate a Charge
II Substantiated.

The Civil Service Commission, is busy.
II has fifty-three thousand places for any
one of which il may he asked TO supply
competent workman at any moment To
meet this requirement il holds many exam
nations which are conducted with great
care and considerable red tape. A separate
organization TO look after complaints Of
violations of the civil service law would
be welcomed 10y at least one OF the Com
niissiuncrs as a relief from burdensome
duties.
CoNGRESsM N AN LAYTON'S CLERK.
Mr. r. L. Baker, whose operations among
government employees here were first
brought to light by The Times, continues
triunphanCly TO collect money to help
Campbell III his fight for the governor
ship of Ohio. He even says, il is reported.
that he has the action of no less person
than President Cleveland as a guide in
what he is doing. Curiousiy enough the
particular thing he mentions. as having
been done by tue President. is that he con-
tributed of h is own means To the Democratic
campaign fund.
What Mr. Baker giories in doing is by
solicitation through letters aud otherwise
10 induce government employees. whose live
lihood may depend on Congressman Layton's
paign fund. Probably every one, ex-
cept Mr.. Baker. who thinks about it viii
see at once that il President Cleveland
should engage in such so licitation he
would be liable 10 fine and imprisonment.
LAYTON AND BAKER BOTH SAFE.
Bat both Mr. Baker and Mr.. Layton are
safe so far as interference by the Civil
Service Commission is concerned. If some
one can substantiate a charge which, under
the law, might land Mr.. Layton in the peni-
ientiary the commission is ready to inyeS-
tigate the charge. What purpose the in
vestiga.ion would have after the charge
was substantiated and ready for the grand
jury is not clear; but that all that could
be promised at the commission yesterday
afternoon.
a Times reporter who called on the com
missoners yesterday afternoon found only
Commissioner Rice present. President
Proctor is absent on leave, bat is expected
here next week. The reporter put ques-
ton iiirli might have been ans wered yes
or no." as follows:
''If il shah be stated to the commission
that Mr. Baker. Congressman Layton s clerk,
mas said Mr.. Layton is connected with the
solicitation of political subscriptions from
government employees. viii the commission
investigate the case?"
The commission" answered Mr.. Rice,
will investigate any substantiated charge
of violation OF the civil service act"
The reporter called Mr.. Rice's attention to
the fact that a substantiated charge would
scarcely need investigation Mr.. Rice then
revised his answer to say:
The commission will investigate any
charge of violation of the civil service act
which is subStantiated by the name of the
person who prefers the charge"
III this statement" then asked the re-
porter. should come before the commits
sion in n newspaper report of an interview
with Mr.. Ba ker, would the commission make
inquiry into the piatterg"
STILL A LITTLE SHY.
speaking for myself" was the COM
missioner's reply, Il shall be glad to
favor inquiry into any charge of violation
of the civil service law contained in a
newspaper report, il the person present
ing such charge to the commission is willing
to subStantiate il with his name"
OF course. few men go about seeking
quarrel, least of all with a man of Congress
man Laytol's prominence Before making
4 charge before the commission against
Congressman Layton, any prudent man
would, himself, investigate the case more
fully than would be absolutely necessary
to bring the matter to the attention Of
the grand jury. 1t would be OF no use
then to take the evidence TO the con--
mission. 1t is improbable that any gov
ernmcnt clerk or employe now in office
would not prefer TO pay s. or even $40
expected of him, rather than to 60 to
all this trouble. Especially is this true
when the payment of the money probably
assures him of the good will of Democratic
Congressman to hold him in place, while
the inquiry and charge would subject him
TO bitter hostility from Congressman Lay
ton James SeIden Cowden is no longer
a government clerk.
The Civil Service Commission burned
its fingers in the Presidential fire in the
case of Recorder Taylor: it is not baby
enough to risk them again by investigating
Congressman Layton.
Mr. Baker is reported to have made
great point of the fact that he has not sent
letters collecting contributions to the Gov
ernnicnt Printing Office for delivery. Mr..
Baker knocks down his own man of straw.
He is not charged with sending letters to
the printing office. He is not charged
with violating the civil service law. He
is charged with collecting political con-
tributions under the weighty influence
Of Congressman Layton's name and with
saying Mr.. Layton knows all about what
he is doing.
Mr.. Layton is not closely enough con-
nected with Mr.. Bakers WORK to make him
liable under sections II and 10 of the
Civil Service Act approved January 16.