Evening star., 1897-05-29

obtained by such temporary preparation,
but rather the general average of the ap-
plicsnts- a teacher 1 know who had
taken the course in one of these schools
md had passed the examination and Sc
Jared al appointment boasted mat SfV
Tad accomplished IL.
Il wish to disclaim." said Captain Pratt.
that I am in any sense an advocate OF
what Is called tine -spoiis system. Dut
am opposed to a system nat disfranch!ses
the judgments of all government omc'a'S
r..suOrsfid.. for the work to be done 1
am convinced that any system winch
;nakss 1t impossible for the person respoh-
sIbie to have any voice I'm selecting the
employees who shall serve Under him Is
against the interests of tie service and OF
discipline
Captain Pratt said that during his long
expvrlence In the Indian service ne hao
meyer known as much unrest and dissat-
isfactton throughout the schools as now
Questioned by President Proctor.
President Proctor cross-examined Capt
Pratt for some time Mr.. Proctor said
he had been informed that SOME of the
figures quoted srlier in his statement had
been published in = garoled FORM Capt
Pratt denied this and said he had sub
mitted the reports to show that the hGures
were correct.
In answer to Mr.. Pro octer's question: how
ever Capt. Pratt said his figures o.
changes in the service included deaths.
designations and transfers. In TACT. every
separation from the service He also gave
the names of some employees certihed 10
him by the civil service commission ana
who had been found inefficient.
Mr. Proctor asked Capt. Pratt II he had
rot stated TO Commissioner Roosevelt at
one tirne that one of his objections TO the
civil service was that 1t would enable the
Catholics 10 control the service
Capt Pratt replied that he had said that
concentration would lead to the ability TO
erIabIe on" faction to get control of the
r1 i.,Sr sIIth
wished to send. He might have used the
word Catholic in that connection
Capt. Pratt said the system permitted
the concentration of poIiiica parties in the
service He had once received seven en-
ployeS and there was not a repuDhcdh
among them
Capt Pratt Rcprimnnded.
Mr. Proctor asked Capt. Pratt If Secre-
tary Francis of the Interior Department
had reprima nded him for not carrying out
the civil service law.
Capt Pratt in answer, read the letter of
secretary Francis. conveying the alleged
reprfmand. In 1t Secretary Francis said
that Capt. Pratt's published attacks upon
the governments Indian policy was in
subordnation. and that his criticisms upon
the civil service were not borne out by the
facts but that he himself had m.sused the
civil service law. Capt. Pratt was pro-
hibited from engag ging in further discussion
of the Indian policy or the civil service law.
Capt Pratt read his reply to that letter,
in which he said he had suffered at the
hands Of a person in the government serv-
ice inimical to him and courting an investi-
CATION.
HiII's Testimony COnfrndicted.
Mr.. Jones. who was first assistant post
master general under the last adu,ipItra-
zion. asked leave to refute some testimony
giyen by W. W. Hill at former hearing.
Mr.. Hill had told the committee that Gen.
Jones had reprimaEded him for making
charges against his superior officer, on
the ground that such action was an ex-
hibitIon of ingratitUde.
Mr.. Jones denied that this was true. He
had only required Mr.. Hill to wait and
prefer the charges in the personal pres
enCe of his superior. Mr. Jones had suhse-
quently found that tine charges were base
less. On the contrary he had found that
Hill had been conspiring with others. and
the conspirators Were removed from the
service.
AIr. Jones said the testimony given by
Superintendent Machan at the last hearing
correct and he would assume it as
his own.
The committee then adjourned until next
Saturday at 10 o'clock