The times., 1897-09-20
FOUND A JOB FOR ANOTHER
Captain Semans Discovered a
Sinecure, But Didn't Get 1t.
HOW MIR. SIBERIAN USED A TIP
Secretary of State Unaware the
Office of Editor of Laws Existed
Until Semans Applied for 1t, Then
He Appointed fus Son-ln-Law to
Fill the Position.

All interesting story has Just leaked out,
and it illustrates that the ofriceseeker
can never DE sure Of his JOB until he has
been swcrn III.
Shortly after the November election Of
East year capt. EdwardT. Semans, a prom
inent New York Republican, thought he
would Ike to have something good under
the incoming Administration. After HOOK.
ing the field over he concluded that the
office of editor OF the laws State De
partment, would suit MIN. 1t paid salary
of S3O00per annum. The editor is his own
boss; he comes and goes at VIII. The only
time he is really busy is during the wind
up of session of Congress. THIS office
the captain wanted. He was indorsed Tor
the position by the New York legislature,
the supreme court of the State, the county
judge, and others. The captains friends
thought he had cinch and that when
the new Administration was installed all
he would have TO do would be to present
his application and get the appointment.
On March he called at the State De
partment and saw Secretary Sherman, with
whom he ad an interview. The Secre-
tary seemed somewhat surprised To learn
that there was such an office in his de-
partment. If there was such an office,
it was under civil service. Capt. Semans
assured the Secretary that the office was
there, and that Harry Bryan, a Democrat.
was bCIdiug it, and that the office was
not under the civil service.
Well said the Secretary. get me
some additional information on the sub
ject. l am not quite satisfied
In a few days the captain returned to
the department and had another interview
with the Secretary. He urged that he be
appointed 10 tue office, as he " as ti.e only
applicant. The Secretary put him Off with
an excuse, and told him 10 come back on
Friday The captain did so. He did not
see the Secretary, but he saw the CHEZ
clerk, who informed him that the Secretary
had just appointed his son-in-Iaw, Mr.
james l. MCCallum. OF course the captain
was sore.
After thinking of the treatment he had
received he determined to lay the matter
before the Preside mt. Accordingly he wrote
the following spicy letter To the Presi-
dent, who, as is usual in such cases,
ack now lodged its receipt. stating that he
had referred the letter to the Civil Ser
vice Commission for reply, which up to date
Capt SrInaas has not received,
Washington. d. c., April 20, 1897.
Hon. William Mckinley, President OF the
United States, Washington, D. c.
Sir: l have the honor to address you
this communication for the purpose of plac-
ing before you some facts relative To the
official conduct OF Hon John K. Pr0cter,
president Of tn Board OF civil Service Com
miSsioners, which, IL is believed. is OF such
q character as TO justify my action.
About January /, 1897, 1 decided to
make application for appointment TO the
position known as Editor OF the Laws, -
Department of State.
Ia consulting with friends / was ad-
yised that according to a report made
TO the Congress by the Civil Service Com
mission, in response TO a House Iesolu-
ton, that il appeared that this Particular
position was regarded as being within the
tive, extending the civil service.
L thereupOn addressed a note to Mr.
John 7. Doyle, secretary Of the commits
sion, asking whether said position was, or
was not, within the classified service. Mr.
Doyle declined TO answer my inquiry in
person and referred my letter to the board
for reply.
Under date of January Is, 1897, I re-
ceived the following reply, To wit:
Mr. l. Aft I
ington, ID. c.
Sir: In reply TO your letter of the IIth
| Instant You are informed that the posi-
| tion OF Editor of Law s. in the State De
partment is classified. 4 vacancy III this
| position, il not filled by reinstatement,
| transfer, promotion or reduction, WOuiG
| be filled as result OF special eXamina-
| tloni IN accordance With the stat teInenJS
made III the Inclosed circular Very re-
| spectfully, JOHN K. PROCTER,
President.
Upon receipt of this letter 1 ceased to
| push my application until about February
l, when l was advised that in all proba-
/ bility something would be done TO amend
| or modify the scope and effect OF the
| executive orders 70 which have referred
| But it was then too late for me to secure
| much valuable support that l could have
| secured earlier, and when l filed my ap-
| plication, March Is, 1897, my Endorsements
were not as strong as | would have made
them had 1 been told the truth by the
| Civil Service Commission, for, as sub
| seQuent developments proved, the position
was not within the classified service, never
| had been, and never could be.
| 1t is proper 10 state that my application
| was the first formal one ever filed for
| this position, as | have been creditahly in
| formed, and upon the request or Secretary
| Sherman l procured the authority of law
| upon which was based the creation Of the
said position, and which is found in sec
| which, according to my Interpretation OF
the statute, is, to say ths least, d question
] tionable authority. The lat Dor is per
| formed under a special contract with the
| Secretary of State, and is only legaIiZed
| by an appropriation by the Congress at
! the close of each session to pay for the
j work 1t is not, therefore, sucn position
as could be properly regarded as being
| within the authority of the Executive
to control by virtue OF the authority
vested in him by the provisions OF thu
| ''civtl service act, SO called.
l contend that the action OF Mr.. Proctor
in stating to me, over his official sigma
| ture, that the position was within tht
| classified service, when, if ne knew any
! thing at all it, he must have known
| that such position was not amenable t
classification under any law-was such az
| ton as might properly be regarded as Suf
ficient to diSqualify him for the duties
OF the office he holds.
The other points involved IN this some
| what remarkable transaction are such n
would more properly come before the Sen
| ate Committee to Investigate the Civi
| Service, and l viii not tax your tim,