Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-09-10
ARE TERMS OF DEPUTIES FIXED?
Tn. Colonel Insists that They Are'
while Congressman Wise Argues
That They Are Not-Matter Likely
to Get I'm the Courts.

per that Secretary Gage upheld Colone
Brady as far as the letter OF the law. was
concerned. but was much annoyed at IN
apparent violation Of the spirit Oh H. DC
cause IT seems to call in question the SIN
certify of his (Secretary Gage'0 own pro
LESSONS.
In the mean time the situation at I'M
| Richmond office has become famous
throughout the length and breadth OF TN
country. and Colonel Brady was found II
his room at Murphy's Hotel smiling dowr
upon a host of clippings from various
| newspapers commenting upon his actlon
! In discussing the matter he said he was
| astonished TO see how widely the mattel
1 was misunderstood. Said he: Il gave
this matter much thought before entering
| office. and had made up my mind as te
| my course before / went to the CIVIL
| Service Commission. I told them of my
| intentions. and had I not been sustained
my convictions as to the correctness OF
| my stand were so firm that l should have
| appealed to the department. However, /
explained the situation as i saw IL, ana
my view was endorsed unequivocally."
REASONS FOR HIS COURSE.
Colonel Brady has made such sweeping
statements as the above before. but yes
terday he went so far as TO explain the
grounds upon which he based his deduc-
tons.
He said he had held commissions under
four presidents. and was confident that
he was not mistaken as to the legality OF
l. Il, cot
collectors of internal revenue were allow
ed certain commission on all their col
lections. Trey employed their own depu-
ties and paid their salaries out of their
own pockets. Thus, a collector in a big
office. whose commissions might amount
TO $4,000, might appoint men to do the
work for 5000 or $4,000, and pocket $780,
900 or $4,000. At a later day the govern
ment fixed salaries for collectors and
made appropriations for the remunera-
ton of their deputies. The deputies were,
however. bonded to the collector and not
to the department and the collector was
held responsible for them. This law is
still in force. and deputies are under bond
to the collector. Colonel Brady added
that only Congress can change that law,
but until 1t is changed a collectors depu-
ties go out of office with him.
Is THE STATUTE EFFECTIVE?
In allusion to the argument with which
he has been met, that the law is faulty,
inasmuch as 1t would not apply in case a
collector died or was removed for cause,
in which event the office would become
imperative until a successor could be
appointed. Colonel Brady said that the
law provided for such an emergency,
and that in such a case the chief deputy
was empowered to act until an official
appointment was made.
The Collector said he was anxious that
the deputies removed by him from Of
flee should proceed against him. He
proposed to give them all the latitude
they wanted, although. by reason Of the
fact that his course had been endorsed
by the Secretary of the department and
the Civil-Service Commission, the bur-
den was removed from his shoulders
and the deputies would have TO wage
war against his superiors in office. He
even wished 1t had been otherwise, he
said, but he hoped the case would be
thoroughly ventilated in the courts.
THE ELIGIBLE LIST.
He denied positively the publication
in the Baltimore Sun article, which said
he would attempt to avoid the eligible
list which has been furnished him from
emergency appointments according to
law, because when he called for the
list only two pames were upon it, and
as 1t takes three names to constitute a
list proper under the statute, IL was
strictly within his province to ignore the
two names submitted TO him. He is pre-
pared, he says, to make his appoint
ments from the civil-service list as soon
as the deputies case against him is
settled. He will not make the appoint
ments at once. he added, because he
thinks it would probably complicate the
situation. The list has several Demo
Gratis and few Republicans, two of
whom are negroes, upon it,
1t Is said that a stronger motive ex-
lists for Colonel Brady's procrastination
in making permanent appointments. in
the forthcoming examination to be held
here under civil-service rules, of candi-
dates for all positions in the revenue
office. Colonel Brady's object is believed
to be to put off making his permanent
appointments until his emergency men
have passed the examination and had
their names added to the ciyil-serylce
list, when he will be able to reappoint
them. Upon this point Colonel Brady
was significantly silent, and color Is lent
to the suggestion by the fact that all
his acting deputies have made applica-
ton for admission to the examination.
and the time for filing applications has
been extended until next Monday. Colo
mel Brady mildly criticised Hon. George
ID. Wise, who is reputed to have said
mat neither Secretary Gage nor Mr..
wilson We're conversant with the civil |
service law, or words to that effect.
RESULT OF CAPTAIN WISE'S TRIP. |
Captain Wise has also returned from
MS trip 10 Washington, and thereby hangs |
tale. He represents the ousted depu- |
ties in their fight against Colonel Brady's |
summary proceedings, and is thoroughly |
convinced OF the righteousness of their |
cause. During his visit to the CAPITAL |
CITY ne saw both Mr.. Wilson and Secre- |
tary Gage. He was compelled to see |
them in the order named, because when |
he had stated his business he was told |
that he could not see the latter until he |
had seen the former Captain Wise |
stated that he was In Washington in the |
interest OF the ex-deputies to get a fair |
and just Interpretation OF the law from |
the heads OF the departments, and il this |
failed, he would carry the case to the |
courts, and give the American people
the privilege of knowing by what right |
these deputies were removed. Captain |
Wise took the ground that in the repeaI |
of the law of 1854 alluded 10 by Colonel /
Brady, which took place In 1888 clerks
and deputies were put under a new regu- |
lation, beyond the power of the Colec- |
tor He also asked why, IL the old |
statute was in operation still, had Mr..
Wilson sent his circular with an eligible
list to Richmond? But he was met with
an answer, vague, indefinite. and beside
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