The evening times., 1897-07-03
AN AGED COPYIST'S STORY
Mr.. Wines, Formerly of the Geo
logical Survey, Testlfies That He
Was Removed In Violation of Law.
Experience of Mr.. Donovan in the
Government Printing Office.

The hearing of testimony was resumed
tlds morning with Peter c. Balm on the
stand in conclusion OF the evidence begun
last Saturday. When the examination
closed at that time MI. Bain had reached
the story of his own grievances. This
nlpning he recited his war record and
showed from documentary proof that he
had served with distinction. He claimed
that, being an old soldier, he was entitled
under the law TO reinstatement.
HIS record in the Bureau OF Engraving
and Printing was good. When he was dis
charged as superintendent or one oil the
divisions he suggested 10 Chief Johnson that
inasrnuC-h as there Were no charges against
hun he should be allowed to fall back into
theplace from which he had been proIuoted.
Chief johnson, witness said, replied that
this would be equivalentto the appointment
of a Republican and he could not do it,
Mr.. Ran put in evidence a letter from
johnson testifying to his satisfactory
service as a workmanin the Bureau. Wit
ness said the number of eX-Union soldiers
amounted 10 about twenty AL Republicans,
whose places were filled with Democrats.
Men had been appointed on the laborers'
roll and then advanced as machinists with
increased pay without examination.
Mr.. Bain held that the claim maie 10y
the Civil Service Commission that the work
OF the Bureau OF ngraving and Printing
was increased 10y civil service reform
methods, was false. The commissioners
appointeas were not doing more work than
tie others. The Increase in the output
of the bureau was due entirely to improved
machinery, and not to the superior quality
OF civil service employees.
Mr.. w Wines. aged eighty-:hree, who
was dismissed from the Geological Sur
yey two years ago, claimed that the acton
was taken in violation of law. No re-
gard, he said. was paid to the law or the
civil service regulations. He bad been
"a copyiSt, and had been discharged with
out cause, but had made no effort To get
back. Mr. Wines exhibited number Of
letters from bis former chiefs. to show that
ne had done his work well.
S. Donovan, compositor, told the
committee how he had AIKEN a civil service
examination and passed at the unusually
high grace Of "a Hereceived temporary
appointment in the Government Printing
Office December Z, and was assigned TO
work in the specifications division, under
Foreman Oyster He had been out of
practice several months and was, Of course
a stranger to the technical work in the
specification division. He said he inquired
if he was expected to do as much work as
the old men from the start and was told
that the new men were given sufficient
time, from three TO six months in which
to aCquaint themselves with the character
of the work, before being put on the same
plane as the old men He was discharged
in nine days. although he worked for
twenty days, owing to the Temporary
absence from the city OF Mr. Benedict.
Mr. donovan stated that he asked Fore
man Oyster if he thought witness had had
fair trial. Foreman Oyster witness
said, admitted that the trial was an uu-
just one, but that he had had nothing to
do with it. The discharge was due TO
orders from Public Printer Benedict. and
Mr. oyster said he was only carrying out
the orders of the head of the office
Among other Things Foreman Oyster told
witness that in the last ten days his work
had greatly improved.
When witness asked if tie sole reason
for his discharge was his ina bility in that
short time TO do as much work as The
others, M. oyster said that Was the only
reason, but tine foreman refused either 10
send statement of The last ten days
work to Mr.. Benedict or let witness see it,
Witness said he then saw Private secrc-
tary Raker, and he expressed surprise say
ing that Mr.. Oyster was the m an who recon-
mended the dismissal.
Witness thensaw the Public Printer. The
Public Printer stopped Mr. Donovan in the
middle "f his first sentence and said he
did not care To listen to a tale of woe or
deS'itution; the concern over which ne
presided was not a cha irritable institution.
but printing office.
Witness told Mr.. Penedict he was there
not to plead for charity, but to talk bust
ness, ana was permitted briefly to explain
the case.
Il don't know how much or how little
work you lid, replied Mr.. Benedict. IAN
L know is that my foreman recommended
you for dismissal, and dismissed YOU"
Mr.. Donovan said he tried to induce the
Public Printer TO give him two weeks
more trial. TIC this Mr.. Benedict re-
piled that he did not know how 10 vent his
Indignation at the effrontery of the wit
ness in asking for another trial. The
Public Printer declared to the witness
that he mnst not presume that because he
had passed the Civil Service Commissions
examination the office would be compelled
to keep Him.
You must understand witness said,
'Mr- Benedict warmly retorted, that the
civil service examination. SO far as / am
does not amount to ANYTHING
You must pass mine or get out. You have
made mistake in coming here to see me.
There are printers who have been here for
years and i have never seen them. You
have come 10 see me and now / know
YOU
Mr.. Donovan said he construed this as a
threat that he could never get back in the
office. Witness investigated his case and
found that he was stu on the eligible list.
and decided to wait a change Of Admins.
tration. His former associates asked him
if he had any political influence, ard when
told that he had not they said that was
TIE cause OF his dismissal.
Mr. Donovan said he asked his Congress-
'"e'n w sce IL "e Souiu get III the Office III
his standing was all right with the COM
and this the Representative agreed
TO do. Witness stood almost at the ton
Of the list OF eligiblcs when, on June !
last. fifty printers were certified to the
office. and among them several of his
personal friends, who stood lower on the
list. This. OF course, was under the pres
ent Administration.
Mr.. Donovan said he tried several times
TO find ont why he had not been appointed,
and finally succeeded in reaching Mr..