The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-05-03
INVESTIGATING.
The Senator's and the Civil Services
Law.

Law.
| COMPLAINTS from Veterans of the Rebel
lion-Law Declared lHindrance in
the Printing ONCE.
Washington, May 1.-The Senate COM
mittee which has undertaken the invest
igation of the workings of the civil
service laws held it's second meeting to-
day. Senators Pritohard, Lodge and
Chiffon conducted the investigation.
Letters we're presented from Secretary OF
the Navy Long and Postmaster General
Gary, recommending that the civil
service laws should be continued, but
giving the opinion that they should be
modified, although they recommended
no changes.
Fl. W. Palmer. the public printer.
stated that the only persons not included
| in the classified service In his office were
charwomen and laborers, and said:
Gas applied to this office, which is SIM
ply great manufacturing plant, involv-
ing varied branches of skilled labor OF
| high grade, the civil service rules are an
obstruction, rather than an aid, to effic'
iency and economy. The civil service
rules. as promulgated for enforcement
here, should be modified radically, sus-
pended or repealed. +"
| a. E. Weaver, @ clerk in the sixth
auditors office of the treasury and vet
eran who had served throughout the war,
testified that although his rank had been
high he had been discharged under both
Cleveland administrations and no reasons
| therefor given.
When he had complained to President
Theodore Roosevelt of the civil service
| commission, Mr.. Roosevelt had told him
| it would be useless to make an investiga-
tion as the department would trump up
| some reason for his removal.
| James NJ. Miller, one-armed Union
veteran, testified that he had been, with
| five other veterans, DISCHARGED in 1894
from their places in the Treasury Depart
ment under the auditor for tho interior
department. without reasons given. Two
of the vacancies made had been filed by
E. j. Troop, a brother-in-law Of Auditor
Blackwell and J. q. Orr, his father-in-
law. the latter Confederate veteran.
Both of these gentlemen had been placed
in office without examinations, contrary
to law, and had been promoted to $500
salaries. Mr.. Miller produced testimon-
ials from department officials showing
that he had been an expert on war his
tory Of the highest grade of efficiency.
Senator Clinton inquired how the Au-
ditor's relative had got into office and
Mr.. Miller answered; 'Under the
administration of Logan Carlisle, who
seemed to run the department.. Where
there was a Will there was way for any
thing"
Carl Stierlin, another war veteran, rs
years of age, stated that 10 1895 he had
been reduced by Assistant Secretary of
the Treasury Hamlin from $1,000 to 5000.
He gave testimonial from the late reg
lister, f. E. Spinney, that he had worked
his way from the lowest to the highest
grades. Mr.. Hainlin had said that he
reduced the witness to enable him to
promote another clerk, not wa- vet
erun.
Frar els NJ. Sohell. veteran of the
Mexican war, Irecommended.t that veteran
of that war be given the same privilege
accorded veterans of the rebellion of re-
instatement in the civil service without
examination.
Solomon f. Holman stated that he
had been removed from his position as
assistant messenger in the treasury un.
der Secretary Carlisle for polite rea-
sons.
John T. Morton, the colored minister,
who had held a clerkship in the post
offire department. since 1855, testified
that he had been prosecuted during the
Cleveland administration on account of
his color and his resignation finally de-
mauded.. A request to the civil service
commission for an investigation had
elected no response.