The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-01-02
UNCLE SANS CLERKS.
Some Effects of the Civil Ser
vice System.
Arrest Of Man With a Bad Character
Certificate of Character Under
So Called Spoils System.

Washington. Dec. Efficiently the
civil service commission WAS embaf
raised by the disclosures in the case of
a man named Hurst, a clerk in the war
department, who was arrested for alleg-
ed theft It was proved that Hurst had
served two terms in the reformatory at
Elmira, N. Y. The first conclusion
which the average man would draw
from these facts was that the so called
Inherit" system was at fault. Under the
old "spoils" system men were recon-
mended for appointment by members Of
congress and other prominent people
who could certify to their decency. It
was to be supposed. then, that no gradu-
ate of the reformatory could have got
place in the public service under the old
system. But the civil service commits
sioners say there was no more assurance
of getting good men under the old sys-
tenn than under the new.
Value of Character Certificate.
Discussing the matter few days ago,
one of the commissioners said 81 recall
the case of a United States marshal
from Georgia He was appointed upon
the recommendation of the two senators
from his state, every member of the
Georgia delegation, every member OF
the state government, all the senators
and representatives in the state govern
ment, all the senators and representa-
tives in the state legislature, the princi-
pal editors in the state, United States
and state judges of Georgia and several
olergymen. All these gentlemen certified
to his good character and that he was
most desirable person for appointment
as United States marshal. Soon after
his appointment he got his Office into
serious middle and was disgracefully
drunk during the sessions of the court
At one time he WAS so drunk that he
had to be arrested by order of the judge
His conduct became notorious, and he
was finally dismissed by the president
for intemperance and gross neglect of
duty. Upon inquiry of citizens of Geor-
gia was informed that this man had
been a notorious drunkard for Is years
previous to his appointment and was
known to be such by many of the men
who signed his papers.
AS to the case of Hurst, in his appli-
cation for examination. sworn to on
March 81, 1894, he stated that he had
never been convicted of or indicted for
any crime. He gave his occupation and
whereabouts for the four years preceding
as stenographer at So William street,
New York city. His application was
supported by certificates of vouchers
given by Joseph G. Dean, lawyer, SO
West Thirty third street, New York
city. and Joseph N. Tuttle. lawyer, IT'S
Fifth avenue, New York city. Both
Mr.. Dean and Mr.. futile stated that
they had been acquainted with Mr..
Hurst for two years that he was per-
son of good moral character and of good
repute; that they were not aware of
any circumstances tending to disqualify
him for the public service, and that
they themselves would trust him with
employment requiring undoubted hon.
esty. Henry T. Brennan, a notary pub
lie, under his official seal certified that
Mr.. Hurst (then named Hirsch) had been
legal resident of New York city for
the two years preceding. Counting these
two years with the two years he served
in the war department, there were four
years of good behavior.
Dishonesty on the part of persons ap-
pointed through the merit system is ex-
tremely rare-in fact, much more rare
than would be supposed likely to hap
pen. 1t is the purpose of the commits
sion to establish a system of strict in
quiry into the integrity of applicants
where the places to be filed require
special trust. Where there has been a
failure in character in the classified
service it has been almost invariably of
person who was appointed under the
old system.
Easy to Sign Petitions.
This Hurst case illustrates again the
utter unreliability of the certificate of
character or petition for the appoint
ment of a man to Office. A great many
men-the majority of men in public
life, in faot-find it easier to sign petit
tiOns than to give excuses for not sign
ing them. And l want to warn the men
who are expecting to make application
for places under the next administra-
ton that petitions are not very effective
with old politicians like Major McKin-
ley and the men whom he will probably
select for his advisers.
The petition began to lose its effect
iveness under Harrison. The man with
petition reveled in the Cleveland ad-
ministration, when the public offices at
Washington were filed with men who
/ had had little or no experience in public
life. The president himself was not IA
miliar with the business of the govern
ment, and he paid more attention to Pc
titions then than he has done in his Sec
! ond administration. When Harrison
came into Office. people who wanted ap-
| pointments focked to Washington with
| big bundles Of letters and petitions
| yards long certifying to their character
and ability and their services for the
Republican party. They were 90 numer-
GUS and the petition business became
such nuisance that a practical joker
in the west got up petition asking the
| president to order the Immediate execu-