The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-04-27
THE CIVIL SERVICE.
Senator Pritchard's Committee Begins the
Investigation Into its Practical Work
ings, Under a Senate Resolution.

Investigation Into its Practical Work
ings, Under a Senate Resolution.
Washington. April A.-The senate
committee on civil service, of which
Senator Pritchard, Of North Carolina,
is chairman. began it's investigation
of the civil service today under the res
olution recently adopted by the senate.
William Blashland, an ex-union soldier,
testified to having been dismissed from
the Office of the United States treasur-
er, which he claimed was done in order
to make a place for the son of Regis
ter Tillman. a boy II years old. who
had not, he said, been required to pass
a civil service examination. He said
there were other appointments under
Register Tillman, of whom an examina-
ton had not been required.
Secretary of Agriculture Wilson was
also before the committee. He ex-
pressed the opinion that chiefs of di-
vision in the executive departments
and others charged with executive re-
sponsibility should not be included in
the classified Sc vice as provided in Mr..
Cleveland's or6er
William c. Conner, a book binder at
the government printing office, said
that no educatiO qualification was
required in many classes of work done
in the binderies. He charged that girls
appointed under the rules Of the clas-
sified service had to be taught to do
the work required after they were ap-
pointed. Mr.. Conner said that in sew
eral instances, just previous to the re-
cent change in administration. the
wages of several persons who were re-
ceiving 81 per day had been increasd
to the extent of l cent an hour in order
to hold them in the service under the
classification.
William E. Ryan, a clerk in the treas
ury department, who made the race
for congress in the Thirty-first con-
gressiOnal district of New York. last
fall on the democratic ticket and who
is contesting the seat of his successful
republican rival, detailed the circum-
stances of his dismissal. He claimed
to have been absent without pay
though not without leave, during the
campaign, while he understood that
many other government officials such
as the secretary of the treasury. Comp
troller Eckels and even the chairman
OF the civil service commission. We're
absent on pay.
Mr.. Ryan said that when he returned
to his desk in November he found his
dismissal awaiting him, but that he was
reinstated in February and again dis
missed in March. This latter dismissal.
Mr.. Ryan claimed to be due to the fact
that he would not consent to desst
from his contest for the seat in con-
gresS- He said that Logan Carlisle.
son Of the secretary and chief clerk of
the department has told him that the
prosecution of the contest could avail
him nothing. Mr.. Ryan said he had no
doubt that his dismissal was for purely
political reasons: because nv views
differed from those OF Mr.. Carlisle -
he added.
A letter was received from Secretary
Gage, in which he stated his general
commendation of the civil service sys-
tenn. He thought, however. there
should be exceptions and he instanced
deputy revenue collectors, who, he
said, should be appointed by the rev.
enue collectors to whom they were per-
sOnally responsible.
Senator Pritchard announced his
purpose to ask the heads of all depart
ments to appear before the committee
in order to make the investigation
thorough. The committee adjourned
until Saturday next.