Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-03
Investigation of the Civil Service Re-
sumed.
POLITICS A FACTOR IN DISMISSALS
Veterans Who Were Supplanted
by Democrats.
PRINTING OFFICE METHODS


and retrenchment resumed It's hearings this
morning ir tie Maltby building.
Mr.. Peter T.. Rain, who was on the stand
when the committee adjourned last Satur-
day. continued his testimony. He recited
his war record. showing gallant service In
the Union army. He said his service en-
titled him to reinstatement under tho law.
His record in the office which he held In the
bureau Of engraving and printing was good
He said that when he was disch harged
from his position superintendent of 4 d.
vision In the bureau Of engraving and print
ing he suggested that as no charges were
made against him, no should be allowed to
fall back into the place from which re had
been promoted. Chief Johnson of the bu-
reau had replied that such action would be
equivalent to appointing a republican. aid
he could not do that"
Mr. Balm put in evidence letter from
Chief Johnson testifying to the satisfactory
service he had rendered. Mr.. Balm said that
the ex-Union soldiers who had been dis
missed in the bureau of engraving and
printing numbered twenty; he said the
men discharged were republicans and those
appointed in their places were democrats
He told of cases where men who were ap-
pointed as laborers were transferred upon
the rolls as machinists. which carried an
increase of pay, being promotion without
examination.
Mr.. Balm held that the claim made by
the civil service commission that the work
Of the bureau OF engraving ana prlnune
was increased by civil service methods
was false. The civil service commission
appointees were not doing more work than
the others. The increase in the output
of the bureau was due entirely to improved
machinery and not TO the superior ability
of civil service employees.
Dismissals in Violation of Law.
Io
said he proposed to show that dismissals
were made in the geological survey in vio-
lation of the civil service law. No regard
was paid to civil service regulations. He
said he had been a copyist in the geoloEi
cal survey and was dismissed in September
about two years ago. Mr.. Wines said he
had been In the service about ten years.
He read a letter from Maj. Powell. testi-
flying in f1attering language to his service.
He also read letter from Director VOL
colt Of the survey referring to his record
IL the bureau in the highest terms. He
said he had estimated that about 1000
persons in Washington were dismissed un-
der the Cleveland administration.
Dlsmissed After Nine Days,
Mr.. S. p. Donovan then took the stand.
He testified that he took the civil service
examination last September for compost
tor in the government printing office. He
~,
which considered very high In De-
cember he accepted temporary appoint.
ment in the government printing office and
In this division the work Is of a technical
and peculiarly hard character. He had
been out of employment seven months and
was probably a little slow in catching up
his speed. but at the end of nine days he
was dismissed.
Mr.. Donovan said he had been a printer
for seventeen years and had been engaged
upon fine book work in this and other cities
and after passing a civil service examina-
tion and reaching 04. he was very much
surprised to be dismissed.
The foreman of the division had told him
he was sorry to see him go, as he was
showing signs of rapid improvement in the
technical work, but that 1t was Public
Printer Benedicts orders. Mr.. Donovan
then went to see Mr.. Benedict. He told
him he was one Of the unfortunates who
had been discharged.
Thereupon Mr.. Benedict Interrupted him
and said: Il don't want to hear any tale of
destitution. This Is not charitable insti-
tution.'
Mr.. Donovan told him that it was busi-
ness and not charity about which he
talked. He then related his experience to
Mr.. Benedict, and the public printer told
him that he knew nothing of the case, but
that the foreman had recommended him
for dismissal. and that he must be dis
missed.
AAo PubiiS IcudTkoQ 10 MIN that
he could hardly restrain from venting his
Indignation at the effrontery which Mr.
Donovan had displayed in asking for work
Mr Benedict had also asked him If he
thought that because he had passed the
civil service examination the public printer
was compelled to employ him. Mr. Dono-
van replied In the negative, but said he
thought that having passed the examina-
tion would give him better chance for
employment.
Examination Amounted tn Notbfur
Mr. Benedict had thereupon informed him
that he wanted him to understand that, as
far as the public printer was concerned, a
civil service examination did not amount
to anything.
You have got to pass my examination"
Mr.. Benedict had said. land II you can't
do 1t you have got to get out"
Mr.. Benedict had added that Mr.. Dono-
van had made a mistake in coming to see
him. Men work here for years" Mr.
Benedict had sad ''and 1 never know
them. But l know you, now, SIR
When he was discharged several Of his
companions had asked him what political
influence he possessed, to which he replied
that he had none, but had come in on the
civil service examination Thereupon they
had laughed loud and long, and said that
that accounted for his quick dismissal
They had never seen a man fired out 80
promptly. 1t was easy enough for them,
however, to understand the cause Of 1t
now.
Mr. Donovan had then waited for a
change of administration, and when it
came in he asked his representative with
whom he had only a slight acquaintance,
to recommend him for employment, as the
civil service commission had informed him
he was still eligible. and he knew he stood
at the top of the list by reason of his good
examination.
The representative promised to put in a
good word for him, and he expected to
soon get a place. About June 1 there were
fifty appointments or more made in the
government printing Office, among them
some of his personal friends who had pass
ed the civil service examination. but who
had a very much lower rank than he had
attained. They expressed surprise that he
should not get an appointment, as they
knew that he had passed higher, and their
| appointments had come all right.
Thereupon he went to see Mr.. Ricketts,,
| the private secretary of the present public
printer, and asked him why he had not
been appointed. Mr.. Ricketts, replied that
they did not know Mr.. Donovan. that no
| application was on file. and that there were
| no papers in his case. Mr.. Donovan sug-
! gested that the civil service commission
! she uld have certified him for appointment
1 Mr.. Ricketts, admitted that the commits.
] sion had certified him three times, but as