The times., 1897-06-20
THE CIVIL SERVICE INQUIRY
MIR. Pritchard Puts a Veto on Mr.
Proctor Asking Questions.
SEVERAL WITNESSES TESTIFY
A Letter From President Prescott,
of the International Typograph-
zeal Union. Denying That 1t Fa-
vors the Application OF Civil
Service Rules to Printing Office.

The Civil Service Commissioners, by In
titation, have been attending theinrestiga-
ton that has been going on IL the Senate
Committee for the past two months, ana
President Proctor las during its course
asked numerous questions or the wit
ncsses. and particularly those opposed 10
the existing law. No objection was made
TO this until yesterday, when Chairman
Pntchard saw fit to interfere.
tits said by one of the committt emen
that Mr.. Putchard thought that President
Proctor was asking too many questions
and 'rattliugf the witnesses whenever Ec
got the chance He therefore put a veto
upon his Questioning, and said tina: II he
wished he could take the stand and throw
any light he might have upon the testi-
mony Of any Of the witnesses
1t has been asserted that the i geographical
unions OF the country were in favor OF the
civil service rules in the Government Print
ing Office; but this was denied n letter
from President Prescott. OF the union, laid
before the investigating committee, OF
which Senator Pritchard is chairman.
When the committee convened W. w
White, OF Kentucky, continued his testi-
Iaony from the last session OF the Commit
tee. He referred TO the reports OF the
heads of the several departments of the
Government, a made in response to Gen.
GFosvenor's House resolution, calling for
information as to appointments and dis
Hdssals in said departments. and gave u
long array OF facts and figures compiled
thercfrom.
Mr. White produced the names, and
stated the salaries of twenty-five conf
Dental clerks employed in the Treasury
Department alone. while the appropriation
bills. which he produced for the last two
or three years, failed to show any au-
hority for any confidential clerks
Mr.. Wiite contradicted many of the
statements given IN the reports as either
untrue or misleading
Henry A. Castle, the new auditor of the
Treasury Department for the Postoffice
Department, was the next witness. He
served about five years as postmaster at ST
Paul, MINI, one under Postmaster Gen
eral Wanamaker, two under Mr.. BisseIl
and two under Mr.. Wilson. The civil serv-
ice rules, he said, were faithfully and
fairly executed under all those gentlemen,
except in one case where he recommended
the dismissal of clerk for sufficient rea.
IONS
Mr.. Castle personally visited a cozen cf
he largest cities, and found that whatever
She politics or former opn: ions of the
postmaster. they had all become enthu-
Elastic civil service reformers, and con-
yiDced that the system was a benefit
so the postal service.
Having only been in his present posi-
tson one month, Mr.. Castle had not had
time to personally know much of the
workings OF the civi. service In the va
rious departments: but if what he has
been told il true, the law has not been
fairly or justly enforced. He thinks how
ever, the FAINT is not with the commits
sion, bat rather with the artificial and
false system that allows the Government
employees to Relieve political influence can
help them either to retain their places or
secure promotions without regard TO eff
Cheney Already in the one month he has
received more than / 90 letters from Sem
ators and representatives urging the pro-
motion or reinstatement of their friends
and constituents
Senator Elkins asked IL such reconme n
dations should count or be given any CON
eideraticn. or If these officials are not
IN position to help their friends.
well, L haven't done what they asked
me to do. so far at least replied Auditor
Castle. more of the letters,'' he con-
tinOed- task for rcinstateme nts of old
soldiers than for promotions; but there are
many of the latter class
Mr.. Castle said he was trying to devise |
some plan for curing some of the evils he |
complains OF In the enforcement of the
law. but has not yet hit upon satisfactory |
enc.
c. p Rhodes, who served five years I'm |
the Government Printing Office. mostly |
under Mr. Palner's former admsnistra. |
tion. hut now on the Iaborers' roll, while /
waiting tie result OF o civil service ex-