Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-22
Mr.. OYSTER SREES HIS RIGHTS
His Case Placed nthe Hands of the Civil
Services Commission.
He Claims That Ms .Oismissal Was in
Anendinyx- Hule IL.

The case of E. WI Oyster, who was dis
missed from the position of foreman Of the
specification divisian Of the government
printing Office by Public Printer Palmer,
has been placed in the hands of the civil
service commission for investigation and
such action as they may consider proper.
Mr.. Oyster claims that his dismissal was
in violation of the Presidents order His
letter to the civil service commission filed
today follows:
Il have the honor to call your attention
to the fact ttat on the 7th instant 1 was
dismissed by the public printer from a 'po-
sition subject to competitive examination
in disregard of section 8, civil service rule
II. as amended July q, 1881, which reads
as follows:
No removal shall be made from any
position subject to competitive examine
ton except for just cause and UPON written
charges filed with the head of the depart
ment or other appointing officers. and of
which the accused shall have full notice
and an opportunity to malkR defense.
"On October about pm. I received
message by telephone that the public
printer desired to see me. l Immediately
obeyed the summons. On entering his Of
flee he handed me sheet Of unsigned type
written statements, alleging, first that
had disobeyed his instructing to discontinue
the keeping of record showing the quail
ity of work performed by compositors: sec
ond, that l demoralized the division by in
structing the proof readers to follow the
style of the office approved by the pat
ent office in marking the proofs of com
positors (see notice herewith): third, that
permitted canvaSSing in my division In
violation of the rules of the Office; fourth,
that I had shown favortism in the Sc
lection of employees for certain work in
the division.
II emphatically denied the truth of each
and every one of the statements. and Of
fered to furnish evidence, If he desired me
to do so. that they were entirely without
foundation, but he gave no intimation that
he desired such acton on my part. or that
he intended to pursue the natter further
and, therefore, l was much surprised when,
OIL the following day, my dismissal was
handed to me by the foreman of printing.
The public printer did not inform me
that he considered the statements referred
to as charges under the Presidents order
regulating removals from office, and for
that reason l did not then request copy
of charges and specifca tions. az
"Since my removal i have once, by per-
son and twice by letter. requested a. copy
of such charges as may have been filed
against me. Tom verbal request the
public printer replied: .is..ss ----
I en- under no obligation to give you
any statement whatever
ITO my written communication for
copy Of charges and specifications 1 have
received no reply.
d "Conscfentiously believing that ]. was dis
missed without-justucatse. and that am
fairly" entitled ito <an copy Of apyo and, all
charges and specifications which may have
been filed wtthtthe pubtic printer. and, the
names of my accusefsl respectively place
my case I'm Your hAa1ds for Subtraction as
you n ay,- deem rieest, Just and proper int
the premises. wa4 soldier in Company
NJ, 7th Pennsylvania Cavalry. apdrf was
honorably discharged atits close. ~
II inclose herewith a copy Of may dis
rnissal, a copy Of my letters TO the public
printer requesting fascopy of charges, &c.
end also printed copyoof my record as a
printer in government and private employ
and my record a soldiers"
!, The commission viii proceed to inquire
into the facts concerning the dismissal of
Mr.. Oyster,:au the.tase is,iiatle to prove
exceedingly Interesting before it,hs coA-'
cluded.