The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-04-25
CIVIL SERVICE LAW CLASHES.
sENATE's INVEsTIG ATING COMMIT
TEE BEGINS WORK.

An ex-Union soldier Claims to Have
Been Dismissed From the Ofiice of
the United States Treasurer in Or
der 10 Make Place for the SON OF
Registrar MISUNDERSTANDING of
Agriculture Wilson Thinks Chiefs
of Divisions and Others Charged
with Executive Responsibility
should BE Exempt From the Law.
Washington. April 24.-The Senate COM
Snittee on civil service, of which Senator
Pritchard of North Carolina is chairman,
began its investigation of the civil service
to-day under the resolution recently
adopted by the Senate. William Blash-
land, an ex-union soldier testified to hav-
ing been dismissed from the office OF the
United States treasurer, which he claim
ed was done in order to make place Tor
the son of Registrar Tillman, boy OF Il
years Of age. who had not he said, been
required to pass a civil service eXamina-
ton He said there were other appoint
ments under Registrar Tllman of whom
an examination had not been required.
Secretary of Agriculture Wilson was
also before the committee. He expressed
the opinion that chiefs of division IN the
executive departments and others charged
with executive responsibility should not
he included in the classified service pro-
vided by Mr.. Cleveland's order.
William O'Connor, a bookbinder at the
government office, said that no educational
qualification was required in many classes
L.. -fa Ia oh a 70
ed that girls appointed under the rules OF
the classified service had to be taught to
do the work required after they were ap-
pointed. Mr.. O'Connor said that in sew
eraI instances just previous to the recent
change in administration, the wages of
seyera: persons who were receiving 50 per
day. had been increased to the extent of a
cent an hour in order to hold them in the
service under the classification.
William E Ryan. late clerk in the
treasury department. who made the race
for congress in the Thirty-frst congress
sional district of New York last fall on
the democratic ticket, and who is contest
ing the seat of his successful republican
rival, detailed the circumstances of his dis
nissaI. He claimed to have been absent
without pay though not without leave,
during the campaign, while he
understood that many other gov
eminent officials, such as the Secretary
of the Treasury, Controller Eckels and
even the chairman of the civil service COM
mission, were absent on pay. Mr. Ryan
said that when he returned to his desk
in November, he found his dismissal await
ing him; but that he was reinstated in
February and again dismissed in March.
This latter dismissal, Mr.. Ryan claimed
TO be due to the fact that he would not
consent to desist from his contest for the
seat in congress. He said that Logan
Carlisle, son of the secretary and chief
clerk of the department, had 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 my views diff
fered from those of Mr.. Carlisle" he add
ed
A letter was received from Secretary
Gage in which he stated his general COM
mendation of the civil service system. He
thought, however, there should be eXcep-
lions and he instanced deputy revenue
collectors, who he said. should be appoint
ed by the revenue collectors to whom they
were personally responsible.
Senator Pritchard announced his pur-
pose to ask the heads of all departments
TO appear before the committee, in order
20 make the investigation thorough.
The committee adjourned until Saturday
next