The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-07-03
A PIECE OF TR|CKERY
Duncan Gets Rid of Clerks
by Slight of Hand.
HE HAD A PREVIOUS TIP
AND "FIXED THINGS" TO GET
RADICAL CLERKS CONTRA
RY TO LAW.
SOME MORE PIE HUNTERS PLEASED
]. P. II. Adams, Who Had Been Soaring the
Wake County Court House Ring, Hit
in the Belly with Pone
of Bread.

The news yesterday that Collector
Duncan had dismissed all the clerks Ill
the Internal Revenue bureau but two
was great surprise. The recent ruling
that deputy collectors, though now pro-
tected by civil service, could be deposed,
does not apply to clerks in the revenue
offices.
"How can Duncan get rid of WOmble,
Baker and Holloway, who were appoint
ed from merit and not through any po-
litical pulp was asked yesterday.
The answer is that some weeks ago
Duncan went on to Washington City
and pritchard told him that the deputy
collectors could be changed, and that Il
ruling would be made to that effect.
He was told that the President would
not agree to the removal of the clerks.
Il method to evade the law, as it would
be construed and put out the clerks
chosen through the Civil Service Com
mission. Here is the way he did it:
Every year the Collector makes requi-
sition before the new fiscal year which
begins in July for such help as he will
need for the year. Duncan asked for
only two clerks for three additional
deputy collectors. This was granted
and so on July 1st Duncan was able to
get rid of three efficient civil service
clerks and make places as deputy col
IDus4 iefa txqhn hn-
trayed their party by voting for Pritch-
ard.
AS matter of fact in equity and de-
cent treatment, the three clerks cannot
be removed by such slight of hand
method and transparent evasions. The
men who are to take their places are
to be clerks and to do clerical work. The
subterfuge of calling them deputy collec-
tors is thin dodge that would not be
allowed to prevail before any court of
equity in the world. Their removal is
Il clean violation Of the spirit of the law
and brings deserved contempt on the
civil service rules. If the pl :
tense of enforcing Civil Service Com
mission is worth its salt it will permit
no such trickery to deprive faithful
clerks of their positions.
Nobody blames Collector Duncan for
wanting to put Republicans in office, or
for awaiting himself of the rule to change
deputy collectors The President is the
man who repudated his pledge when
that order was promulgated. OF course
pritchard's appointee took advantage of
it and rewarded those Populists who
bolted their party to vote for Pritchard.
That was a part of the agreement in
January. 1897. but Mckinley never
| could be induced to repudiate his pledge
until he thought the interest in war
matter was so great that nobody would
| notice it. No Democrat blames Mr..
Duncan for putting in Republicans when
he can. No fair man of any party will
| uphold or defend him for writing to the
| department that he would need only t'~O
clerks after July 1st, when it is now
clear that he made that report in order to
do by indrection. what he could not do by
direction. If the President had given
| him the same power over clerks he was
given over deputies, no complaint would
| be made. But his action shows that he
knew what the changes would be, and
sprung Il mine underneath these clerks
| in method not recognized in Legitimate
warfare.
MORE RAD-pOP APPOINTEES.
| Collector Duncan continued to shake
the boys in under his charge yesterday.
| The following appointments were made:
| Seventh division comprising the counties
Of Baden, Cumberland, Harnett and
Moore, j. II. Holland, Of Harnett is APP
pointed deputy, vice Troy removed.
| Ninth division, comprising the counties
of Wake and Johnson, j. l.. II. Adams,
| Wake Radical, who has been threaten
ing to defeat Ham Jones for the Repub-
lican nomination for sheriff and to break
up RepublicanPopuist fusion in this
, county is silenced by being hit in the
| belly, with II pone of bread in the shape
of IL deputy collectors place succeeding
| Wiley Jones removed. b. III. Cozart, an
| everything Republican of Durham, is
appointed brandy gauger.
+. j. Massey, of Johnson, is commits
stoned a special brandy deputy for three
| months. Pat had decided to run for
| Congress and was opposed to fusion. He