Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1898-02-19
IN coNTEnpT OF COURT.

]
| fcials So sweeping are his orders
that if sustained by the Supreme
Court, heads Of departments and bu-
reaus are tied hand and foot; and
those who nave heretofore been classed
as subordinates become masters of the
situation and able to dictate the poll
cy of the Government.
A recent letter from Mr.. c. d.
Bailey, chief clerk Of the Civil Service
Com mission, to Hon. Theodore Roose-
welt say s in part:
"The business of the Commission is
in the greatest confusion and is be-
coming more and more demoralized
for want OF intelligent management.
Requisitlons remain Enacted on for
months and many complaints are
made by the departments of delays
and annoyances detrimental to the
service. In such cases temporary APP
pointments were authorized and after
ninety days made permanent, although
no rule exists permitting such ac-
tions. These acquisitions probably
cover several hundred places.
Tine action taken by the commits
sion lacks continuity and the rinutes
of one day contradict those of another
day. Action is taken, then amended,
then revoked. Under the recent adj
ministla alton four of the five officers of
the Commission were changed, bring
ing in new men who lacked even the
advantage of experience in the de-
partmental service, some OF whose
views were unfavorable to the civil
service law and rules with theories
little less than hostile, and their
inexperience and upfamiliarity proved
disastrous. They adopted rules to
classify. i'll one lump, 10000 new OF
fees and utterly failed to provide to
meet these needs. The present con-
diton is thoroughly alarming. Dis
aster can be averted only by immedi-
ate remedial action and at least three
changes in the Office should be made
at once, not for political reasons, but
in the interests OF the service.
The letter was presented to the
Senate Committee on Reform in the
Civil Service and then Mr. Bailey was
in trouble.
Mr.. c. M. Shinn writes the Wheel
ing Intelligencer that, 'while the
commissioners dare not summarily
dismiss Mr.. Bailey from bis position,
in the face OF their contention in 9TH
err cases for the filing of charges, and
iull investigation, they have, it is
understood, done the next thing to
dismissing him. He has been grad
ually and by piecemeal deprived of
every prerogative and duty as chief
clerk, and is practically without occu-
patton.
The last move was made Saturday
when Mr.. Bailey was forbidden to at
tend to a matter of routine which had
always heretofore been under his SUI
pervison. 1t was not until he was
threatened with dismissal, after he
struck back.
"Mr. Bailey was asked whether or
not he would verify the rumors cur
rent in respect to the action of the
president of the Commission IN strip
ping him OF his duties as chief clerk
He declined to talk, neither denying
nor confirming, which is accepted as
Confirmation of the report. 1t is the
belief that the character of the report
to be made by the Senatorial commit
tee will be such as to hasten a re-
organization of the Commission.
The announcement is also made, so
direct as to be almost official, that the
President will shortly issue an order
exempting many positions which are
now included under the civil. service
law"
1t is very clear from the above that
the Commission is in contempt of
court and should be summarily dealt
with. When the fountain head OF
official purity" becomes impure,
then is the whole system contami
mated. If this fragrant violation of ely
il service reform" be permitted to go
unpublished, if the chief moguls-the
high muck a -mucks--can take the bit
in their teeth, why should understrap-
pers, such as cabinet officers and chiefs
of bureaus be called to book for strain
ing point to properly perform their
duties
We know the question is unanswer-
able, and we also know that unless
Congress or the President institutes
genuine reforms in the civil service,
the Republican party would as we'll
make its will and prepare to retire from
the political arena. The people have
decided that a change must come and
come it will just as certain as election
day arrives. Then will the verdict be
that the Republican party is in con
tempt of the Supreme Court OF Public
OpiuiO,, urlecc the oraataCf fraud Of