The times., 1898-11-06
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Civil Service Commission Ask
ed to Investigate.
SECRETARY KERR'S LETTER
Alleges Violation of Civil Service
Law-Abuse of the Franking Priv
fiege-COrrupt Methods to Compel
Government Employees to Con-
tribute to Republican Party Or
ganixation-Broad Hint to Clerks.

The exclusive expose in The Times of
last Thursday morning of the peculiar
means employed by George NJ. Bowers,
Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries, TO
compel Government clerks in his own
and other departments TO contribute to
the success of the Republican party or
ganization, bore official fruit yesterday
in the shape of a letter from Secretary
James Kerr of the Democratic congress
sional committee. to the president of the
Civil Service Commission, making spe-
cific charges against Bowers and demand
ing an investigation. The violation of the
civil service act is referred to. and abuse
of the franking privilege is also charged.
1t will be remembered that Bowers
sent letter to John B. Conaway, an
employe OF the navy yard, written on
Government stationery and mailed in n
franked Government envelope, inclosing
railroad ticket and expressing the hope
that it would be possible for Conaway to
go home and vote.
Similar broad hints were sent, as
Bowers admitted in an interview, to $50
Government employees, and it is claimed
that in each case the franking privilege
was abused, Government stationery and
the labor of Government clerks was used
in writing them, and the letter and spirit
of the civil service law were violated.
The action of Commissioner Bowers,
together with violations and evasions of
the civil service law by so-called State
Republican and sound money clubs has
been unofficially called to the attention
of the Civil Service Commissioners, and
they have admitted their illegality
Whether the formal demand for an in
vestigation of the matter will be needed,
remains TO be seen.
The letter from Secretary Kerr is as
follows:
Washington D. C., Nov. 5, 1898.
Hon. John r. Proctor,
President, the Civil Service Commission,
concordia Bldg. Eighth and f Streets north
west, Washington, ID. c.
Dear Sir: We desire To present for the con-
sideration of your honorable commission a gross
and willful violation of the civil service act ON
the part OF Government official who is using
undue and corrupt influences to compel Govern
meat employees TO contribute to the success of
partisan organization. The specific case we refer
10 is the letter Of October "a, lsas, 10 Mr.. John
b. Conawsy, at the navy yard. signed George N.
Bowers. the present Commissioner OF Fish and
flshefies, Who, IN a published interview OF No
vember 3. admits the genuineness of the letter,
and acknowledges having sent One hundred and
fifty such letters; misusing the Government
blanks and paper employing the clerks in his
bureau in service not contemplated by law,
and violating the spirit as well the letter OF
the act regulating the civil service of the United
States The abuse Of the ranking privilege is
violation OF another statute, which, | have no
doubt, the proper authorities will recognize and
punish, but it seems to me if the civil service
law is 10 have any force and effect. your commits
SIGN must take cognizsnee of this matter and act
accordingly. Not doubling but what you will
do &c promptly and effectively. am,
Yours sincerely JAMES KERR.
sn..rstar- nerrncratfr Cnrnrrnssinnal Committee