Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-10-28
INQUIRY ABOUT OVER.
CIvIL-sERvICE COMMITTEE TO con-
CLUDE THIS MORNING.
INSPECTOR SMITH HAS THE FIELD.
No Use for the Commissions Men to
by the Postal Departments Repre-
sentative-More Amdavits Taken.

The bottom has apparently dropped out
OF the Investigation into the conduct OF
Federal officials, which vas begun here
on Wednesday night under the auspices
Of the Civil Service Commission.
Secretary Doyle and his lieutenants will
return TO Washington on the II o'clock
train to-day. while Inspector Smith, Of
the Post-Ofice Department, will remain,
endowed with added powers by the Trea-
sury Department, which has instructed
him to investigate the charges brought by
the Republican League affecting the en-
ployees Of that department.
Postmaster Knight said last night that
he had not been asked to appear before
the representatives Of the Civil-Service
Commission, nor did he know Of any
other official who had been called on for
a statement.
WHAT SECRETARY DOYLE SAYS.
Secretary Doyle said that the officials
had all made statements, though some OF
them were merely informal and the ste
nographer only took notes that were ger
name TO the issue. In this connection he
Knight Observation-Disclosures Grubbs,
Stamp-Deputy n. j. Smith, and Deputy
Campbell but he FASTENED to add that
the fact that these gentlemen had been
heard did not mean that the charges in
volved all of them. Mr.. Knight he said,
made an informal statement; no other
was necessary since there were no
charges against him.
ONE INQUIRY SUFFICIENT.
The retirement of the committee he
said did not mean that the commission
relinquished any of its authority over the
various offices. but they realized that ii
would be futile to investigate offices twice
over, and they knew that Inspector
Smiths enquiry would be complete and
satisfactory. For the same reason the
committee has refused 10 hear the state
ments of clerks and letter-carriers.
In addition TO those members of the Re-
publican League whose names appeared
in the Dispatch yesterday, several other
members of the same organization were
heard yesterday, and their dispositions
were along the same line. The enquiry
was conducted in Room of the Custom
House yesterday, instead of at the JEFF
ferson. and the final session will be held
there this morning. Mr.. Smith will con-
tinue his investigation to-day. and all the
authors Of the charges will be examined.
II they comply with the written request
Of the Inspector TO appear before him.
OFFICE-HOLDERS IN POLITICS.
Mr.. Doyle expressed surprise last night
at the extent TO which ofice-holders mix
in politics here. 1t is not done in other
cities that have come within the scope of
his observation. but, he added, he has
learned that, under the conditions prevail
ing here, it is almost a necessity. The
secretary is also authority for the state
ment that the recent letter Of Assistant
Postmaster-General Heath, which was
sent TO postmasters, stating that office
holders might engage in politics as long
as 1t did not interfere with their duties.
was merely an expression OF the Assist
ant-Postmaster's opinion. and did not by
any means, upset the doctrine esta blish-
ed by President Cleveland that had beer
reafiirmed by the present administration
at the outset.