New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-25
LIVELY CIVIL SERVICE INQUIRY.
THE COMMISSIONS ASSISTANT CHIEF En-
AMINER SAYS HE HAS BEEN
INTIMIDATED.

INUNDATED.
Washington. Jan. IA bomosneH was sprung
at to-days session OF the Senate Civi Service IN
vesticating Committee when +. ID. Bailey ASSIST
ant Chief Examiner OF the Civil Service cornm's-
sion intlmated that the Commission had sought
IN Interfere with his testimony. Prior TO MS oeinS
called TO the stand Colonel Mckenzie OF the I'm
glneer Corps Of the War Department. gave some
Testimony as to the favorable Workings OF the sys-
tenn I'm tho Engineering Department and the meth
DDS Of obtaining employees Th"n MT baiey was
asked as to the last sweeping extension I" the
Ciyu Service rules on May g. 1895, and he said IN"
extonsions were frs. suggested by the Commits
sion 70 the President instead OF the reverse Which
he thought might be required by strict CONSTITUTE
ton Of the law.
At this junc,ure Chairman Pritchard read let
ter from Mr. Bailey saying he was under I'M
,,o,s,r, snspcIon" by reason OF being summoned
and asking why he had been singled out from the
Commission Senator Prl.cAard told the Witness
who hesitatod in giving testimony on ths po"'''
and repeated that at was. OF course only MINOR
matter" that he must state all that had occur'eu
'If any one has inerferel with you ne sa''
eft IS due tho committee to tell everything
..rh. first thing that revealed the fact that
nicbt no suspected of knowing more about exam
nations than | actually know MI Bailey 'heh
said was when Mr. Proctor called me to MS OF
fee a little after the first testimony gave ne
said ne had no desire 10 influence my testimony J"
an that the chairman OF tlt GUINNESS
had no, summoned any one friendly TO the COM
mission and asked me tel him what was
TO say so he could be prepared 10 answer Inc
witness insisted ne did not believe MI Proctor II"
tended TO intlmi1ac him. little later MI pd''e'
said he was searching the records Tor data as u
Albert Baker who has figured In the ihVesus"-
tIors when chief Examiner Server asked MN by
what authority ne was divulg.ng tho records OF
tho Commission and advised him 10 ask the COM
mission for statement
No continued however 10 make pencil memo
randa. These he submitted to Mr. Proctor VINO
had expressed dissent; but again IL was sus-
ges.ed to him he had better obtain the Information
om,,olIy Then he submitted it TO the Investgat-
ing Committee Mr. Proctor. meantime, saying ne
made no suggestion. Later CHIEF Examiner Serven
told him he (Serven) had conferred with the Conm's
sion that latter were not pleased with wnat MI
Bailey had said. and that Mr. Server regarded MI
gsiley's testimony as criticism Of administration
rather than suggestion OF the law. Mr. Server had
slammed Mr. Bailey's testimony .as fire IN the
roar" ard the Commission had Instructed Chiei
Examiner Serven that Mr.. Bailey, his chief clerk
was not hereafter 10 sign any recommendations 10
the Commission. as had been his custom Tha' had
curtailed the witnesses duties and powers
Mr. Baley's intimidation charges created SEN
satlon.
Chairman Pritchard took occasion to deny Mr.
Pro,ters reference TO ex parte testimony ana sald
that nine-tenths Of the people VINO had appedtT"
were unknown to him at the time In no m
stance" he said. has the committee been actu-
have Commissioners Proctor and Harlow and some
OF the Commissions employees here, as Wen as
others not 10 break down the civil Service nor
establish the spells system. but to ascertain facts
Ms dG not hSF by S or the cOmm
sion any one elst.' -,
Mr. Proc,er then cross-examined Bailey. and
sought TO show that he had been ''nlscnlei
maker" Did you not" he asked communicate
with a United States Senator last March re.ating
TO the administration OF Civil ServlceY'
II have communicated was the reply, with
number Of Senators and others. but cannot say as
to LAST March. But | don't remember writing any
letter to a senator to the Commissions affairs.
! was distressed at the confusion Of Work. W nat
is referred to is probably letter wrote TO Theo-
sioner we were running behind in our work. and
citing the confused conditions, asked him FOR ad-
vice. which was to be confidential also reterrei
to the fifteen steel examiners appointed without
Mr.. Procter-About that time YOU applied 10 the
President for the chief eXaminership?
"No."
Then your friends did,"
mot that know OF or with my authority
Mr. Proctor then took the stand aud made long
statement. He prefaced II with vigorous arragl-
Inent Of Mr.. Bailey whom. though concedlng his
conscientiousness. he regarded as utterly lacking n
administrative capacity, he'd him responsible for
whatever trouble had existed in the official corre-
spondence and criticised him for stepping out or
his duties a clerk and assuming TO represent the
Commission. He characterized Mr. Bailey's views
as Vaueless and continuing OF this line when
the committee checked him and advised him 10
keep his testimony within proper bounds Mr.
Proctor then went TO take up In detail criticisms
OF the administration of the Commission. and sub
mitted statements from heads OF divisions to sus-
tain his pOsitiO !.
The investigation will be resumed Wednes
day when II Is understood that Mr.. Proctor Mr.
Bailey and others will be examined