The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-01-13
An ANSWER FROM WATSON.
olyrnp.a. wash. January s. 1875.

To the Editor: In the interview with
Senator Wilson Appearing In your issue
OF January 2. 1875. he has seen fir 10 make
certain illusions 70 my management OF this
Office. ] therefore venture 20 ask space IN
your paper for ar answer
] know full well that the people OF this
state are rot interested in who fills tire
petty office OF surveyor general, but they.
ard especially The Republican party. are
vitality Interested in knowing how the lat
ter's ouly representative handles the Fed
erai patronage, and his opinion upon this,
and other kindred public questions. which
are proper subjects % public criticism.
fwi!I state that did no. seek tais public.
ity, but the senator saw III TO give my first
letter TO the commissioner TO the press. for
what reason ! canno, understand, unless
70 frighten me into compliance with mis-
wishes. ! therefore took means TO have
my letter 20 the secretary given TO your
Washington correspondent.
The senator states, in referring 10 the
civil service law. There must be relief
from, the measure as il stands" etc. A
relief for whom7 Certainly not the pub
lie. for this is served cheaper and better
under civil service than under the spells
system, as was well shown by Commits
si0ner Wright In the census matter. The
relief must be for the senator's heel
ers. OF whom he cauno; get enough
done. the friction will become so great
that the result will be a breaking down
OF the law entirely" Who viii break the
Law down? Does the senator mean that
unless ne can get his men in under the
law he will do it in spite of the law;
IN other words, practically annul ite
Can the Republican party stand such
from one Of its representatives?
The national platform upon civil SER
vice reads. and we should not lose sight
OF this. We renew our repeated declara-
Mons IN al 1t snail be thoroughly enforced
and extended wherever practicable"
The senator states ne knew nothing OF
the investigation until Commissioner Her
mann asked me TO cali at his Office In
other words he was so enamored of me
anu the civil service rules that he stood
as II were holding of of me the DEPART
ment, who were straining every nerve to
clean out" the Office. For what purpose.
pray. and who would reap the benefit OF
this clean sweep but Mr.. Wilson In the
disposal of patronage?
Far be IL from me to question the sena-
tors veracity, but In all candor / would
ask is this In keeping with the senator's
character and reputation throughout the
state, for his warmest friends will hardly
derry that II is in the distribution Of pat
ronage he exceis. and not in the discus
sion OF broad national questions. Is it not
disproyed by his letter, which 1 quote in
my letter to the secretary? Does any man
In the state doubt but that one word from
the senator to the commissioner would
have stopped the entire criticism?
Mol Ts not the following supposition
moro In keeping with the senator's repu-
Ia ton.
Senator Wilson induced Commissioner
Hermann To send Inspector Greene ont
here with the understanding he should
find fault with this office, so that the en-
tire fore caa,a ha Cleaned out" or fall
ing this. / could be gotten rid OF and an
other more more supple could accomplish
his purpose. Just think what a magnlfl-
cent implement TO be used for his re-eec-
ton. the appointing Of ten or twelve men
at the princely salaries of from $500 TO
81 500 per year. Beside the gain OF such an
implement. the question Of the mainten-
ance Of the gold or silver standard sinks
into insignifcance. In this connection I
will quote part of letter Of mine TO the
commissioner:
Although you have deemed IL best to
deny my natural and ito my seemtngt Just
request - he furnished with copy OF In
spector Greenes report upon this Office.
In order 20 be allowed to refute or ex-
plain the charges against my management.
still Ia certain charges therein have been
communicated to me through my friend.
Senator --- / deem IL due 70 myself
that / enter herein my protest. i, of
course. am under peculiarly disadvantage
Gus circumstances having 20 accept Sem
ator -------- reccliectious OF the charges.
II claim that the deductions. and, IN
some instances. the statements Of facts in
Inspector Greenes report, ara knowingly
and Intentionally false. This rs a very
grave charge 10 make. but | submit that
methods OF obtaining The same will fally
warrant this conclusion.
Mr.. Greene. recent appointse, comes
here: makes IN this office practically no
examination "a half or one hour entire
time1 Of the methods. character or quality
of tire work, bur seeks cut those. am
whom 1 discnsrged. He expresses
to me no dissatisfaction, and consequently
gyss no fnaneS E explain any scs to his
methods OF ar inspector desiring TO give
your office fair and impartial report OF
one Of vour suhordinatesr
or deductions that ] have not answered
in mine Of November II. ls91
''First-Senator writes. he re-
ing practically nothing This is too ab-
Sird for She most crsdulous 10 believe
Here Is a man who does not spend five
sninuses IN this drafting office. practically
Tres none Of the work Of & single
craftsman. and vet he makes this
wholesale concentration, {IFsesEsNE Sp-
paYently that my annual reTor;s
to your office ana Your own records show
fully what has beer done. and how this
oI'igs casopaf.S I'm 9tnet sur ~ 80
TIRE work turned sGt II y0u wilI consult
MesSrs + r. HiHsdale and w r. STABLES
clerks IN your department. eiuca:ed ard
trained engineers, ard tnoTcughly CONVEX
SAINT with the work ~ your department.
vcu viii find WHITTIER the dTaf,iuc et1Cs
has been doing comparatively nothing
These gentlemen have spent days ard
weeks here instead ~ minutes. and surely
their f,ldsment urOa this technical aucs-
ton Is warth more than Nj. Cresas'S.
who 7 presume IS rot an EXPERT In these
matters and certainly not the raarvelous
one his report would indicate, 81 the ex-
animation and condemnation of The work
Of wears n 2 few minutes
"SecoDd-Tse craftsmen are way BEN !
IN their work. How does he know TITS
! deny that they are undN3y behind. bat
they are properly ana fairy Up consider
!rr .hs acnoun, ~ the same and she force
thereon There Ryr now before Your d.
partmeut awaiting action talrtv-flvs town
ships three standard ard four Indian
p!ats. 30 TIA, he de,ay Il any. should not
be charged - this Office
'@ThlrIt-~'W Watson dos 0ot take proper
some - the clerks Z CONE late aad 'mak
up lost tiTar after osT.cs hours I derry This
ans demand he show % whom and waer
ssleh was allowed
NJ rsre.sne wishes vo,l - believe cane
fn5ud you- getting rs Information from
those warning places in t7Is office and
from 81 EXAMINATION "i ONLY , tsw EcurS
that ], : civil eng greer. trained Tor ths
last swprsy wears n TIE severeSt encol
t,set ~ railroad VcFE. where punct{a!ry
industry ard efficiency are fhe very sCU
% tina business. fEnuTeG ate}v upon nav a.
cessiaa 20 this office threw away sH ths
habits q = lifs Gme. allowed emnioyes q
CcSse ana 80 a. tNeT chose. work Or nct
a. they san O. The wonder i tAat any
tr{aE a. ell WAS done IN this office Tn.
<-sea : toe prep eTogs for belief. ! - "
{n GUswer the record - wis Office before
s-+as -ysN Aa