Evening star., 1899-07-17
VICTIM OF FORGETFULNESS
Secretary Gage Reiterates That statistician
Ford Did Resign.
He Would Not Have Removed Him, for
His Work Was Satisfactory
Mr.. Austin's Selection.

An incident called into prominence by the
discussion of the civil service order be-
tween Secretary Gage and the Civil Ser
vice League is the retirement eighteen
months ago, of Worthington G. Ford from
the treasury bureau of statistics and the
appointment of o. P. Austin in his place.
The league asserts that Secretary Gage
removed Mr.. Ford for patronage rea-
sons The Secretary says that Mr.. Ford
resigned voluntarily, and circumstances
known TO treasury people corroborate this
Mr.. Ford declares that his resignation
was never offered and that he was dis
placed. Mr.. Ford is now assistant libra
rian of the Boston library. He calls atten-
ton to the fact that his successor was
three times reapponted to his position
When this and the other features in con-
nection with the matter were called to Sec
retary Cages notice, he said
1t Is true that Mr.. Austin has been re-
appointed once or twice; 1 do not now recall
Just how often. The reason was that the
civil service commission has had no ELI
gibles. Before Mr.. Austin was appointed in
the first place l called on the commission
for certfications, and was Informed that
there was no list. Mr. Austin therefore re-
ceived temporary appointment for three
months. At the end of that period another
request was made for certifications and de-
MED for the same reason as before. | am
lOl sure out lndI cdlIeQ a tnlrQ Tune. AT
any rate, as we seemed no nearer than
ever to having an eligible list, the Presi-
dent ended the matter by taking the posi-
ton out of the classified service and thus
relieving the necessity of repeating the
formality any more.
Il was ready and waiting, through all
that time, to choose Mr.. Ford's successor
from the civil service eligible list, if the
certifications requested had been furnish
ed
Due to FOrSetfulness.
In response to comment on the dis
crepancy between his version of Mr.. Ford
retirement and the version given by Mr.
Ford he said:
Il think it is due to an error of memory
on Mr.. Ford's part, or to his failure to un-
derstand our conversation at the time.
remember distinctly that he was one of the
tirst-possibly the first-of the treasury
staff to call upon me and say that if
desired his resignation it was at my ser
vice at any time. l told him that l did not
wish, it then, and did not know that.
should ever wish it. AS his position was
under the civil service rules, 1 certainly
should not remove him except for cause
A year or more later, when certain condi-
tons arose which made a change seem de-
slrable, l sent for MIR. Ford, reminded him
of his offer of his resignation and inquired
whether he remained of the same mind.
He answered in the affirmative, adding
something about piece of important liter
more time to finish. Our interview was en-
tirely pleasant, and 1 told him. what was
the TACT, that he was absolutely at liberty
TO go or to stay, whichever he preferred
Tor If he did not wish to resign L should
not disturb him.
Had he not voluntarily handed in his
resignation, he might have been in office to
TINS day, for, as l assured him, l was not
dissatisfied with his work or displeased
with him personally Indeed, he was a man
Oh sucn hlSh character and refinement that
could not have treated him harshly. |
nave no desire to enter into contest of
veraclty with him now. l do not believe
that his name was brought into this con-
toversy at his instigation, and if he an
deEstood our conversation when it occur
1ed 1t Will doubtless come back to him just
as l state it,
was under no obligation to Mr.. Austin,
and would not have used him in any event
10 dlsplace Mr.. Ford. Until little while
ago, L had not even a. suspicion that Mr.
ford 1eit aggrieved over anything, and |
was as much interested as any one in hear
ing OF his success after retiring from the
department. | have said all / care to on
thls subject in my latest formal reply to
the National Leaeue