The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-12-09
LELAND TALKS OF HICKEY.
Gives Record of Former Clerk Who
Assails Him.

p. Hickey, former clerk in the To-
peka pension agency, has given out a
various violations of the civil service
| rules, among them cutting down his
| (Hickey's) salary, and removing an
other clerk to give place to Leland, $
sOn-in-law. Concerning the charges Mr..
Leland says:
MIR. Hickey's record in the pension
office shows that he sailed under false
| colors. During Mr.. Clicks first term as
pension agent he was carried the
rolls as p. H. Murphy, as a clerk at the
| pension agency, until ABOUT one year
| after Mr.. Kelly took the agency. Mr..
| Kelly then let him out. Then after Mr..
Click was reappointed, the second time
| he requested Mr.. Kelly a few days be-
| fore Mr.. Click took charge to appoint
| Mr.. Hickey to a vacancy that then ex-
| listed in the clerical force of the agency.
| He was then appointed as p. Hickey.
| He served under the name as a clerk
| in the pension agency until his reSigna-
| ton, the 2Sth day of February, 1900. His
salary was reduced at my request July
| 1899, from $1,000 to 81 200. I found Mr.
Hickey to be very a disagreeable man
in the office. He never earned his sal
ary. For that matter. / do not believe
he could earn one-half of the salary he
received in the pension office at any
outside business.
Regarding the violation of the civil
service rules in filling the clerical po-
sitions in the agency, 1 will say that
when l took charge of this pension
agency there were but three old sol
diers holding positions as clerks Since
that time 1 have caused to be rein
stated under the civil service laws the
following named old soldiers, who are at
present holding positions as clerks in
this office under the civil service laws:
Charles S. Martin, reinstated in the
treasury department and transferred to
the pension agency at Topeka.
I'll. J.. Willard, reinstated in the post
Office department and transferred to the
Topeka office.
'sCharles w. Campbell, reinstated.
Morris d. Bailey reinstated.
Mark p. Miller, reinstated.
Games P. Wilson, reinstated.
John S. Morris, reinStated.
Samuel c. Garrard, reinstated.
Samuel S. McFadden, reinstated.
Rufus G. Kessler, reinStated.
Samuel M. Lanham, reinstated.
Mine of these old soldiers had been
let out of the service by former pension
agent, Mr.. Click.
a wife in Ireland, therefore the reason
of the assun ed name. 1t is a serious
question whether he ever was a, citizen
of the United States when he was hold
Ing a. government position, even If he
is today. The position of night watch
was abolished when I took charge OF
the agency. I have no relative holding
any position that is under the civil ser
vice at this agency. My son-in-law, Mr.
Finley, who is Spanish war soldier,
a son of a veteran of the civil war. is
d
unnecessary for me to speak of his
qualifications. He holds position here
that is not under civil service, and of
course could not have taken any clerks
place.
1T has been stated that two of the
employees in the pension office made affi-
davits-that Mr.. Hickey made one of
them Neither Mr. Hickey nor the 9TH
er gentleman, that it is claimed made
an affidavit, can make any affidavits
that would affect me in the least unless
they perjure themselves. Mr.. Hickey
states that in his affidavit he testifies
that his salary had been reduced. That
was a matter of record-it did not re-
quire his affidavit. That he had SER
vice of ten years. 1t is wonder to
me that he remained as long as he did.
An old soldier was reinstated to Hick-
eys place.
THE present office force I regard as
much more efficient than when took
charge of this agency. The salaries
paid the clerks at this agency are high
er in proportion than at any other
agency in the United States I repeat,
the civil service rules have not been
violated in any instance since 1 have
been pension agent"