The times., 1901-05-27

An Interesting Report Made by the
Leagues Committee on the Al
legged Abuses Committed in Office
-ControIIfng Local Conventions.
NEW YORK. May 26-The committee
of the National Civil Service Reform
League consisting of William Dudley
FouIke, Richard Henry Dana, William
a. Aiken, Charles Richardson, and George
NcAneny, which was appointed to inves-
tigate the condition of the Federal Ciyil
service has submitted q report IN re
gard to the violations Of the law alleged
to have been committed by g L. Sapp,
collector Of internal revenue at Louis
vile, Ky. The report, in part follows:
In 1899 the Civil Service Commission,
through its examiner, W S. Washburn
conducted an investigation of this Office.
from which appeared that one Joseph
Potoning levied political assessment of
5 per cent on the salary of each of the
employees, payable monthly. This was
shown by the testimony of Charles Wet
eel, Samuel B. Glover, John J. Brile,
Jacob J. Bunnell, Hugh Bell, George NJ.
Ferguson, Z. B. easier, NJ. G. Miller, f.
N. Barns. L. w. German, and John Roser.
Contributions were solicited from all of
these men and all have paid except
easier, Barns, Ferguson, and German
Payment was demanded both by letter
and in person. and often in the building
occupied for official duties Potoning repre-
sented that he was authorized by Collec-
tor Sapp to levy these assessments and
that he made monthly reports as to the
employees who had or had not paid; that
on the basis of these reports the assign
ments TO duty of these employees as store
keepers. gaugers, and storekeeper-
gaugers were made, by which their work
was determined and their pay regulated;
and that if the assessment was not paid
less remunerative assignments or dis
missaIs would follow. AS a matter of
fact those who made contributions were
given appointments with good pay. while
those who failed to contribute were given |
assignments which reduced their compen-
sation: and some of them, for example, L. !
w German. z. B. easier, and F. y.
Barns were dismissed from the service.
In view of these circumstances, there
was a settled conviction on the part OF
the employees that they were expected to
contribute regularly and that their re
tention in the service depended upon max
ing such contributions.
The evidence is clear that Collector |
Sapp knew that these assessments were |
being levied and paid. He himself re
L
buttons from Starekeeper W. " Daniels !
and Mr. John Scnanty, both employees Of |
the Internal Revenue Service. 1t is i'm |
possible to cite all the testimony. few /
illustrations must suffice:
e B. easier. a storekeeper- -gauger, tes-
tilted that Potoaing produced a letter
signed by the collector. (he being thor
oughly familiar with Sapp's signature),
substantially as follows:
Dear Sir: knowing your zeal in such matters
and the campaign funds being low, and being
very desirous Of nominating Attorney General
Taylor FOR Governor. 1 respectfully appoint you
collector. and hope you viii push the matter
and do everything you can for US Respectfully,
CHAS. Z. SAPP.
Joseph Potoning, Esq, City.
easier. failing to pay the S25 demanded
was laid off July !. 1893. He afterward
went 10 see Pot0ning. and offered to give
him the money, but POtoning replied that
it was too late, and that his report had
gone in. easier then asked the collector
for the charges upon which he had been
removed, and was told that there were
no charges. Mr.. Sapp stating that he was
one Of the best gaugers in the service. but
that he had been removed under the law
allowing the collector only 15 per cent in |
excess Of the men actually employed. This
reason, easier says could not be the true
one, since at the time Of his removal spe-
ciai storekeepers and gaugers not hold
ing commissions were continuously en-
ployed.
In the same interview, easier informed
the collector Of the letter exhibited by
Potoning, bearing Sapp's signature;
WhereupOn the collector simply smiled
and made no denial of the fact that
Potoning was authorized TO collect as
easements. nor that his signature to the
letter was genuine.
F. \. Barns testified that although he
told Potoning he was unable TO pay the
assessment, Potoning insisted that he
must pay It; and that about July he was
laid of from duty. In the early part of
August he went TO see Potoning and Of
fered 10 give him $50, but PotOning re-
piled that il was too late. Barns further |
stated that he had been dismissed for