The Washington times., 1902-01-06
OFFICIALS IN
A FINE FEA ER,
Collector Franks May Be
the Next to Go.
POWER OF CIVIL SERVICE RULES
I;oIatars of Regulations Who Are
Too Active in Field of Politics
Have Reason tn TrcEiblc in Light
OF president ROoseyeh's Recent
Actions Toward the OHcudcrs.

Internal revenue collectors. United
States marshals, and district attorneys
who duriug the past four years have been
active in politics. and who have been in
clined to wink at the civil service rules
and regulations. are growing most ap-
prehensive these days, especially those
officials whom the Civil Service Commits
sion has had occasion to investigate and
rcDort against to the head OF the Depart
ment under whom the Offending officials
were serving.
Means Business Now.
But the record shows that during Mr..
McKinleys administration these investi-
cations conducted by the Civil Service
Commission, together with its recon-
mendations. were never seriously consid-
cred.
Now. however all is changed as Presi-
dent Roosevelt. who is a great stickler
for the civil service rules. has caused il
to be known that he viii not brook any
violation OF the spirit and letter of the
civil service law
The first evidence he gave was the ac-
ceptauce of Collector Sapp's resignation
| the collector having been slated for re-
movai because OF charges preferred by
the Civil Service Commission.
Looping Them or.
The next in line was the caIled-fo res
| isnation of Col David A. Nunn The col
| lector of the Nashville (Tenn) district.
; This. it is understood, will be followed
| by others.
The internal revenue collector who is
/ on tenterhooks, and whose resigna ton may
| be asked for at any time, is Mr.. E. T.
! Franks, of the Second Kentucky district.
The charges filed and now pending
| against Collector Franks are to the effect
| that he has been TOO active in political
| matters, having used his office, it is said
| to promote the candidacy of one Repub-
| lican in a contest for the Republican
| nomination for Congress from the Second
| Congressional district OF his State, and
| has shown disposition TO disregard the
| spirit and letter OF the civil service law.
| The charges of political activity wera
preferred by Hon. George W. jolly, who
| in letter TO the Civil Service Commis-
| sion said:
EoriScd Against Candidate.
"On the day before the Dayiess county
| convention he tFranks) corraled about
| 10 or 40 negroes in a hall at Ovens
| bo.o. They were furnished with beer an
| marched u, tee street with a band at The
/ head. carrying banner. w T. Fowler
! the Administration Candidate and were
| received by Franks at the courthouse
! door.
| 'Tn The convention there assembled ]
suppose, were in the ncighborhood Of ,O00
! Republican, all OF whom. with the eEcep-
! tion of almost go. were wearing
| M badges and sotei for The election OF
| Mr. Reno for chairman. and were in fayol
| OF isstucting the delegates TO the dis
t-ict convention 0 vote Cor ny nomination
! Notwithstanding this, Franks. Van Rensse.
| laer. and about fifteru or twenty white
! men, mostly oficeholdcrs, undertook u
| hold a convention in the courtroom Gt the
! tiinc ttaJ the convention presided over by
Mr. Reno was held, and Franks and iii
d. crowd claimed to aaye elected Van Kenssc
| lacr. the rostr. .a5ter II OSensboro chair
nan, and appointed lelegatcs 10 vote III,
| county fol Fowler. They created 4 Froa
! deal OF confusion. but the regular con
vention was held. and delegates selected
| and instructed to cast the vote OF tho
county for myself
Franks and Van Rensselaer,. with few
| others. went 10 Henderson TO the district
| convention and undertook to east tho
vote Of Dayiess county for Fowler.
Gross Partially.
"W i. Hardigs. a deputy collector n-
der Franks stationed at Uniontown, va.
Gcting As chairman of the Union County
| Committee and held a snap convention
down there, ana, although asl informed
by friends Of mine a majority OF those
! present were in favor OF my nomination
| he counted it against me.
Nothing more indecent or outragCou.
| can be imagined than the conduct of T. T
! Franks before and at these county con
ventions ana at the district convention q
| Henderson
Tie letter containing the abov
! charges was forwarded to The Secrctar,
OF the Treasury. but the Civil Servic
| Commission heard nothing from them
| These charges are now TO be brought Il
| The attention Of President Roosevelt, an,
IL WIS said yesterday morning that unles: