The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-05-22
CiviI-Service Commissioner of Opin-
ion the Indinnian Did Not Intend
to Violate the Law.
ANOTHER REPORT TO BE MADE
ON THE CHARGE OF COLLECTING
POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS.
Senator Fairbanks's Efforts in Behalf
of Public Buildings in Indiana
Successful.
peciaI to the Indianapolis Journal.


ley Foulke, civil-service commissioner, to-
day made public his finding upon the
charges made against Collector Bonnell at
Terre Haute, to the effect that Mr.. Bon
nell disseminated in favor of the Repub-
occasion to lay off. when there was not a
sufficient amount of work to require the
services of all the civil-service employees
assigned to that Office. Commissioner
Foulke made a thorough examination of
the charges and says that he does not think
he would be justified in recommending the
removal of Collector Bonnel He cid
discover that the Democrats had been dis
eliminated against, but also learned that
Mr. Bonnell had been informed by the COM
missioner Of internal revenue that he could
give assignments to whom he pleased, and
really did not intend TO violate the civil
service rule. After discussing several points
of the evidence Commissioner Foulke says:
1T seems conclusive from this evidence
that there has been discrimination against
the Democrats on account OF their political
opinions and that civil-service Rule IL has
been violated. 1t seems clear, however,
that Collector Bonnell believed he had the
lawful power to do what he did; that he
believed this from the statement made to
him on what he considered adequate au-
thority. Collector BonneIl had only recent
ly taken office and is not presumed to have
the same intimate knowledge of his powers
and duties as collector as one who has
been long in the place. 1t would, there
fore, be manifestly unjust, in view of the
information which he states he received,
TO recommend his removal from office on
this ground under Section / of Rule II,
which provides that any person in the
executive civil service who shall willfully
violate the provisions of the civil-service
act or of the civil-service rules shall be
dismissed from office. 1t will, therefore,
depend entirely upon his future action
whether any further steps should be taken
by this commission. II the future assign
litical opinion Of the men assigned | recon-
mend that 10 further action be taken by
the commission. He should be Informed,
however. that this must be done.
AS TO the charge that Collector Bonnell
was endeavoring to coerce the political &C
ton of his employees in violation of the
ciyil-service act, and was endeavoring to
use his official authority official infiu-
ence for the purpose of interfering with an
election and controlling the result thereof
the only evidence presented is that at a pri-
mary election held in February 1902, coll
ored ballots were used for certain delegates,
and ii is claimed that these ballots were
so used for the purpose Of ascertaining
now the employees had voted. and that one
of the witnesses. Houk who was a teller
at this election, and was a storekeeper and
gauger, had stated that il the men did not
vote as they were expected TO they would
be laid of from their assignments. No
testimony is presented which shows or
tends to show that Collector Bonnell pre-
pared such ballots or was aware of their
use for the purpose charged Indeed he
positively denied all knowledge of the sub
Ject. There is no testimony to warrant the
charge OF coercion or the use of his Office
for the purpose OF controlling an election.
AS TO the charge OF the collection of con-
tributions for political purposes before Mr.
Bonnell came into office l will present
separate report TO the commission"
Senator Fairbanks. to-day called up and
had passed without serious opposition the
omnibus public-building bill in the Senate.
The appropriations for the various cities
in Indiana went through as reported from
Senator Fairbanks's committee The
amounts have been given heretofore in
the Journal dispatches. The Indiana items
which passed the House and Senate with
out amendment are certain to remain in the
bill unchanged, for they are not a subject
for conference. They are Vincennes. Craw-
louisville and Logansport. The item for
Anderson, having been placed in the bill
by the Senate committee. will have TO run
the gauntlet of the conference committee
The items for Hammond Muncie, Elkhart
and Richmond, having been increased by
senator Fairbanks committee, will like
wise be subject matter for the conference
committee. The bill will go TO the House
tomorrow, when IL is expected that Con-
gresham Mercer, chairman of the public
building and grounds committee. will move
that the House nonconcur in the Senate
amendment and a conference committee
will be appointed Senator Fairbanks will
chairman conference 7rf1ff tao
and by virtue OF his position will exert a
great influence toward retaining all the In
diana items In the bill Congressman Mer-
Ger, who will be at the head of the House
conference. said to-day that il might be
found necessary 10 reduce some of the
Indiana appropriations, but that he thought
1t probable they would all be retained in
the bill.
Senator Beveridge has introduced a bill
providing for a delegate for Alaska. There
has been a vociferous protest from the
citizens OF Alaska TO the effect that they
are deserving Of a delegate just as much
as Arizona, and certainly should be on an
equal footing with Porto Rico, which has
a commissioner. These protests struck
Senator Beveridge as being we'll founded
and, as chairman of the committee on Ter
ritories. he will start the necessary legisla-
ton.
w. d. Bynum was at the Capitol to-day
and, as a member of the codifcation COM
mittee, was explaining TO the senators and
representatives why il was not expedient
10 increase the number of federal circuit
judges and not district judges. Under the
procedure arranged for by the Codification
Commission, the circuit judges become
appeal judges, and as such most OF their
time is occupied. The litigation originates
in the district federal courts. and it is
there where more judges are needed.
The controller of the currency today
authorized the Fayette National Bank. of
Connersville. Ind, TO begin business. Capt.
tai, 100000. Joseph /. Little is president
Preston H. kensler cashier.
The pOstoffice at French Lick. Ind, has
been raised TO the presidential class and
the salary Of the postmaster fixed at S1,4OO
per year.
About a week ago Secretary Hay, in re-
ply TO a Senate resolution of inquiry as TO
the reported discovery OF several missing
boundary stones on the Alaskan frontier.
boundary stones, though he had frequently
investigated rumors of their existence and
already had directed an inquiry A report
made by Captain Richardson, L. s. A an
expert in Alaskan geography. has just been
received. and, as was expected. shows that
failed TO find any OF these mythical Russian
boundary stones.
The President to-day sent the following
nominations 10 the Senate: z. L. Adams.