The Washington times., 1902-01-10
FOR VIOLATING CIVIL
SERVICE RULES.
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CHARGES AGAINST MR. PERRAULT
Surveyor General 81 Idaho Accused
of DIsmissinE Clerks In Classi-
fed Service without Cause
Term Expires Jan. II.

In consequence of charges of violating
| the civil service rules brought against
him by the Civil Service Commission, and
now being investigated by the Interior
Department, Mr.. Joseph Perrault, sur
veyor general of Idaho, may be removed
| from Office.
! 1t is alleged that Mr.. Perrault has been
thorn in the side Of the commission
ever since his appointment to the office,
| November 1, 1897
The commission. in a report on his
| case, submitted 10 the Secretary of the
! Interior, states that, in view of the per
sistency and fragrant character of his
violations" they consider him a fit sub
| ject for removal
Term Expires In Two Days.
The fact that Mr.. Perrault's term of
| Office will expire January IL may save
him from dismissal. 1t is thought alto
gether likely the Interior Department
| may limit its expression of disapprovai
| to recommendation that he be not re-
| nominated.
The recent decision of the Court of
Claims in favor of the plaintiff in the
case OF Lehman VS.. the United States
has brought the case Of Surveyor General
Perrault into prominence again. Lell-
man is craftsman who was, with sew
eral other clerks, suspended rom the Of
flee of the surveyor general Immediately
upon the accession OF Mr.. Perrault in
November, 1897
No Charges Against Clerks.
NO charges, oral or written, wers pre-
ferred against the CLERKS who we're told
by the surveyor general that the susren-
sion was only temporary and made recess
| sary by the lack of work. The next day,
however, the positions thus made vacant
were filled with emergency clerks not
| drawn from the eligible list of the civil
| service.
Subsequently the Commissioner of the
| General Land Office ordered that the
suspended clerks be reinstated. This was
| done, but they were Immediately suspend
ed again on charges preferred by Mr.. Per-
rault.
The Charges Declared False.
| The Civil Service Commission investi-
| gated these charges and declared them.
| in report in which the result of the in
| 'estigation was Incorporated. to be false
Lehman instituted suit against the
United States to recover his salary for
The time of Illegal suspension The case
was handled by Andrews & Andrews. of
this city. Tie Court of Claims handed
down decision to the effect that the
craftsmen must be paid his regular
salary for the time during which he was
unlawfully suspended
A Unique Decision.
This is the first case ever decided
against the United stafes by the Court
of Claims where the plaintiff was a sus
pended clerk suing for compensation COW
ering the time of suspension. The Lell-
| man case was a test case, and several
of the other clerks have instituted suits
against the United States for their sal
aries as result of its outcome.
Other charges have been made by a
former clerk that, in violation of the
law. Surveyor General Perrault made at
tempts to solicit campaign funds from
the employees under him.
Land survey Contracts.
This clerk also writes the Civil Service
Commission that an investigation would
tHdt SoulldStS 6fdutcu oui-
yeying land In Washington, Oregon, and
Idaho would bear scrutiny.
Although not himself a surveyor or en-
glneer, it is alleged that Mr.. Perrault has,
in several cases, removed civil service
appointees from Office on the ground of
lack of work. and appointed emergency
clerks not on the civil service lists,
who were his political friends, to fill the
places made vacant.
Should the nomination of Mr.. Perrault
go TO the Senate, it is said that spirited
contest will ensue upon the matter Of
his confirmation.