New-York tribune., 1903-06-14
RAND AND CORTELYOU.
CONTRASTED CAREERS.
Postofce officials as Get Rtch
Quick" Promoters.


Washington June 13 (SpeciaD-"H H. Rand
Postoffice Department, Treasurer" printed IN
bold black type on the prospectus of chicago
concern which promises small investors facilllleS
for acquiring wealth rapidly. is perhaps the
strongest bid for public confidence made by that
concern. which had a capital OF SoooooV.
Through the courtesy of this institution would
be investors may acquire interest IN the DAISY
Gold Mining Company, Limited; the Mexican
Mining and Exploration Company the Nauohal
Capital Copper Mining Company, the OVERLOOK
the Charlotte Guich. the o. X. the Neal View,
the Mountain Queen Group ana the 1hdlah
Creek mining properties and other more or less
valuable and attractive properties of similar
character. WouId-be investors can obtain fun
particulars. stock. etc. from H. H Rand. con
fdential clerk to the Postmaster General, and
will receive answers to their inquiries on the
stationery of the Cabinet officer named, ana
even dictated to and transcribed by govern
ment stenographerS.
The Mexican Mining and Exploration Com
pany is further represented by James V. Dtgno-
witty. member of the executive committee, and
Edward L. Dignowity, director. both of whom
may generally be found in the office OF the
aforesaid confidential clerk Should the
would-be investor be so unfortunate as to ar
rive at the Postoffce Department on day when
Mr. Rand is absent, he can doubtless secure all
necessary information from other postal en-
pioyes who have been ''let in the ground
floor" by Mr.. Rand. Charles Hedges superin-
tendent of the city delivery in Machen's bureau
for instance, although restrained by a special
order from the President from comforting
his fellow workers. postmasters and other gov
ernment employees the blessed privilege of in
vesting in the securities of the Rand COM
panies. would doubtless feel free to give full
rein to his generous instincts when the request
came from outsider
Some question has been raised TO the
legality of Rand's tenure in the Postofice De-
partrnent in view of the fact that he holds the
office of assistant superintendent of salaries
and allowances" but performs work in that
division. devoting himself to the confidential
work of the Postmaster General and the promo
ton of marble quarries mining stocks and other
methods of rapidly amassng wealth. There is
no ground for complaint on this score how
ever In 1902. when Mr. Payne desired TO bring
Mr. Rand to Washington, he inquired of the
Civil Service Commission If he could make Rand
chief clerk of the Postofice Department and
was informed that he could not. Mr. Payne
then promptly availed himself of a provision
in the Civil Service laws whereby member Of
the Cabinet is empowered TO appoint men to
any two vacant places in his department, and
then designate them to perform the duties of
private secretary and confidential clerk.
The existence of this provision of the law is
in violation of the wishes and recommendations
of the Civil Service Commission 1t is regarded
a loophole by which high officials are permit
ted to take care of political friends TO ap-
point men TO receive remuneration from the
government for attending to private and per-
sonaI affairs for their chief without rendering
any service whatever TO the government 1t is
argued by the Civil Service Commission that no
better man can be found TO perform government
service than some competent clerk selected from
the classified service. Such would have
the experience in government methods the Cabi-
net officer too often lacks, and could hardly fail
TO be of the highest assistance to his chief. 1t
is further pointed out that the man who usually
involves his chief in difficulties or places him in
embarrassing positions is the confidential
clerk imported from outside the government
service. In connection with this matter the
case OF Judge Tyner is cited, among others, he
having secured authority TO employ Harrison ].
Barrett, his nephew, as confidential clerk.
Perhaps the most striking example of the
benefit to be derived from employing man al
ready in the classified service in confidential
capacity is found in the history of George B.
CorteIyou now Secretary of Commerce and
Labor. Mr.. Cortelyou was selected from the
classified rolls by President Cleveland. and vas
retained in a confidential place by President
Mckinley and later by President Roosevelt.
The value of the service which Mr.. Cortelyou
has been able to render TO his principals is too
well known TO require comment, but it is worthy
OF note that he first Of all employe of
the government and secondarily the servant of
his chiefs. that, with the welfare of the
government always in view, and constantly
increasing experience in governmental affairs,
he impressed both President Mckinley and
President Roosevelt the most competent man
that could be selected for the complex and
difficult task of organizing an important new
executive department.
There have been many other instances of
faithful and efficient services performed by regu
lar employees of the government who have been
retained in places where they enjoyed conf
Dental relations with newly elected or appointed
officials and there is said to be no instance
where such a man has placed his chief in a
gravely embarrassing position. This cannot be
said generally Of men brought into the govern
ment service by incoming officials, without
perience in national affairs
A