The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-08-02
Albert Martin, Clerk in To-
peka Office, Says He Was
First Reduced and Then
Dismissed.
TWO COMPANIONS
SIMILARLY TREATED
Statement OF Case Accom-
panied by AffidavitS Filed
With President and Civil
Service Commission.

Albert Martin. of Parsons, Kan. has
sent to the newspapers a letter which
seriously reflects upon the pretensions to
civil service sanctity set forth by PEN
sion Commissioner Ware, and if sus
tanned will place the administration OF
the Pension Of1ce in a most unenviabie
light Martin has laid the matter be-
fore the President.
Mr. Martin begins his statement i-y
quoting an interview with Mr.. Ware in
which the Commissioner discourses at
some length upon his determination TO
forever abolish pull in the Census
Office and see that in the future abso-
lutely nothing but merit should infiu-
ence appointments and promotions As
the interview is along the lines OF Mr.
Wares utteTances on numerous other
occasions. it Is fair TO assume them to
be the true substance OF Mr.. Wares re-
marks TO the reporter for the Topeka
Capital" in which the interview a3
peared on December 6, 1902.
Sworn Afidavits.
Then Mr.. Martin submits sworn af-
fldavit full of interesting matter. The
substance of the affidavit is that he is
good clerk and had been in the Office of
the United States pension agency at To-
peka. Kan, since 1884. and was thor
oughly competent 10 discharge he
duties imposed upon h:m; that on or
about November l2 1902. himself L. 5.
Fortune. and Martin Oswald we.e sum-
moned before Gen. Ms. Metcalf.
United States pension agent at To-
peka, and informed that their salaries
would be reduced from 81 900 to
$500 per year; that at the time Geaatal
Metealf said he considered the three
men thoroughly competent clerks, but
tina: Tor political reasons he was obliged
10 reauce their salaries; that General
Metcalf said he was convinced that
politics could not be entirely elm
mated from the conduct of his office
which has for several years been in the
classified service; that General Metcalf
further said that he regarded the three
men as much more competent thar, other
clerks drawing as much or more pay
but that for political reasons Martin.
NIT 10 a reduction in salary.
The affidavit concludes by saying that
it is not made in a spirit of malice. but
having read the declarations of MI.
Ware and President Roosevelt on the
subject of civil service. he thinks he has
the right to make the facts public.
Conirmatosy Statements.
Afhdavits are submitted by Fortune
and Oswald. in which they swear that
they know the Martin affidavit to be the
truth, and they recite practically the
same facts in more condensed form.
Mr.. Martin then continues. saying that
the several salaries were ordered by Mr.
Ware to be increased S400 despite the
protests of General Metcalf, TO which
protests General Metcalf replied that
Mr.. Ware obstinately refused to listen.
and that the general said several sala-
ries would have 10 be reduced, although
he knew the atlantis were better clerks
than some OF those who were kept at
their old salaries.
This. according to Mr. Martin. General
Metcalf declared to be an outrage"
but that ne had been made TO see that
politics could rot be eliminated from
the running OF the office. The general |
said the atlantis were so competent that /
he recommended them for increases OF /
5000 per year each, but that under the /
circumstances he would have to reduce 4
instead of increase their pay
Later 1t developed, according to Mr.. [
Martin. that General Metcalf, in MAX
ing the reductions. had not followed the 1
advice of j. p. Howe, chief clerk of the /
agency, but had listened to Charles !
Drew. his confidential clerk. who stated |
that 'he did not propose TO see the |
general make a political mistake"
Mr.. Wares Denial.
Mr.. Martin sent all this information. |
with the atfidavits, 10 Commissioner /
Ware, but the Commissioner professed |
not to see the point, and said that the 1
reductions were not made because of |
politics. but in regarding the Office To |
this Mr.. Martin replies that the Office /
was not so much regarded as degraded. |
The complainant says that Mr. Howe /
and the other chiefs recognized the in 4
justice of the action and recommended /
that some of the incompetent clerks be 1
reduced and Martin, Oswald. and For
tune be retained at the old figures.
Mr.. Ware, says Mr.. Martin. ignored
the appeal. but in a few days General /
Metcalf demanded Mr. Martins resigna-
tion. which was refused. Mr. Martin !
then sent all the documents TO the Civil