The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-03-06
Contests for Seats in Con-
gress. See Moody Case.
CIVIL SERVICE FARCE
Mr.. Pou Tears OF Some of the Veneer
From thissWretched Stage Piece
and Shows it Eaten Badly
by Political
Worms.
Especial to News and Observer


Washington, D. c., March 5.-That Con-
gressional contests are good thing for
lawyers, but not always for the contest
ants, is well illustrated by the Moody
Gudger contest. Few cases have come up
to Congress in recent years having less
foundation in fact than had this. And
yet the lawyers for the contestant
(Moody) got no less than four thousand
dollars for making it.
OF this amount the government paid the
usual two thousand, Moody paying fifteen
hundred of it to his attorneys before his
death, and Mrs. Moody paying five hun
dred more soon thereafter.
Some months later Mr.. Settle, one of
Mr.. Moodys attorneys, went to her home
IN Waynesville and by certain representa-
tons secured two thousand more from
her to carry on the case. This amount
has never been returned by Mr.. Settle,
nor, it is alleged, has any part of it ever
been paid to his associate, Col. Lusk, who
is quoted as saying it was not needed nor
used in the case
However that may be, friends of Mrs.
Moody are now making an effort to have
Congress reimburse her the two thousand
dollars, and at least one gentleman who
feels that she has been treated badly in
the matter. has been here this week to
consult the North Carolina delegation as
to what steps should be taken to that end
1t Is further said by those who are in
possession of the facts that the incident
will destroy any political prospects that
Mr.. Settle may have had in that district.
In course Of his testimony today before
the House Committee on Civil Service
Reform, Secretary OF the Navy Moody
was asked whether he thought the ceri
cal forces in the department were the
equal of those in large business estab-
lishments. Mr. Moody expressed the
opinion that if the heads of departments
had the same authority and control over
their employees as do the heads of bust
ness houses the clerical forces might be
somewhat improved. Thereupon Mr.. Pou,
of North Carolina. asked Mr. Moody
whether the head of department could
discharge man without assigning any
cause Secretary Moody replied that he
was inclined to believe it would be vio-
lation of President McKinley's order, and
If such a discharge were made he would
not be surprised if the courts should rein
state the man. He said that if the head
OF a department would give an apparently
good reason, however, he did not believe
there was any way. the courts could re
view She case.
Then. said Mr.. Pou, you admit that
everything connected with the retention
OF a man in office under the civil service
is in the discretion of the officer in
charge
The Secretary thought that was about
the statement of the case since the supe-
rior officer could find "a fact that clerk
was not competent, and assigning that as
cause for removal there could be no APP
peal from the decision.
Under such rules AZ that" said Mr.
Pou, alter he came out of the committee
room, THE civil service is an utter farce.
so lar as 1T pretends 10 eliminate from
consideration the question of politics and
personal influence"
during the Smoot hearing this week
Senator Overman has taken marked inter
est III the testimony brought out. and not
fnfreduently he has asked Questions, the
answers OF which served to throw consid-
cradle light upon the matter under in
vestigation.
The testimony of President Smith head
of the Mormon church. has so far done
great damage to Shoots case In tho
minds of many Senator'S who have closely
followed the testimony at least doubt
has been raised as to whether any official
OF the Mormon church should be allowed
to occupy seat in the national law-mak-
ing body as long as polygamy exists in
the form in which President Smith ar
kuowledces that II now does
Rev I. A. McIaurin, of the Presbyte-
rian church AZ Raeford. Cumberland coun-
ty, was here today getting letters 10 our
representatives in foreign countries pre-
raratory to trip abroad this spring.
He will be accompanied by Rev. W. C.
Moore. fPresbyterianl, and Rev ". s.
Walker CBaptisD. of Charlotte. They
will sail from New York on the Sth and
be abroad about three months. visiting
Athens Constantinople. Jerusalem, Ds-
maseus. Cairo. Alexandra, Naples, Lon
don. and other cities.
Mr.. w T. Lee. of Waynesville. who
was here today on his way home from
New York. was visitor al the Capitol,
where he was tho recipient of many eour-
tesies from the North Carolina delegation
in Congress Mr.. Lee was tor several
years a member Of the State Committee