The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-10-15
WAS DONE. !
SAYS EVANS COUNSEL
Attorney for Former Official in the Pension Office
Takes Exceptions to Findings in Case and
Presents His Bill of Particulars.

| the suitable size in a Buster Brown belt
made for his little son. He had also
borrowed four pocket memorandum
books of different sizes, Intending to
make selection of ones which he waa
entitled to do under the prevailing prac-
tice. A requisition had been duly rnads
for the memorandum books. and a NOM
orandum was made of the borrowing of
the punch and eyelets, which memoran-
dunn was found and offered in evidence.
Furthermore, Evans. with a sample of
the Buster Brown belt in one hand aud
the punch in the other. had informed a
clerk in his section what he was going
20 do with the punch The case was
based on the stationery recovered from
the boys, and the foregoing develop
ments merely contributed an incident Of
itself entirely insignificant.
After the preliminary Investigation
Mr.. Evans was surprised to receive
from the Commissioner formal charges
of having appropriated stationery of the
bureau TO his own use, and was shortly
thereafter removed from the stationery
section
Mr.. Evans made a full reply in writ
ing and amply supported with evidence
his brothers ownership to the property
in question Upon -he report made by
those charged with the investigation,
the Commissioner reported his findings
TO the Secretary Of the Interior and
recommended dismissal.
The serious character OF the Commits
sioner's report caused Judge Ryan, Act
ing Secretary, TO give the matter the
fullest investigation and he had all the
evidence reviewed by Judge Campbell,
the Attorney General for the Interior
Department 1t was at once seen that
. the Importance OF the matter was very
much exaggerated and did not require
any haste in it's disposition. After thee
or four weeks the case was taken up for
disposition and was disposed of, the
findings being that the charges were
not warranted by the evidence. The
Acting Secretary returned all the
papers In the case to the Commissioner,
directing that no further action Do
taken in the premises.
Warner Was Persistent.
Commissioner Warner Immediately
made a request to allow the case 10 be
further considered. The case was fur
Their considered. but neither the Acting
Secretary nor Judge Campbell saw any
reason for reversing himself When
Secretary Hitchcock returned, Commits
sioner Warner was very prompt to take
UP this matter with him. I am not adj
vised, nor can I understand, what
rational argument was or could possi-
bly, be made by the Commissioner in
asking for Evans dismissal. but tt is
sufficient to say that ne impressed the
Secretary with the Importance of being
sustained. T.
The papers in the case were looked
into by the Secretary and while he did
not disagree with the finding OF the
Acting Secretary and Judge Campbell
as 10 the evidence, the dismissal was
ordered, IL being his desire to sustain
his bureau chiefs whenever possible.
There is no question but that the Conn
missioner considered il very necessary
10 be sustained, even though the
charges were not sustained. but wha.
of the more serious and human con-
sideration involved-the character OF
Mr.. Evans, which was carelessly made
the victim and the price of the alleged
necessity.
The public should know that while
the civil service laws require a pre-
scribed procedure, a decision may be
made in the face of the clearest evil
dence. and that, without a proper regard
for fairness and the humanities. great
injustice is often done. as there has
been in this case, where no attempt
was made to prevent its occurrence.
J. HUGH NJ. STERLING.