El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-07-23
O|SLOYALTY IN
THE CUSTOM
SERVICE
Hasn't Paid Anybody at Ell
Paso Station = Collector
Has Won Every Point.
TWO OFFICIAL HEADS
DROP; MAYBE MORE

That it does not pay to play politics
with ones bread and butter salary as
the stake, has been proved in the FL
Paso custom service. One by one the
men who composed the combination
which was known to have existed
against the reappointment of collector
OF customs Sharpe are dropping as the
leaves from the trees when the frost
strikes them in the fall
The first dismissal following the re-
appointment of the collector was that of
Mort c. Mckinney, cashier in the Gus
tom house. Mckinney was active in OPP
position to Sharpe'S reappoinment, even
going so far as to file Il protest. The
department, when Mckinney's charge $
were not sustained. lost no time in re
moving him. 1t is said that Mckinney
particular grievance was the appoint
ment of y y. Marker to the CHIEF clerk
ship upon the death OF c. \. Dyke This
position was coveted by the cashier and
when another man was promoted from
the line, he proceeded to AIR his griev-
ance in the form OF charges against the
collector to the department at Wash
ington, which returned as a bareback in
the nature Of a dismissal from the SER
vice for INSTRUMENTATION.
Mckinney the Goat
Although Mckinney wrote the petit
ton, it was freely reported at the time
of his dismissal that there were others
in the service back of the petition.
Mckinney and c. a. Kline, a former
custom house employee, who was can
didate fer the cOIlectorship, were fire.
quently seen together and it was COM
II 70
getker for the appointment of the
chamber of commerce secretary TO sue
coed the present collector.
Considerable DisIoyaIty.
But the combination was not confined
to the Kline boom nor to Mckinney
on the inside Other officials of the
customs service are said TO have been
mixed up in the internal intrigue TO
have the collectors reappointment held
up
The replacing of George E. Smith. who
had been superintendent of mounted
inspectors since the famous Pat Gar
rett reign by Lewis o. Howell, bears out
this belief that there were others on
the inside who were interested in the
appointment of q collector other than
Sharpe. The reason given by collector
Sharpe for reducing Smith to the posi-
ton of mounted inspector or line rider.
Is that ne IS what Is termed q third
grade inspector and as such had no
right to outrank other inspectors OF
the first grade by serving as their
chief.
Sharpe Rewards Service
Lewis O. Howell, who succeeded Nc
Kinney as cashier. has been appointed
to Smiths place as superintendent Of
mounted inspectors. and will be over
former superintendent Smith Smith
was the appointee of Garrett, whose adj
mlnlstration was notorious for its
friendly and political appointments and
promotions rather than in recognition
of long service or ability. The promo
tions in the office during the Sharpe
administration have all been from the
line except in cases where the ability of
the employe merited advancement over
others less able This naturally caused
dissenSion in the ranks of the man who
had entered the service under the old
plan and loyalty in number of cases
is said to have been noticeable bv its
absence.
Another Sensation, Maybe.
The changes are not all made vet in
the custom service at this port. 1t IS
said. Will the dismissal of cashier Nc
Kinney and the reduction of George
Smith caused mild sensation. the next
move, it is said, will be even more i'm
portant