El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-08-09
DENIES CLAIMS
MADE BY HUGHES
Administration Is Aroused
By Alleged Appointments
to Civil Service Places.

Washington. D. c. Aug. e-Because
Of assertions made by Charles +
Hughes. Republican nominee for the
presidency. in his Detroit speech. the
administration Tuesday night denied
statements relative to appointments to
civil service places.
Edwin + Sweet. acting secretary Of
commerce. in the absence OF secretary
Redfield. sent Mr.. Hughes the follow
message;
IN a speech at Detroit Monday you
are quoted as saying:
we had in the coast and geodetic
survey an eminent scientist. a man who
had won distinction in connection with
his scientific work. man OF very en-
inent rank. He was displaced to make
room for an excellent stock breeder and
veterinary surgeon
In the coast and geodetic survey
we have had a very extraordinary con-
ditiOn with regard TO expert places. I
mean places that were taken out of the
civil service laws ] shall not 20 into
the exact figures. In the year ending
about April. 1916, there were taken out
1914. that is. appointments by executive
action, removed from the operation of
- 1
believe. Of about 1O4- I believe that
some 20 of those Were made without
seeking the advice OF the civil service
commission. l believe that about %
were made after seeking the advice and
with the approval Of the civil service
made in opposition to the advice Of the
evil service commission.
Says Tfttman Resigned.
In the absence of the secretary of
the department of commerce Zone OF
the bureaus of which is the coast and
Seodetic survey. I deem il my duty to
correct some grave errors in the fore
going statement Or. Tittman. superin-
tendent of the coast and geodetic sur
vey. the scientist to whom YOU refer.
was not displaced. In February or
March. 1915. he came to my office and
told me that he had determined to re-
sign on account of i'll health He said
that he had reached the conclusion
many months previous and had al
ready purchased a place in Leesburg.
Va. which he expected to make his
home I communicated this infOrma-
ton TO secretary Redfield. who ex-
pressed surprise and regre, Or. Tit
mans action was entirely voluntary
and was not the result of any request
or suggestion of the department. direct
or indirect.
Jones Displays Merit.
You refer to f Lester Jones. his
successor. IS stock breeder and vet
Urinary surgeon At one time he had
4 farm in Virginia on which he raised
stock This was sold some time before
he entered the government service. He
never was a veterinary surgeon He is
a gentleman OF education and refine
ment Before his appointment 10 sue
coed DR.. Tittman he was deputy com
missioner of fisheries Canother bureau
Of this Department. and displayed adj
talent Of such high order /
That ne was deemed by both the secre- |
-ary and myself worthy of recommen-
fation for appointment TO fill the Va /
,ancy in the coast and Eeodetic survey J
n our judgment this bureau was well /
equipped from the scientific standpoint |
tut stood in great need G. man of !
Executive ability 10 direct and organ
re its work
Work Is Well Done.
About two months elapsed between
he resignation of DR.. Tittman and the I
appointment OF Mr.. Jones During that /
interval and before the recommendation !
vas made. suggestions and advice were /
RELY sought from parties who knew
he qualifications of Mr.. Jones and also /
rom parties who knew the census bu-
eau. some Of them OF the highest
tanding in the scientific world Since
he appointment of Mr.. Jones. wire
rag work on both the Atlantic and pa
fife coasts and the coast survey and
II other work Of the bureau have been
developed and prosecuted with marked
igor and success.
Only 80 Appointments.
las to your statement regarding the
ivil service, YOU are equally misin- |
ormed- During the year to which you
efer a number of appointments made
n the coast and Geodetic survey has
zen far short of 1O4- The actual num-
er is so, of which 80 appointments
we're made with the approval of the
ivil service commission The remain
ng u were for temporary positions. !
hiefly Of laborers. at salaries less than |
3 per day None of them are under
he civil service law as it stands now
nd as it has stood for years.
Asks Correction.
You say I believe that So were made
n opposition TO the advice OF the civil !
ervice commission The fact is that
uring the entire incumbency of Mr.
ones not a single appointment has |
cen made in this bureau in opposition |
0 the advice Of the civil service com
Mission.
viii you please give to this state
lent the same c1Irreuc.- tho 80.