Evening star., 1922-06-23

position at the head of the insurance
department The legal proceedings, Mr.
Gardiner said, are designed 10 test
whether the District government en!-
ployes are under the civil service.
IF the District government en-
ployes are under the civil service.
Mr. Gardner said, "the Commission
erS had no power or authority to dis
miss DIR. Griffith without filing written
charges against him. which they de-
clined to do
Under Civil Service.
| In his opinion, Mr. Gardiner pointed
| out, the District government employees
come under the civil service statutes,
because a certain percentage of their
salary is deducted for the civil service
retirement fund. DIR. Griffith, he main
tanned was under the civil service, be
cause 2k per cent of his salary since
August, 1920, has been deducted for
the retirement fund.
DR.. Griffith charged in his statement
that not only did the Commissioner re-
fuse to file any charges against him.
but declined to let him appear before
| them.
! NO charges of any character have
| been preferred against me, so far as !
Dr. Griffith. Upon the contrary, during
! March of the present year Commission
! er Rudolph who has direct charge and
supervision of my Office under the pres
ent Commissioners assignment of de
DartmentS. sent for me. and while IN
: his Office he stated to me thus:
/ 1.-The work of your office Is en-
tirely satisfactory. There has never
! been to my knowledge a complaint
filed against you or the office during
your administration. You give your
| whole time to the job. I had hoped
! that you could be retained during my
! entire term of office, but those
| damned fellows on the hill have been
after me.
Letter From White House.
Il asked if the President was TAX
ing any part in the matter and lie
said:
Mot exactly, but Secretary Chris
tian has written me from the White
House for the appointment
He indicated to me that he could
withstand the pressure from the hill,
but he could not from the White
| House.
He further stated:
| "I might have to ask for your
resignation on or about the 18th of
May
"The interview was pleasant and
the Commissioner indicated by words
and action his desire not to interfere
| with nv office or to disturb me in my
nnsition as superintendent of insur-
ance of the District Of Columbia.
Political Pressure strong.
THE 15tn of May came. No request
for my resignation was received but
in the meantime | was advised that
at least one United States senator and
other men of prominence were told by
Commissioner Rudolph that the af-
fairs of my office were entirely salts
factory and that he did not want to
remove me. but that political pressure
was so strong that he feared tnat he
would not be able to resist II. j was
advised of the above statement made
by Commissioner Rudolph to the
United States senator by the United
States senator himself.
There was nothing more concern
ing the matter until Monday last
about noon, when Commissioner Ru-
dolph again sent for me and stated
to me that he desired my resignation
that afternoon. to take effect July l.
1 left the office without expressing
myself as 10 my intention. --.. .,.
1.-THE Commissioner sent to my Of
flee three, times requesting my resis-
"a q y 4