The National tribune., 1885-09-17
CIVIL SERVICE IN NEW YORK.

York we know not. Probably no one really
does know outside of their own very select
little circle. Undoubtedly their names are
paraded in the public prints whenever an
opportunity offers or can be made, but this
does not fix them in any ones mind, for the
reason that there is nothing else connected
with them to help retain them there. They
are simply regarded by those who are carry
ing On the real business Of life as u lot Of
political Pharisees, rayenous for notoriety,
Of which they are only able to get so much
as may accrue from industrious posing as
special champions of whatever may occupy
the public mind for the moment. Civil
Service Reform happens to be the public
fad now, and they are Civil Service Reform
ers, in a way that is so plainly mcuthing and
canting merely that no person has any pa
tience with them.
These gentry have felt all torn up in their
too-too delicate and susceptible minds by
the circular sent out by the Veterans Rights
Union, and they, after much labor, have
brought forth the following reply:
A committee assuming to represent the honor
ably discharged veterans of the State has issued
circular calling upon old soldiers TO demand the
passage of the "Earl Bill and to defeat those
members of the Legislature who fought against
that measure and saved the State from the discredit
of It's passage during The last session. Among
l., tAs
is the gallant Gen. n. NJ. Curtis, the hero of Fort
Fisher! Ii has been left to those political veterans
TO exhibit most unique method OF testifyinS the
gratitude OF the people,
The " Earl Bill - is bill introduced into the New
York Legislature las; Winter by Hon. N. {. Earl,
of Kings County, proposing 10 exempt honorahiy
discharged soldiers and sailors OF the late was from
the competitive examinations under the Civii-Serv-
i've rules which required of all others, thereby
giving appointing officers an opportunity to eTade
these rules by filling the positions at their disposal
with such OF their personal adherens as are Will
ing to assert that they have been honoraoly dis
charged from the military naval service.
The " Earl Bill " is simply bill to exclude from
employment in the classified Civil Service OF the
State and its cities all intelligent citizens who have
not been III the army and all intelligent veterans
competent to pass appropriate examinations who
lave not made themselves acceptabieto appointing
officers until all the political soldiers shall have OBJ
tanned the positions that they want. 1t is for old
soldiers TO resent this insult to the American soldier
which claims that he is not the equa! of other citi-
zens and pictures him whining and incapable
ntrguer sneaking in to steal away the rights of his
neghbor5.
II is the interest of all good citizens TO denounce
ii deserves this proposed outrage, and to see that
shall be sent to the Legislature who will
not legally support the laws for the reform of the
Civil Service which have been passed in response
to the demands of the people.
Veterans! The law now affords an equal chance
to ALL in proportion to fitness, TO enter the public
service. When candidate for the Legislature or
for Congress asks for your vote, ask him whether
if elected, he TO try by his vote TO exclude
you from tie right which the law now guarantees
to you
1t is difficult to say which most impresses
one in this,-its amazing impudenee or its
approach to absolute mendacity. From
first TO last it is a string of epithets against
those who are guilty of asking that service
in the defense of the country be recognized
in the bestowal of offices. They assume to
represent" they are political veterans"
they only advocate the foisting upon the
: d ~
public service q gang of unscrupuious i'm
posters who sare willing to assert (mark
the effrontery of the phrase) that they have
been honorably discharged" they represent
political soldiers" only whining and in
capable intriguers, sneaking in to steal away
the rights of their neighbors." This is the
way these canting Pecksniffs speak of the
awful offense of desiring for the men who
fought for and saved the country share in
public employment. Now what is the meas
ure that makes these gentlemen so atrabil-
ious? The amendment which the Hon. M.
C. Earle, of Brooklyn, proposed for the Civil
Service law would have made one clause
read as follows:
In grateful recognition of the services, sacrifices
and sufferings of persons who served in the army
or navy OF the United States in the late war; and
have been honorably discharged therefrom, they
shall be preferred for appointment TO positions in
the Civil Service Of the State and cities affected by
this act without being required to pass any further
examination than may be prescribed by the head
OF Department to prove that such persons possess
tho necessary qualifications to perform the duties
which may devolve upon the positions applied for.
Can anybody who really desires the best
and most efficient public service find any
reasonable fault with this? We are sure
they cannot. 1t merely provides that
the spirit of the law enjoining prefer
ence for honorably discharged soldiers and
sailors shall be made to prevail and shall
not be defeated by any little clique Or ring
which wants to control the Offices in the
interest of its own set. Think of the anguish
of the Association over tho exclusion from
public service of citizens who were not in
the army" How their bowels do yearn
over the stay-at-homes. All their sympa-
| thies go out to the men who sent substitutes
or who found the repose and quiet of Canada
so soothing to nerves which were rasped by
the whirling of the draft-wheel. Singular
is it not, that there should be such antagon-
ism aroused by the production of an honora-
BILE discharge from the service ofthe Govern
ment! There was nothing unfair Or partial