The National tribune., 1885-10-08
VETERANS, RIGHTS, IN NEW YORK.

We solicited the Hon. Z. C. Earl, Member
of the New York Assembly from Kings
County, for some memoranda touching the
history of the bill introduced by him into
that body to give more vitality and practical
force to the statutes that prescribe prefer
ence in all public employment to honorably-
discharged soldiers and sailors. His reply is
so well-framed and comprehensive states
the whole matter with so much clearness
and force-that we give it below entire:
To THE EDITOR: Comrade Kay, of the Veterans
Rights Union, requests to furnish certain details
concerning the origin of and history OF the bill
introduced in the Legislature of New York State
concerning veterans and the civil service. will
gladly furnish much as can now remember
was led TO the conclusion that the civil service
laws of the State should be amended as to pro-
vide for veterans only practical examination, in
stead of the schoomaster's examination, by the
following incident: was a member OF the Assem-
bly, when the law was first put in force, and also
n member of q. X. Warren Post, of Brooklyn.
The Employment Committee of my Post gave the
names of two comrades who were unfortunate in
being out of employment, with families depending
upon them, who were in needy circumstances. 1t
was supposed that with my official influence and
their circumstances that employment could be Sc
cured for them. They modest i'll their
pectatons, and were willing to accept any honor
able employment that would bring them in bread
and butter. applied to the Board of City Works,
and was told that any position paying 81 day or
over must be first secured under civil service rules;
that foremen of street repairs and night
watchnien only paying s. per diem, were under the
same rules. was informed, also, that applicants
for examination under the rules must take their
turn and chance with all Others and that the De-
partment after examination must take the first men
as selected by the Board of Examiners and certi-
fled by the Civil Service Commissioners. In fact
that the Civil Service Commissioners (practically)
selected the men instead of the heads of De-
partr.ents and that the chances of appoint
ment under the rules depended upon how
many applicants were already the rolls
ready to be examined or recommended in
short, that the time an indefinite one. Ire
ported back to members Of my Post. The needy
comrades, i'll the first place. wanted immediate
ployment, because bread and butter and other
necessares of life were wanted. Again, while they
had an ordinary public school education before the
war, they had become rusty in the line of examna-
ton in geography, history, etc, laid down by the
Civil Service Boards and could not be expected to
compete with young men who had left school only
in recent years:
1t was then suggested that in Justice to the old
veterans and in order TO give them fair play, the
law ought to be changed so as to require only q
practical examination to show their ability to per-
form the duties of the particular position they APP
piled for. After careful study tho bill was duly
drafted and presented in the Legislature, and its
fate is known. In the Assembly Republicans Wed
with the Democrats rule, in helping to pass
the bill, and in the face of bitter opposition by
representatives of the Civil Service Reform Asso-
citation and majority of the daily papers, it finally
passed that branch of the Legislature by over a
two-thirds vote. The most violent opponents of the
bill in the Assembly were Gen. w. NJ. Curtis, of
St Lawrence County, and Walter S. Hubbell, of
Monroe, who claimed that the bill was tampering
with the Civil Service Laws, which should not be
changed, matter how good the bill was in itself
They also contended that the old veterans did not
desire the bill, because it would humiliate and dis
grace them. That should the bill be passed it would
have the effect of pulling down the old soldier from
the proud position in which he now stands before
the people. This the gist of all the arguments
made against the bill. Among those who spoke |
against the bill on the floor of the House. in addi-
ton TO Curtis and Hubbell, were James w. Hustled |
of Westchester; VIM. I. O'Niel, of Franklin; |
Louis K. Church, of Queens; Walter Howe, of |
New York; Caryl w. Ely, of Otsego Henry Heath, |
of Kings, and Il believe) w Greene, of Orange
The circular from the Memorial Committee of New |
York city, will give the names Of all who voted |
against the bill. We should have had still larger
vote in favor of the bill it for the fact that
some friends, not knowing that the bill would come
up at the time, were absent.
When the bill reached the Senate, Col NJ. c. Muir
ply attempted to have it progressed TO the Com |
nittee of the Whole. that all the Senators could
discuss 1t, but majority voted TO send it to the
Judiciary Committee despite the warning given by |
Senator Murphy that the motion was intended to |
Kill the bill In that committee. That was the only
chance, believe which the friends of the bill had
TO put its enemies on record. and that record is
given In the circular of the Memorial Committee.
Several attempts made TO get the bill out of |
and put the Senators on record but they
failed.
a committee of members of the assembly-old
Senate Judiciary Committee in favor of the bill. |
The committee consisted OF Gen. III. A. Barnum |
Of New York; c. L. Barager, of Tioga; l.. II.
Bailey, Of Genesee; Wesley Barnes, of Essex; A. |
II. Berry, of Fulton; L. X. Beirnham of Wayne;
Col. L. A. Nash, OF Cattaraugus, and myself.
A NJ. Green, Secretary of the Civil Service Re- |
form Association of New York, was there to OPP
pose the bill, and for the first time learned the
secret OF the reason why answers had been received
from some honorable veterans against the bill
a1r. Green permitted us to read the circular which |
had been sent out by the association, and, to our
establishment and indignation, discovered that the
circular gross misstatement of the bill itself
without giving the words of the bill. Accepting
the Associations Characterization Of the bill as
fair, honest, and correct one those who replied to
The circular replied in the affirmative its conclu-
sions. Talk about the tricks and devices of poiti-
Clans! This circular equalled in cunning mis-
representations anything that the basest politicians
could be guilty of, and the committee if ques-
toned, will agree with me.
Senators Ellsworth, of Niagara County, and Gill
BERT of Franklin, were the controlling spirits of
the Judiciary Committee, and they took the ground
that the bill was unnecessary, the present laws
If properly construed and enforced, would give the
proper preference the State intended TO give the old
This statement cannot be denied, but will be cor
roborated by the gentlemen who went before that
with me.
Fraternally yours IN e, c. and T.,
NJ. G. EARL, 9i3 Gates ave.
Nothing Of amplifcation or explanation is
needed to make clearer so lucid statement |
of the issue now presented IN the citizeDs IF