The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-08-06


bic list preference to be given to 10 and L. hon
orabIy discharged soldiers; and
Whereas this ruling of the Civil Service Commits
sion of the city of Brooklyn being in direct conflict
with the statutes Of the state of New York an ap-
peal was made to his Honor the Mayor; and
Whereas His Honor. Mayor Low. requested the
Civil Service Commission of the State Of New York
pass upon this appeal Of the veterans from the
decision of the Brooklyn Civil Service Commission;
and
Whereas the said Commission did give hear
ing upon this question July 9, and at the close
OF the hearing requested that the views expressed
by the veterans be reduced to writing and refer
epce given TO laws and presidents quotea; there
fore he it
Resolved, That the following be and is hereby
adopted as the views Of Winchester Post, No 1877,
upon this subject, vital TO the interests OF all
veterans of the late war: Veterans believe that by
Chapter 3l2 the people of the State intended
to give veterans Of the late practical prefer
ment for employment in every public department
and upon all public works In the State of New
York, who qualified TO perform the duties required
Second, also that by Chapter 40 they reiterated
their intention in these words. In grateful recog-
milton of the services Of the veterans they shall be
preferred for appointment to positions in the civil
service of the State and the cities affected by this
act" Veterans therefore insist that those whose
civil service of the State shall make such rules and
regulations conform TO these statutes and thus give
practical recognition to the intention of the peo-
pie of the State. Veterans protest against the
enforcement of rules aud regulations that are in
direct conflict with Chapters 3l2 and 40 of the laws
of 1884. Veterans ask favors, but do insist upon
such rights as have been guaranteed them by the
statutes of the State. These statutes say: That
persons who have been honorably discharged from
no # Tho Init taft the late
shall be preferred for appointment to positions
in the civil service over other persons of equal
standing" We claim that when the Civil Service
Commissioners have established a maximum and
minimum standard, that all persons who have
passed the minimum standard of the examinations
prescribed for any position, and whose names have
been placed the eligible list are of equal stand
ngand fully qualified TO perform the duties of the
position, and that when request is made by an
appointing power for a list of candidates for ap-
pointment, the Civil Service Commissioners must
certify the veterans, if any there be- upon the c-
gible list first for appointment.
Resolued, That copy of the foregoing be trans
mitted TO the Headquarters of the GAR. and to
each Of the Posts in Kings County, with request
that similar action be taken, and that copy be
transmitted to Mayor Lowe, and also to John Jay,
President Of the State Civil Service Commission,
and E. A. Doty, President of the Civil Service Conn
mission of Brooklyn.
The State Civil Service Commission took
the case under advisement, and last week
rendered decision adverse to the claims of
the veterans, and laid down rule that pref
erence is only to be granted the veterans
when they are Of equal rating with the
civilian.
This decision will meet with sharp criti-
cism everywhere. 1t is mere pettifogging
to defeat the spirit of the law. We do not
believe that it is the rule anywhere that ap-
pointments shall be made invariably from
those who stand at the head of the list after
the examination. From the very first the
advocates of competitive examination and
Civil Service Reform have insisted that this
was not to be the case. When it was urged
that their system had tendency to prefer
men who had a species of schoolmaster's
knowledge at their tongues end over those
who might be really superior to them in
ability, they insisted that such a course
would be contrary to the spirit of the law.
They said that examinations were only in
tended to ascertain whether men had the
educational requirements necessary to en-
able them to fill an office. After having
ascertained that they were in possession of
these, then the question of character, gen.
eral ability and previous experience should
have full force in determining the selection.
This is what the veterans of Brooklyn have
asked to be done. They claim with entire
justice that not only should the men who
served in the army and navy have prefer
ence on account Of the gratitude of the
country for their services, but that their
training and experience in the service helped
to make them better fit for these positions
than those who did not receive such training
According to the New York State Civil
Service Commissions decision, u. s. Grant
would have never attained to the command
of even division of men, let alone to that
of the armies of the United States. He stood
as low down as 81 in class of 80. At the
head of his class was VIM. B. Franklin.
Next came three men who Immediately after
their graduation sank into obscurity, and
no one knows what became of them. The
fourth was VIM. F. Reynolds, who never got
higher than Colonel of volunteers. Before
the war had gone on three years Grant COM
manded more men than all of his 80 class
mates put together.
The decision will be sharply attacked all
over the country, and there is little question
that so much will be said against it, and
with such force and truth, that the Commits
sioners will be compelled to recede from a
position that is wholly untenable.
"sOLDIERs' MEDALS"
We have received the following circular,
with request to please publish and COM
ment upon:
ALEXANDRIA, NEB., July Is, 1885,
SIR: The soldiers of the late war, who served in
the army of the North land there being goodly
number Of us, who wounded or otherwise
disabled, whose names do not appear on the pen.
sion -rolls,) and as asking farther boun.
ties OF rewards ut the hands of generous people