New-York tribune., 1885-08-17
NULLIFYING THE CIVIL SERVICE Ian.

NULLIFYING TUE CIVIL SERVICE LAB.
The undisguised efforts of the Collector ami
Surveyor to pack the Examining Board at the
Custom House make clear their insldious
scheme to undermine the Civil Service laws.
Since they came into Office the four members OF
the bca,d under their official control have
ceased TO be connected with 1t. The two re-
manning members are beyond their cOntrDl, OF 1t
is not unlikely that they would also have re-
signed OF have been removed. As IT Is, they arc
unable to conduct any more examinations until
the vacancies arc filled. And to leave no room
for doubt as to the design in creating these
vacancies, the Surveyor aud Collector boldly
claim the right 20 dictate to the Civil Service
Commission at Washington who shall be APP
pointed.
The law gives to the commission the right to
appoint examiners, after consulting the head
of the Department or Office in which such
persons serve.' Acting under this provision
the Civil Service Commission courtcously
questod the Surveyor 10 namc two OF three suit
able persons from whom selection could be
made 10 fill one ot the vacancies. Instead oi
complying w.h this request, the Surveyor
audacnasly na,ncs his private secretary and
refuses to mako another recommendation. This
private secretary is q mere boy whose business
experience until appnntcdt0 his present place,
TWO weeks ago, was gained by filing clerical
positi0D III a brokers' Office. lie did not pass a
Civil Service examination TO get in the Custom
House. and he can know practically nothing of
the Custom House business. III the Surveyor
had been entirely frank with he c0nHssiO ho
would doubtless have asked TO have himself
named as an examiner. The Collector has rec
commended two mcD To fill two vacancies both
of whom arc new appointees in the CgstGa!
House and well-knOwn as a"tye Democratic
politicinns. Nothing could be clearer than the
purpose to nuliiy the Civil Service law, with
Out openly breaking it.
The cxamincfs who 50 sndueny vacated their
places were particularly valuable because they
had become skilled in the discharge of their
duties. One OF them had been eight years a
member of the Examining Board and all fui
long periods TIER fdeli,y 70 the system iD-
trusted 80 largely to their care had merltcd and
received the highest conlmendalion from the
Civil Service Commission and ON Congress.
In the changes of Administration at Washing
ton no attempt until nov has beer made to in
tcrfcrc " ith their work. No charge OF partisan
| influence and secret favor has ever been
brought against them, AMI the fact that about
as many Democrats as Republicans bad passed
the examinations was proof of the conscien-
tous discharge of their duties. Indeed, the
Custom House has been held up To the
country by Civil Service reiorners as aflordng
an excellent example of the good results
reached under the new system. This sudden
overturning is the best proof possible Of the
grave danger that NOW threatens its continued
existence.
The Surveyor has boldly declared that he has
no sympathy with Civil Services reform. Long
an agent in small way of Hubert 0. Thomp-
son, il was we'll known when he was appointed
20 his present office that it was not done to aid
this reform. He ID the virtual head of the
Custom House to-day, the Collector mildly fol-
lowing lis directions. When the Collector
recently appointed men rs officers of the night
watch in violation OF the Civil Service rules lic
excused himself by throwing the responsibility
on the Surveyor, who asked that the appoint
ments should be made. We fOrcsaw that the
methods i'll use in the Public Works DEPART