New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-07-24

MULTIPLYING THE CIVIL SERTICE LAU.
The systematic course pursued by Democratic
officials to nullify the Civil Service law Is
shown by their method of recognizing the Ex-
aiming Boards in the principal cities OF the
country. The rules forbid the appointing
officer from having access to the list Oh
eligibIes. This is to prevent him from hunting
up the political record of each person on the
list. and thus being able to exclude from office
such persons as will rot prove serviceable
partisans. The examiners also, if so inclired,
can assist applicants in getting on the eligible
list. without particular regard to their quail
ifcatiors. Hence the appointing officer VINO
controls the Examining Board, and has access
to the list of eligibles is as much master OF the
situation as if there were no Civil law on the
statute books.
The first thing the Democratic officials did
was to reorgauize the Examining Boards, and
to have their private secretaries and chief
deputies-whO do not pass Civil Service exam
lnatiops-made the chaTmen and secretaries OF
these Examining Boards. Thls Is what
Collector Hedden did and the same thing was
done in Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, New
Orleans, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Cleveland
and other large cities. 1t was complete revo-
luton Of the existing practice when the Demo-
Gratis came into office. For instance, III the
Custom House in this city, the officers OF the
Examining Board were not appolntees OF the
Collector, and were entirely independent OF
any power exercised by him. Under this
changed system the Civil Service law has
become a dead letter; and the foundation mas
been laid for sweeping it ont OF existence as
useless. This attempt was made by the Demo-
Gratis in this Congress, but it was defeated by
the Repubicans But if the exclusive appoint
ment of Democrats goes on under the law,
Nitho,,t regard to fitness, it is fair to presume
that no great effort will be made to retain 1t oo
fine statute books. The new Civil Service
Commission not only winked but openly
allotted this method of evading the law. III
changed the regulations to permit Collector
Hedden to Gust the old officers or the ESahlih-
ing Board. Stung by the criticisms on us acts
it has now ordered that a private secretary or
chief deputy shall not be either chairman or
secretary of the Examining Board. ms VIII
not prevent the continued violations % the
law. That can only be accomplished by con-
shutting the Board of Examiners so That at
least the majority of Its members VIII De
independent of the appointing officers; ana
this will be done by the Commission, If 1t
desires TO enforce the law.
But the whole trouble lies with tie Piesi-
dent. SO long as he continues to belle his
professions by appointing officials who Will
violate the law, and retains them III office when
they are caught doing it, just so long Will the
law be nullifed and brought into contempt.
That is precisely what Republicans sad that
he would do and it i, What the Democrats ex-
pected of him. lie may be slow in meeting
their wishes in this respect, but he will meet
them in the end just as he did when Governor
of this State.