New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-02-19
The VETERAN RIGHTS La W.
PREFERRED IN CIVIL APPOINTMENTS.


THE CIVIL SERVICE ACT ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS BY
JOHN !. PLATT AND tx-sPEAKER ERWIN
IRON THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE
ALBANY, Feb. 1S.-Civil Service reform leu
to-day to the most interesting debate Of the session In
the Assembly and the occasion also OF the aoIest
speech thus far delivered, which made by ex-
Speaker George H. Erwin. OF St. Lawrence County, In
defence OF reform The bill was the one which gives
the preference the soldiers and sailors OF the late war
for employment by state ia the joint work Of the
Veterans Rights Union and the officers Of the State Civil
Service Reform Association 1t provides that honorably
discharged soldiers aud sailors shall be preferred for
appointment positions in the Civil Service OF the state
and Of the cities affected by this act" There other
provisions which compel officers OF the state
and OF cities give this preference But the soldiers
and sailors to be examined respecting their qualln-
cations for the posts they desire.
The measure had already been passed by the Senate
and was about vO,ed upon by the Assembly today
when Mr.. Finn. OF New-York, offered an amendment
emitting the section which requires that the soldiers
and sailors SHALL before receiving their appointment to
Office be first examined their qualifications for the
places they desire I'LL. In other words Mr.. Finn
would restore the old spOils political system sweeping
away the competitive system so far as the soldiers are
concerned. Thus would begin q qualification OF the
Owl Service reform law which in the opinion OF lead
ing politicians here, would end In the repeal OF
the law itself. Mr.. Fnu's amendment
all the Democratic Assemblymen. few Republicans
also Supported him, but the mass OF the Republicans
opposed to him, was to ne expected Inc lead
ing Republican who supported the Finn amendment was
John Plat, the Editor Of The Pou0hkeepste Edge Mr.
Plat was exceedingly frank in his opposition to Civil
Service Reform In the OF his speech he said:
lam opposed to this everlasting humbug called Civil
Service REFORM am opposed to IL Cd principe shall
state this but It does not alter the fact There Is or
was until lately such thing Ciyl service 1t is
nv Indy Ina IAN
II was English, you know" Not only IS 1t nickname,
6qi the TopeTe ind is adapted from The military
services. and because they wish to put 1t ON
a similar plane with that OF the military and naval
branches. This Civil Service movement proposes moth,
lug than that certain rules ana reGuatlOns shal
govern in certain cast-irOn fashion appointments to
nacrs in the service OF the Government This Is well
enough in a Government like Great Britain, but not for
TpHbcan and opposed entirely to the system OF free
government 1t is the military system The military
system Is made up of two cIasses-one commanding ana
the other only to Obeyhe private soldier VINO has no
power, right to think for himself Inc onicer from
West Point from the moment ne leaves Tue scnool 70 the
last breath he draws Il supported by the Government
taken out Of tho ranks OF the people ana mas to
glye no thought how he snail get MS
bread and butter or his clothing; lie Is
an aristocra suppose ths in the military
system but 1t unrepuOllcan and out OF place IN the
other branches Of the Government.
whe has Gc come to mean IN the minds Of the pubic
out or turning over but they have not reformed
ANYTHING or tried to-the word only applies the
method Of appointment. The word reform has mean
ing to sweep away corruption or abuse: mnen II was
meaning that our CIVIC service was 80 corrupt
the strongest methods sweep away abusesan asser
ton, an assumption utterly false.
The man who made the remark was sneered at but he
was right when he said We have the best Civil service
in the world" The people have confidence in 1t
than anything else they have more confidence In the
H manic ab,0 D"uA soc"n.e their trust in the
presidents or cashiers. The reformers lax OF
carving business or the Govern
mcni like that OF private business generally.
Why tho business OF the Goyernment OF the Nation ana
OF this state Is managed IN way lar superior 20 tue
management OF private business The system better
the officials are more honest say II freely oi all, OF
both parties don't believe any cast iron method OF
Milling Offices The appointing power should no LEFT free
and hampered. able TO accomplish the best results
But OF all the systems ever devised ths OF ho compete
tive examinations Is the poorest the meanest the least
bank officials adopting II when they wanted cashier
Did you hear OF IL IN a store when clerk was
The IDEA presupposes that the examiners shall know
nothing OF the qualifications OF the persons to DO e1
aminsd 80 that II am sitting such commission and
OF asman who Is honest able aud qualned IN every
way for the position ne seeks, aln rst0pPeu
mind to the facts put him In the line ana prevent nun
OF its avowed purpose OF breaking up the spells sys-
TEN It puts the offices up TO be scrambled fOr puts
them i'm the position OF spoils says the seekers
" Here they are; now go for them" simply want to
nut myself record "a opposed 20 civil Service REFORM
The majority IN the United states are just as much OBJ
posed as l. only I've got spunk enough TO say so, and
don't care who knows H.
General " NJ Curtis opposed the adoption OF Mr..
Fnn's amendment. IL direct attack on civil Ser
vice reform would tend to revive the spoils system
and the reign Of political bosses" from which the
country now escaping
James Haggerty attacked Civil Service reform as a
humbug and gave several instances OF alleged favor
itsm and stupidity by the civil Service Examiners In
the course OF his speech he repeatedly said in sneerng
manner that there were "discouraging features" III
Civil Service reform
Ex.speaker Erwin caught up this phrase, first an
nouncng that he heartily favored civil Service reform.
He was the Assembly, he said when the state Cvil
Service Reform law was passed. II opposed by
NJ HON M 10 la znn
went about telling them that they could not
afrd 10 put themselves In attitude Of opposition to
Ciyil Service Reform. They elected Mr. Cleveland rs
already there were disseminating features" year
ago tho Democrats OF the Newly ork Legislature intro
duced bill which In effect destroyed the Gy service
Reform law. In Washington MT Cleveland hau ap,
pointed Higgins 6ali0'-6SH stuTr; as cher bs
partment This was "dlscouraging feature
Collector OF New-York appointed Sterling, a liquor
dealer Of Brooklyn. as Custom House Wegher IN place
a1S @S p%So iSr of c Service
g m @ sSS Rf d to
the appointment of Democrats as census enumerators
ms also was n "discouraging feature" Mr.. Erwin
sal had recently made Inquiries as to the observance
Of the civil Service law by the penoeratto STATE N
accepted only two or three appointments suggested by
the Cvil Service Commissioners. All the State offices
were filled with Democrats who had not passed Civil
| Service examination. Whenever H. was necessary the
Governor modified the rules or the desiring the
places we're put the non-oompettive lists. Practically
the state civil Seryicelaw nulty 80 far the Dem
ocrac state officers concerned. This certainly was
discouraging feature" OF civil Service reform. When
| Mr. Pearson appointed Postmaster OF New-fork
avery Democrat held his toward heaven The Adj
ministratOn turning out Republicans on the con
temptble excuse OF offensive partisanship This was
indeed. "dlscourasing feature OF Clvl service re-
| form.
Mr. Shsehan and Mr. Greene protested that the Demo-
Gratis loved civil service REFORM but every one laughed "a
| they went OH with their speeches. The debate was
closed by Mr. Pat who lin concluding his remarks said
| 1.-THE Administration to-day proves what have always
said that Civil Service reform Is opposed to the
principles OF free government and demOralltng TO the
service In the and Nation In i've years-put mo
on record-in five years not sensible statesman Will
favor It, They will then what lunacy caused
the people To take IL up" 80
Mr. Firms amendment was defeated by vote OF 80
to &C. The bin was then passed by unanimous vote.
NEWS FROM THE ASIATIO SQUADRON.