New-York tribune., 1886-01-06

~
special communication presented t) the Legsntnro ~
bruary last wherein the reasons for its
attention to such communication 10 psra0ui""
requested
TIE CIVIL SERVICE.
The report OF the Civil Service Combustion soon 10 DO
submitted, will present the dongs or the Commission
during the year. and the condition OF tho public service
OF tho state aud Of the citles-
The classified service Is now believed to embrace all
positions State service aud 10 the public service
Of cities INTENDED by OF the statute to be sub
ject 10 Civil Service methods. a. =,
Approximately summarized the number OF classified
positions in tho State service Is 398o ana ~ tue GILES
service total number OF classified POSITIONS
being l5179 The number of examinations heid ior tne
number OF parsons examined for that service h 7s7 Of
whom 656 were i0nnd eligible for appointment Inc
FAR as shown by reports Trce,ved. is 1915 and the
ngmte found ei6e for appoiatmrnI Is ZsS unaer
the rules TO classified positions Is as follows;
In the State service o.......................52
In the cities service.
Reports received Mayors and other officials OF
cties gratifying ASSURANCE that the methods
u Civil Service producing good RESULTS tnat tney ave
steadily IMPROVING the character ana ehclency oi .ne
servce and bringing relief to public officials from the
burdens aud indrances OF opportunities TOR place. anu
ths distribution OF patronage among eager applicants
methUis OF Civil Service have become the policy OF
the tssueral Government and of the States aud
like all genuine reforms aiming only at good govern
ment and the pnblc welfare this reform Is likely 10 De
universally accepted The State OF New YORK. aiwsys
In administrative reforms AMI The adoption of
sauary OF improvement has taken the Lead IN
The fundamental idea OF this reform that public oce
be exercised solely for the putllc welfare
aud that Offices should be hled only by those best
qualified for the service be rendered after their tnrss
has been ascertainei By proper tests. Is the corner
st0nc OF popular government. The bosfowal OF once
solely as for partisan sersice or as means OF
livelihood for the ncUmpetcut aud thrifiless sn abuse
found prtIudfo.l to tho pubEn wearv and mimi TO
tho spirit Of republican institutions not dangerous
to stability Tue history OF all nations apcient and
moetD, raches the lcssoD that u undue thirst Tor
office aud the uurestralned power o. dstroag ~ e
people and the overthrow OF popular liberty. Inc
law ai the ground OF merit, instead OF by tho un
tramelled will Ur caprice OF an Official Is tue saieguan
constant stimulus the better education and training
OF tue people AID recognition OF the utlty oi our
nm nc ntiye Tor the best men 10 seek The pnbc service
Tns docs not conflict with the principle inospensaDe
others charged with the execution OF administrative
policies should be men in accord with the chief enecu-
tive administrative officer ntrusted for the time being
with tue execution OF the popular Will expressed through
the This rriuciple Is VITAL ani has universal
Tn" rrinc pie OF Civil Service Reform. as contemplated
by the statute IL intended to arpy TO subDro inite
confidential duties she decision OF important ratters OF
discretion or tne execution of administrative policy. It
intended apply solely TO those positions which call
mainly lor clerical ability other expert quaiihca ious
which be hest ascsrtaed By competitive exnmina
The essential points in a well-ordered Civil Service
system here defined thnt the sanctions "f las
should control appointments. that the examinations
wherever necessary should be fair and impartial.
entirely practca n their character and relate solely 20
the duties OF positions to be cd tat erior merit
should he the only ground OF selertion aud that a
sufficient humber OF names OF eligible persoDs-pos>iDy
tire entire list should be certified to an appointing
officer afford reasonable discretion In selcction ,
Tue instrumeu. alities for the application OF Clvi
Service methods complete In tue state ard IN the
the full measure Of It's benouts II essential
that publr cers accept It's provisions anf 60 operate
tn good fhtG u npplns tuem ana this r S
public Interests ,.,. ... 4.
open competition This Is the general rule Non COT
ettve exaninatons are Intended by the statute 10 De
the exception aud t. be allowed only Or sneca reasons
arising ~ the nature of tho service ant the peculiar
Qualihes atoms required ,,,, ,,
rglts aud fair play, aud Is principle so Thoroughly
democratic In its character So completely IN arnony
that the method would seem 10 cUDnend itseItO
versal approval When merit alone, ascertainod by
far colnpe recognized the ground or appoint
aud rJmItiJn. the equity AMI pr0prety Ol tue
mode self evident aud require no defence o...,
IN defrreuce a public sentiment form ally expressed
by Conventions OF both the great parties, as
well Ss on 81 ce o. n"n YaenS unity
aud constitutional Hpery, early legislatve action Is
iuytei amendment OF tue Ciyll Service STATUTE
securing to honorahIy discharged Union soldiers Hn
sailors ain and SUBSTANTIAL preferences III exam
IL is however important thai the merit prncple "a the
ground OF preference among tue veterans themselves
lts Just reco rtion. The methods OF Civil Service VIII
thus becouea valuable aid to competent veterans with
out risks from influence ar fsg0rti.m
Tne necoss.ry appropriation for ths continuance OF
the Commission and the expenses OF examinations ar"
1t is Believed that the tax laws OF the State need
thorough revision. che present system OF taxation has
existed for years With few changes aud comparatively
little improvement Every ralc. modification seems to
have souty resisted irrespective OF It's merits or
4 roprlety
I;s evident that the personal property OF the State
does pay its just proportion OF tue taxes aud tile
parity In the assessed valuation OF personal and real
property yercs the statement that the statutes govern
Ing tho appralsement and assessment OF personal
property are to Ger tain extent detective and do not
roach the great bulk OF personally for the purposes OF
taxation. .
to rho fact that the personally OF tine taxpayers
escaping assrssmeut yet there has been snrinkn9e
from 1871 to 1854 (nOt luelisiyel OF @lO1ls l3Il
Tue has been upon assessment rolls niDne 10;
the personal property OF the citizens O the stale las
" the State has Increased WITH It's population aud
aud tho personal properly does not show an
upon the AssssauIeDt rOs II nay bo accounted
FOR In par by lax nd nlns ration OF existing laws but
y mainly may bc attributed to tho defects In tue Laws
That such laws arc imperative to reach personal
estate Is evident by tue more statcme OF te fact that
asessrd valuation OF the real estate OF the State
81 SOP i7aVli the valuation o the persea, estate Is
II Is reasonable tO believe that II onr present tax laws
reformed aud PLACED upoD some true and consistent
tneory the Asssssmeut OF the personally would nsariy
equal the assessmeus OF tho real aud thereby the
present unjust burdens real ss;ate would he rrst
llleyiated Every citizen has right to Insist that
taxation sha 10 UNIFORM aud equal AS Tar as possible
aud while tha people patriotic and do not oect 10
nretus the lust demands OF government they may very
properly iusst that unjust discrint0us should no; be
permitted The farp aud the WORKSHOP III tho c0Lntry
should bear eir proportion OF she pnbIlc burdes. and
should the bones tue nUrtg the stocks and other
personal property IN the great ci,ies O the State
The theory OF Present system OF taxaDn IL neither
Just IA consistent one IL permits tne indebtedness
personal property be deducted from its
aus while IL permits sucn deduction IN favor or real
state, even though 1t Is represented by mortgage.
hich 10 u specific lien upon such re estate. It 10 dif
,ult to discover tho wslo ot this Discrimination.
II BE- the true theory TINT person should be taxe
,uy upon what he actually owns II shUud bo applied 10
ea estate, au tue should be entitled 10 rrduc
Ion account oh -hr liens and incumbrauces thereon.
actual Interest only determined by his being
slowed such reduction. aud II II be Proper to allow him
he benefit OF his indebtedness Ia tue assessment Of
PERSONAL pror erly there wodld TO be great pro
,rioy In taking tue In reference u real
state. Such change would remedy sOms Of the
nj lstioe aud Inconsistency Ut our Irrseut system
The practical operation OF our present laws Is that