New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-07-17
CIVIL SERVICE INVESTIGATION.
THE SENATE SPECIAL COMMITTEE TRYING TO
FIND OFT WHY THE GOVERNOR DID NOT
ENFORCE TIE LAW

THE SENATE SPECIAL. COMMITTEE TRYING TO
FIND OUT WHY THE GOVERNOR DID NOT
ENFORCE THE LAW.
Albany. July ls (speciaD-The New-York Civil
Service Reform Association late in the session Of
,ha LEGISLATURE submitted a memorial to that
body calling attention in detail 20 the many viola
t,ons Of the spirit Of the Civi Service law by Gov
ernor Flower who IS especially charged with It's
enforcement This indictment was such a forinid-
able one that the State Senate Instructed special
committee OF It's members 10 make Inquiry as 10
the truth Of these charges made against the Gov
ernor.
The special committee Of investigation appointed
has as It's members Senators OConnor. Saxton and
Mcmahon This committee met In the rooms Of
the State Civil Service Commission today and
began its investigation. There were present also
E Prentss Bailey. y. +. Van Nleet. ana W. j.
McKinstry. the three Civil Service Commissioners
John g. Riley and Colonel s. ". Burt. former
chief examiners OF the state civil Service Com
mission: chief Examiner Webster. OF the United
States civil Service Commission: chief Examiner
Sherwin Of the Massachusetts Ciyil Service Com
mission and ". d. j. Campbell. secretary Of the
Boa I'd OF civil Service Commissioners OF brooklyn
Professor Charles A. Collin. Of Cornell University
Governor Flowers legal adviser also present
and It soon appeared that he was in attendance
upon the Investigation chiefly In order 10 defend
the Governors interests. Horace T. Dcming and
George McAneny, Of New-York appeared for the
civil Service Reform Association.
At the opening OF the investigation Senator O'Con-
ner stated that the inquiry not directed against
any individual and that It's aim % learn
whether the Civil Service Law was ODeyed, and who
was responsible If II was being violated
The frst witness examined by Mr.. DemlnR was
Colonel Burt who described the ordinary work Of
the Civil Service Commission and the intention OF
the first Board OF Commissioners In drawing up
their rules and their regulations for the examination
OF candidates. Colonel Burt SAID that the first
board made no transfers from the competitive 10
the non-cOmpettive schedule. This IS the method
hy which Governor Flower has put into office faith
III henchmen o. hi. who dld not care to face an
examination to their qualifications
Commissioner Van Nlcei Interrupted the witness
al this point and showed from the records that such
transfers from the competitive To the nOn-cOm-
,etI,ive clase were made while Mr. Burt in
Office This comment upon the unfaithfulness OF
vice Reform greatly amused the Republican
bers Of the investigating committee
Chief Examiner Webster said the United States
Civil Service Commission had found that for the
successful enforcement OF the law II was necessary
that every position should be In the competitive
list The Un!te1 States GovcrnmFnt had obtained
better results from the Civil Service law because the
tenure Of office more secure. He thought that
even confidential positions should BE- filled In this
way ia - .
Service law had been successfully applied in Mas
William D. J. Campbell CHIEF examiner and secro-
tary Of the Brooklyn Civi Service Commission.
tilted that there were In Brooklyn 1909 positions
under the Civil Service rules. School teachers and
PEOPLE OF Ike class dd obtain their positions by
Competition. There was constant increase In the
number OF persons In the competitive class. Only
ono man in the Controllers department who han
died money the non-compe,itve list.