New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-06-20
VETERANS HARMED, NOT HELPED
THE SECRETARY OF THE CIVIL SERVICE RE-
FORM ASSOCIATION SAYS THAT THIS is THE
r,rrr,r1yr OIL, TIE ROBERTSON LAW.

THE SECRETARY OF THE CIVIL SERVICE RE-
FORM ASSOCIATION SAYS THAT THIS is THE
EFFECT OF THE ROBERTSON LAW.
The monthly report OF George McAneny secre-
tary OF the Civil Service Reform Association. con-
tains statement which will astonsh and dis
please the war veterans. BY an attempt TO iegisate
in favor OF the veteran he has really been made an
lmpossbility for Offices worth less than $500 annu-
ally. the very ones for which he has always been
preferred When. heretofore, a veteran appeared
before the Civil Service Board for examination his
papers were scrutnlzed less rigidly than those OF
other applicants for office, and a difference or
several per cent always made in his favor oy
the examiners. But the veteran was not satisned
and wanted no examination at all and all tho
offices To bring about this result Senator ROBERT
son introduced a bill early in the last legislative
session. The bill was passed three days before ad-
journment and is known as Chapter az OF the
Laws of 1884, The act amends that section or tho
civil Service law known as the veteran clause.
It provides that 1.-THE Civil Service rules and laws
OF this State shall not apply to such persons, resi-
dents OF this State who served in the Army or
Navy OF the United States in the late war and have
been hcnoraby discharged therefrom, for any posi-
ton or employment. the compensation OF which does
not afford four dollars day. ETC." Secretary NC
Aneny says in his report:
II was intended, doubtless. to give the veteran
greater immunity from the restrictions OF the ClVh
Service law than has been previously allowed me re-
this effect The act has been submitted TO the legai
representatives OF the association. and II IS agree1
that es the veteran clause Is part OF the Ciyn
Service law OF the State" this Is repealed so iar
as applicants for positions paying 81 per day. or
an annual equivalent. are concerned ana tnal none
OF the privileges allowed Hereunder may be mere
after enjoyed by them II is held further tnat, az
the act provides that the Civil Service rules snal
not apply" TO such persons. IL VIII De iilegai IN
future for a Civil Service Commission 10 receive
as n candidate for examination or 10 examine sucn
an applicant who Is veteran. veterans applying
for such positions, which form the great pulk OF
those in the service are. in short cut OH entrrey
from the opera ton of the Civil Service law Iney
are accordingly. thrown back upon the provisions
of Chapter 464 OF the Laws OF 1871 which gives inc
preference TO veterans In appointments TO All posi-
lions but which contains the important qualihcauon
that the appointing officer must first De satisred OF
the business ability OF the veteran applying AS ne
NAV properly hold business ability" to be SUCH as
relates to the specific duties OF the position 70 De
filled and as the penalty OF the act may follow
failure 10 ascertain this ability. as well as viola.
ton OF the essential provision 1t Is quite appareni
that undue preference will never become general
practice and that unless the appointing officer Is
DESTROYS personally of securing the services OF q
veteran there is little chance that sucn person
viii be retained The entire aspect OF the veteran
preference" feature of the Civil Service legislation
Is changed by the passage OF this act
The Robertson bill. drawn TO benefit the veteran.
will have the opposite effect unless It's wording 70
changed TO convey the original intent.