New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-06-05
THE CASE OF MIR. ALDR1DGE.
Covs1DrRED BY THE CIVIL SERVICE COM
MISSIONERS.
M DECISION As TO wHAT SHALL BE DONE WITH
HIS FIF~TY-ONE ILLEGAL APPOINTMENTS
PERHAPS THE MEN WILL RESIGN
WIEN THEIR PAY IS NOT

fpY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIRUNE.l

,,hanv June 4-Governor Morton and the state
r,,,r Service commissioners had before them today
George W A.dridSe. Superintendent or i'uo''c
Works Cor the purpose OF learning. II possible MS
authority for appointing nsty-one persons 70 posi-
tons in this department without regard 10 the CIVIL
Service laws There appeared in Albany, as
sori Of volunteer counsel for Allrilge in his hour
Of perN Charles w Hacket'. Of Utica. chairman
Of the Republican state COMMITTEES. and Edward
Iau;erbach chairman Of the Republican county
Committee oe Ncw-York Mr.. Hacketi, after nall
m hours chat with Mr.. Adrdse seemed to he
wran0el in gloom Possibly some OF Aldri1Se's ap-
p,intees we're political henchmcn of Hackett As for
Edward Lau,crnach he. Of course, did not confess
to any interest in the Aldridge case, hut ii may
reasonably he suspected that he offered Adrdse
al sorts OF legal to fall upon when the
C.vl Service Commiss oners should pitch him out
o. the window.
The Civil Service Commissioners arrived in Al
hany this afternoon. IN response TO 4 summons
from Governor Morton All three were present
Willard A. Cobb Willard Mckinstry and S.las NJ
Burt. The Republican members OF the Commits
siAn Messrs Cobb and McKinstry, had private
Interview with Governor Morton upon arriving in
Albany anl. to al appearances. learned from him
that lie intended to uphold the civil Service law
\ little later the Commissioners went into eXecu-
tive sessio with Superintendent Aliridge in their
own room. They pointed out 10 Mir. AllreEe that
n h,l made nfty-onc appointments in lsresari
be- surprised 10y this disclosure and declared with
profound so!enuity that he had not known the
positions named were In the classified service In
fact. AN The lions subject To competition In his
titi, be had believed We're those In his own office
Ia Albany, some six OF seven In number The COM
~ 'sa,oners thereuron in polite manner pointed
oul To Nc Akirlge that rs far back as Apr 10
thoy had sent To him Nrewrtt,n letter telling
lin What rlacce IN his SIT were competitive and
what nom competitive, ana Vet since then he had
made these nfIy-onc appointments,
After an houln talk on the subject Allrdge ani
the Commissioners went downstairs a. tho EN.
ocutNe Chamber AMI ,h'fo continued the confer.
,ncc VITA Governor Norton Tho aim - this tax
was IT, decide what 10 do IN tho matter Allrldgr
had made Illegal appointments. What should hc
done Two coursct were open t. Adrlgc No
could mn the nfy-onc places with now men taken
from the eligible list OF The Civil Service Commits
slonJs. no could suh'cc, his present men to
competitive examination. In the latter casc out
sldcrs could compete. AMI veterans would have the
preference In employment Thus n good many OF
the Illegally appointed officers would lose their
places In either case. Governor Morton ana tn"
Commissioners could come - conclusion rs TO
how to deal with Aldrilgfs ,ranssrcsslon. and
finally they postponed decision upon It until to-
morrow. Possibly the decision ~ the matter rests
after all In Aldrilcc's own hands
Controller Roberts cannot pay the salaries Of any
OF these fifty-onc men" said Commissioner Mckins-
try. 'snless We certify that they are legally ap-
1t would seem that Superintendent Alaridse's
paid paid by the State rS viii quit WORK scy certainly
have l sn for month aad yet heV s,d no
Service Reform Association proposes to see that
Upon the whole Superintendent Aldr'dre would
better decide to obey the law. lie shoulq remember
that the superintendent Of Public Works IS re.
that che may he suspended removed from Office
b by the in rs 1 Ma n
easy bit Of writing for Governor Morton to execute.