New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-06-03
PRICE THREE CENTS.
GEO. w. ALDRIDGE'S OFFENCE
A PLAIN CASE FOR GOVERNOR MORTON
TO DEAL WITH.

CIVIL SERVICE REFORM LAws-''TEMPO-
RARy' CANAL APPOINTMENTS.
(FRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT or THE rRrBUNE.l
Albany, June 1.-The e., aston Of the Civil Ser
vice laws Of this State by Governor Flower, II IS
now apparent was one OF the causes which
made him so weak candidate that the leaders
Of the Democratic party in this State did not
dare renomnate him. Whatever practical
politicians may think Of 'Snivel Service Re-
form" as they term 1t sneeringly. the majority
OF the people Of the State do sincerely believe
that better service to the State IS obtained by
having some examination made into the qualii-
cations Of the persons seeking public employ
ment than by the old spoils system OF appoint
ment which was merely system Of appoint-
ment governed By favoritism ard resting upon
political pull" And even politicians perceive
the ineligbnity Of an official like Mr.. Flower.
who has not carried out the commands OF
State law.
When the Republican State Convention met
in the fall Of 1894 its members very properly in
| their platform OF party principles arraigned the
administra ton OF Governor Flower for its glar-
ing sins OF omission and commission, and they
declared in one OF the pldnks of their PLATFORM
! that "he made a mockery OF C.yil Service Re-
FORM and in every emergency was the ready TOOL
Of machine bosses. instead of being the Governor
OF the State" And in another plank OF the plat
| form this promise made. with the elecuoh
| Of a Republican Assembly and a X puohcih I''-
| ernor and Lieu,enant-Governo we pledge the
| people an improved Civil Service The RepuOi-
can party subsequently at the November eiec-
! ton gave its support to proposed new Iohs"-
tuition. containing the following new provision:
Appointments and promotions in the Civil Service
OF the State and Of a.. the civil diNisons thereoi'
including cities and villages. SHAH be m t'e aSco'e
ing 10 merit M %nl laxamnaon whch so TAR as prac-
| iicabe sha.l be competitive; prov;ded. however.
hat 1m Hon9aoi a5i Nnyy Of me ed states in the ate
| civil War, who are citizens and residents OF tnis
| and promotion without regard to their standing On
any lis, from which such appointment or PROMOTION
the enforcement OF this section
Governor Morton In his first annual message to
the Legislature followed up these pledges os the
Republican party by making this personal decla-
ration:
The Civil Service laws Of the State have been
powerfully reinforced by the adoption Oh an ansna;,
reform principle and extending It's operation. an!
the law-makins au5hoT'y rs r~u'rTy Well Considered
whether the prudent and consistent extension ana
bene6cai effect in avertins and rendering i'm.
possible many OF the corrupt ana otHer"rstS ,1J
rehens bic practices which have OF late scanLtNLeI
SO many branches OF the public ser, service Cndsr
this constitutional recognition the Gv service ia%s
Gals AR and employees well as TO stats s;ase
nition to the principle tha, honorably & &t.i;
charged soldiers and sailors OF the Clyl war snaII
motion from the eligible lists, without reference 70
their Standing on any sucm hSa 81 nam ae "''''' '''
Whether the Republican party's pledge and
Governor Morton's pledge of fidelity to the letter
| and tho snrit Of the Civil Service laws are 10 be
kent will be known bef1re this week closes by the
action Of the State Board OF Civil Service Commis-
| sioners in dealing with the alleged offence OF
| George w Aldr.dge the Superintendent OF Pub
| lie Works in having made over nity appoihs-
ments OF the most conspicuous and responsiois
officers of the Department of Public Works witn-
out regard to the Civil Service regulations Puo-
! lie attention was called t. the matter oy the
Civil Service Commission. whose officials sent ID
! State Controller Roberts the names OF over htty
men who had been appointed To positions IN the
/ Department OF Public Works and yet nad pdsseo
no examination as T. their qualifications Con-
trollcr Roberts has II supply the FUNDS Tor the
payros OF these men: but under stare law no
/ cannot pay men who are not certified py ING
/ Civil Service Commission as having duy passeo
an examination.
Governor Morton was naturally surprised 10
| learn what Aldrtdge had done. ana AT ones
directed the Civil Service Commissioners 70 meet
here on Tuesday next and learn irom Aldriise
the nature OF his appointments Mr.. Morton also
said that just before the states canais wefe
opened in May one day Aldridge came TO MN
and said that he desired TO make some tempo
rary appointments" This was strange state
ment for Aldrdge 10 make. since ne had come
into Office In January. and yet mere IN the latter
part of April he was desiring 10 make some
temporary appointments" in order q have the
canals opened Governor Morton * not well ac-
quainied with politicians, and therefore ne saio
| t. A,dridge offhand. that he did nlt see any oo-
jectons to his making temporary Ippointme9ts
for such purpose-that ~ opening the cahas'
In view of what has happened. Governor Nor
! ION II would now seem has good cause 10 think
he was imposed upon; and he Is man who VIII
not enjoy being In such POSITION. " nay Az
| bridge meant by temporary appointments no
| one knows but this fact is apparent-tnat ntty
| men were appointed without examination as TO
| their qualifications; that they have served through
the month of May and therefore cannot be con-
| sdrred Temporary appointments; and mat
both the spirit and the letter OF the civil service
law Of the state seem u have been broken.
! Governor Morton may be sure II ne PERMITS
such a conspicuous officer as the Superintendent
OF Public Works 10 disregard the Clvil service
regulations. that every other state oiiciai Will
| regard the regulations dead. In that caso
the denunciation Of Governor Flower for making
a 'mockery Of Civil Service Reform IN the Ke-
| publican State platform ~ 1894 Will surely not
| form part Of the Republican platform OF 1879.
Even rolitica, parties cannot be 80 audaclous as
10 nle'lge their support to civil service heiorfn
laws and then boldly In the person OF tneir cnier
! officials disobey such Ian IN spirit ana ietter
! Whatever the State Civil Service Commission
| er, IL in the Aldrdge matter. Governor Morton
| u.,u he held responsible for IL. He appoints ard
| c,n remove at will the Civil Service Commission
| ors All classihc atoms and regulations that they
| make must be approved by MN. III iaVI my
| a~a ro,hing bur clerks to do what he wishes
! The pcople OF the State very properly. therefore,
| will look 10 Governor Morton 10 call Aldriase
| IN account If he has made appointments ilegaliy
| Tho ,;overncr also through the civil service
| Commissioners will have II put the offlcers OK
| the Department Of Public Works in sucn hsit
position that Controller f:oberts can pay 'ne.. ,
| tbeIr salaries This may be rather "A hafd task
| FOR the Governor to perform If the appoint
| ments were Illegally made. IL would appear mt
- The annontments have been illegally made the
| men appointed by virtue of that fact lose ,heir
| nlaces Even the Civil Service COMMISSIONERS
| cannot ignore the breaking OF state law
| IccrsrD or DROUNfNG HIS COMPINION
A YOUNG WOMAN FORCED BEYOND HER DEPIh
IN THE SURF AT ATLANTIC CITY