New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-16
nIsCOrRAGING FOR REFORM
Mr. CoBB'S NOMINATION AS CIVIL SERVICE COM
MISSIONER - HOW THE OFFICE HAS

MR. COBB'S NOMINATION AS CIVIL SERVICE OoSi-
MISSIONER - HOW THE OFFICE HAS
BEEN PRosTITUTED BY DEMO
CRATIC ADMINISTRATIONS.
Albany. JAN Is (spcciaD.-The nomination OF Will
lard A. Cobb. Editor of The Lockport Journal as
civil Service Commissioner, is disappont
ment TO all those Republicans who hoped that
Governor Morton would strive lift this Office far
above the low level to which 1t has been sunk OF
late years by the Democratic executives of the state
and especially since the new Constitution Vastly
increases the responsibilities OF the Board or civil
Service Commissioners extending their powers over
the cities of the State and additional State depart
ments.
Ever since the Civil Service Commission was or
ganized II has been opposed directly or ndirec'Iy'
by the politicians Of the Democratic party. Gov
ernors Hill and Flower especially made a mocKery
of IT, One OF their methods to do was to appoint
the editors rural newspapers as Commissioners
men who would be content TO draw the sZVp salary
and make no resistance 10 practical nullrcauoh
nv the executive Of the Civil Service laws OF the
State.
Ur Cohb,s nomination was referred by Lieutenant
Governor Saxton 10 the Finance Committee and
Senator Mullin. It's chairman. has promised those
Republicans who interested In Civil Service he-
form and DESTROYS Of having a higher class OF
Commissioners appointed that the committee VIII
not act upon Mr. Cobb's nomination before Tues
dav night In the mean time Governor Morton
viii be apprised OF the plans Of those VINO thnk
the Civil Service Commission ought TO be made one
OF the great boards of the State Later In the
week also a special Senate committee composed
OF Senator OConnor ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Saxtoh
and Senator Mcmillan. who last summer invesu-
gated the workings OF the Civil Service laws. VIII
make its report. The committee. 1t Is understood
Will recommend that the salaries OF the Civ Ser
vice Commissioners be raised from 5000 TO at least
5000 IN order TO command higher order OF talent;
that they be required 10 remain IN Albany ana
have no other business: that the salaries OF the
that there be an increase in the office force. The
committees evidence shows that the civil Service
Commissioners for the last ten years have been
aDpointed by Governors Hi and Flower with the
iiea of evading the Civil Service law.
The election OF James A. Roberts as Controller In
November 1893 and his announcement that he
would not pay salaries TO public ofiiciais VINO had
not been legally appointed. caused CONSERVATION
among the class Of illegal appointees. Under the
direction of Governor Flower the civil Service
Commissioners at once began examining these men.
only one man failed 10 pass He statistician
in the Bureau of Labor Statistics and could not
add correctly; but he afterward took another ex.
animation and passed. These examinations. OF
course farces. Certain men were put alb
rupty into the non-compettive class by having
The titles OF their Offices changed. Only 429 places
remained in the competitive class after these exam
nations. These were 70 places under the Board Of
Regents. So places as guards at the Emira Re
formatory. 81 clerkships and IS places teachers
and OF these 4s were physicians ard l6 stenog
raphers. The Senate committee found that on
January /. 1893. and January l. 1894. there were
the following remarkable contrasts: