The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1895-04-11
VETERAN ACT UPHELD.
Appointments In Brooklyn are Made ID
spite Commissioners.

Appointments in Brooklyn are Made De.
spite Commissioners.
The veteran law is causing some consider
able dissention in Brooklyn, where tho Civil
Service Commissioners have declined to recog.
nize appointments made under it until an
opinion is had from the Corporation Council.
The Comptroller of Taxes recently named three
veterans. Edward s. Cramer, Benjamin n.
Woodruff and Edwin T. Forman, for places in
the Bureau of Taxes. Under the veteran act
they are exempt from competitive examina-
tions. breach between the Civil Service Com
missioners and the Comptroller was the imme-
date result. The former claim as their defense
that the act was abrogated by the new Con-
stitution, but Comptroller Palmer, to sustain
his position, made public to-day letter from
Gen. 1. s. Catln to Secretary Jackson, Of the
Memorial Committee of the GAR. The letter
is in reply to the question whether section of
the new Constitution conflicts or is inconsistent
with the laws of 1894 in regard to the prefer
ence of veterans in the employment Of cities.
Gen. Catln says in his letter:
This section of the Constitution is certainly
imperative until its provisions are complied
with or carried out--viz., until law shall be
made to provide for its enforcement. Such
laws have not been made Hence, it seems to
me the section cannot be considered as playing
any part in deciding the status of veterans or
any other applicants for office. If such laws
shall be enacted-that is to provide for the en-
forcement of this section-they may be con-
sistent or inconsistent with the present laws
on the subject. Those laws may, in their pro-
visions, construe this section of the Constitu-
ton to be entirely consistent with present laws
on the subject. Therefore, while this section
lies dormant, for want of laws to give it vi
tality, the laws already enacted and in opera
ton are the only ones to be looked to or referred
to on this subject and appointments that have
been made Hereunder are valid. 1t will be
seen that this is tho only section of the amend
ments to the Constitution that provides with
in itself the mode Of carrying it into effect
viz, by laws thereafter made for that purpose.
Such laws, | repeat, have not been enacted,
and consequently the laws already in force in
reference to the subject-matter of this section
are still in operation there are no laws at all
on the subject"
Comptroller Palmer made the following state
ment in reference to the appointments: Il have
applied to the Corporation Counsel on two or
three different occasions for an Interpretation
OF the veteran law and the Civil Service law.
be has Informed me that he could not give me
an opinion in the matter; also, that there were
cases now pending in the Supreme Court from
the Police Department and Fire Department
which would settle this whole matter. / have
filed away the demands of veterans to be APP
pointed under this chapter-7l7 of the laws of
1894. Before doing So applied to various
counsel in reference to the matter, among them
James ID. Bell S. T. Maddox, ex-Congressman
Thomas f. Magner, John NJ Ward, and VIM.
Cloutier; Gen. Catln's opinion to the Me-
mortal Committee you have"