New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-05-01
KILL 1T.

Precisely what idea was Larccrng through the
somewhat less thin colossal intellect of Assem-
blyman J. Irving Burns. Of Westchcsicr County.
when he Introduced his bill 10 knock the Civii
Service law to flinders. we do not pretend TO
know. We suspect. however. that he was under
thc immersion that he was making himself solid
with that part Of his party which he has been
trained to r, kon mt about four ifihs Of the
whole, TO wit. the part that has always brch
ready 70 run primary on The chance of being
rewarded with IN office. The Burns Dill pro-
vidcs that it shall No, be- deemed practicable To
Amply the civil Service rules Of This state 10
places In the public service the compensation Oh
which does not exceed the sum OF - DAY
As our Albany correspondence has shown. such
an exemption would cover ~ per cent ~ the
cmploycs Of New York city, - per cent "t Inc
cmploycs Of Brooklyn and 81 per cent OF me
employees of the State. \ rather comprehensive
measure Is this brief document which, whoever
constructed 1t, was chccrfully launched upon the
waves Of debate IN the Assembly Chamber 'W
Mr. j. Irving Burns. We observe with interest
that his chccrfulncss has subsidized I" some 'N
tent within the last few days from which II may
reasonably be- assumed that his crnft has snurh
a snag II 1t has II is pretty sure To founder Tor
II was built only for smooth water; ANA we nope
that Mr. j. Irving Burns will be The last OBJECT
visible on It's deck ~ II goes down. though we
have no objection 10 his swimming ashore siDsr
oucntlv. II life Is sweet 10 him. After such an
cxperlrncc he might know more things that
are
one Of the things which We should hope he
might thereafter haze Il saving knowledge Of Is
that a great ma ioriiy Of the Republican party
Il, not like Ia have It's vcracty and general good
rcpute brought under suspicion by bills of this
character Whatever the politicians who have
nut strong civil Service planks into state ana
local platforms may have intended them TO mean,
the voters have generally supposed that they
meant what they said: and they have gone to the
nolls not merely 70 elect candidates. but also 10
ratlfy the declarations Of political principle on
which candidates had solicited their support.
The Republican party believes in civil Service
reform when it is in power rs fully when 1t Is
in retirement II that is not the feeling of Mr. j.
Irving Burns SO much the worse for that mis-
representative If Westminster County. And yet
we would not be- too hanl on him He has been
obviously anxious about his bill the last two or
three days for hc has not had 1t called M for
consideration. and perhaps he doesn't admire 1t
SO much as he did.
Moreover. though We despse 4 mcasur" which
aims 10 ,lemosh an accepted and rcpuiabl" prnc-
tice Of government without frankly acknowleiE
ing its purpose. there j. something about The
phrascology Of this "act I'm relation io In" 'lviI
Service Of the State Of \rwiOrk which has
diverted us 1T shall not be deemed practicable
10 appy the Civil Service rules" etc. j. the WAY
in which It begins. If passed the law would
therefore say 10 the frIciiOnary: You must not
deem" etc But | do deem" the funcilonary
might reply. and though will obey You In
"practlcal sense you can't prevent my deem!ng;
"fnrthcrrnore. | don't see how yOu could ever
know whether | deemed or not. II | didn't tell
you" Mr. j. Irving Burns. a. he appears In the
Language Of this bill. is like the English school
master who. having read from the Scriptures
blessed are the pure in heart for they shall
see God" added on his own account: Nov mind
that boys II you're not pure In heart I'll HOG
..you" But though the words Of the bill are
rather absurd and amusing. It's meaning Is clear
enough and as Objectionable a IL Is clear. There
is talk Of amending 1t. The way 10 amend II Is
10 strike out the cnactlng clause II does not
deserve 10 be- put 10 sleep XII II,