The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1895-08-30
CIVIL SERVICE LABOR
THE WHOLESOME SYSTEM NOW
WORKING IN NEW YORK CITY.

Ane "fuif ~ Deau, anu ionesI hen nave
. Show Four Months OF the Labor
Bureau-A Good Thing For the Unions.
Buchanan Gets Inside Information.
Especial Correspondence.l
met DR.. A. S. Houghton the other
day. Labor reformers will remember
Doc. He was for long time one of the
active men in the movement, particu-
larly that branch of reform which deals
with land. He was one of coterie of
bright men who ten years ago agitated
and it was an agitation-the single
tax question in Cincinnati. 1t was there
/ first made his acquaintance. I say
met the doctor the other day. He is now
practicing his profession in New York
city and is the examining physician of
the labor bureau of the municipal civil
service commission of that city. want
to say right here that he obtained his
position in competition with other ap-
plicants and under civil service rules.
Doc has no love for politicians and has
no "pull." 1t was about the destruction
of the "pull' in municipal employment
that wanted to write bit, and so I
asked DR.. Houghton to give me some
information regarding the workings Of
the new system in New York. "The
political pull in New York city, in so far
as municipal laborers are concerned, is
dead" said Doc.
The new system was put into opera
tion May /, 1895. Under this system
any one who can furnish recommended
tions from two citizens, one of whom
must have been former employer Of
the applicant, may apply for any posi-
ton in the city's labor departments
outside Of the uniformed service. The
uniformed service-police, fire and
street cleaning-is under the control of
other commissioners, but much the same
rules are being adopted as those which
govern the labor bureau. All applicants
at the labor bureau are enrolled, and
those that pass the physical examina-
tion are given employment in the order
of their enrolment. No pull" will
advance an applicant beyond his or her
legitimate place on the roll. The only
oistinntion made is in the preference
given to United States veterans and ap-
plicants having dependents. The rules
in this respect are that veterans with
dependents take first rank; then come
veterans without dependents, then 9th
ers with dependents, then all others.
There may be some fault found with
portions of this rule All have to say
is that am satisfied that the politician
is not in it.
There are more than 5000 positions
in the city which come under the regu-
lations of this bureau, and since May 1,
1895, there have been 4,S00 applications
for employment. Of this number ATT
failed to appear after their applications
were filed, 315 were rejected, chiefly be-
cause Of physical infirmities, and $50
were transferred to departments other
than those in which their several appli-
cations were made. Of the 4,800 apply
ing for work, 1850 were laborers, the
remainder of trades more or less skilled.
In the skilled trades there were 119
painters, 81 bricklayers, Al stonecutters,
20 masons, shoemakers, bakers and
butchers 1t must be understood that
the city has use for men in these trades,
and the applicants asked for work not
DIS laborers, but at their accustomed call
ings. More than roo have been given
positions since May /. This may seem
small percentage, but it must be known
that the places were all occupied when
the new rules went into effect, and all
the old men whose work gives satisfac
ton are retained.
There is much that is interesting
about the system of the labor bureau
that have not the space to tell of here.
What lam most concerned about is the
fact that the leading city of the country,
a city in which for a quarter of a CEN
tury man could not get the position of
dog FOUNDER without "indooence," has
adopted q system that recognizes only
the man and not his "pull' in giving
out its jobs. If this plan could be in
stalled in every city in the country, it
would do much to advance the labor
movement, and that is to me Of chiefest
Importance. In all the years of my ex-
perience have seen nothing that could
compare with the political pull" as
barrier to labor union progress. More
sacrifices have been laid upon the altar
of some "leaders" longing for q politi-
cal job than On the other affairs which
line the way of labor's struggles. Aims
have been perverted, objects have been
bartered, and unions have been smashed
by the LEADERS" who sold their "influ-
ence with their following" for an APP
pointment. This is straight from the
shoulder, but if the shoe doesn't fit you
it is intended for the other fellow. Or
ganized labor in every city and town of
the country should agitate for a civil
service systein similar TO that now in
force in Now YorE.
Jos. r. BUCHANAN.
Like tho sold Guard"
President Debs and the board of di-