New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-26
VIEWS ON CIVIL SERVICE.
GENERAL LA GRANGE FAvoRs A
CHANGE IN THE SYSTEM.
ARGUMENTS BEFORE THE MAYOR IN REGARD TO
THE BILL FOR SPECIAL EXAMINERS IN
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Mayor Strong yesterday gave hearing on the
bill creating special Civil Service Bureau for the
Fire Department to consist OF one Fire Commits
s,oner deputy chief and battalion CHIEF the
purpose OF the bill is to put the Fire Department
practically under the same Civil Service rules as
the Police Department f. Randolph Robinson and
j. Van vechten Ocott. OF the CIVIL Service Board;
Dorman r. Eaton ex-presdent Of the National
Civil Service Commission: John H. Washburn, OF
the Board Of Fire Underwriters: President Watson
and Secretary McAneny. OF the CIVIL Service REFORM
Association. and Joseph Larocque opposed the Dill
All the speakers against 1t said that 1t was an at
tack on the principles OF Civil Service reform, and
was purey in the interest Of political appointments
The examinations under the Police Boards Civil
Service Bureau declared to be unsatisfactory
1t was. the speakers declared, the entering wedse
that would destroy the whole Civil Service struc-
ture.
General o. II. La Grange, president Of the Fire
Department was the only man who appeared In
favor OF the bill He began by saying that he re-
scented the suggestion that the bill was introduced
give his Board the power to GUST all Of the TAM
many men from their places In the Department
IL an not responsible for the bill" he said. but |
think II a very fair one. | think that can speak
with some confidence because rumors are rife OF
my being lcglslated out of office at Albany. ac-
cord full credit to the motives of the Civil Service
Commissioners. and | calm full credit for the
motives Of every member of every Other commission
in the city government Other commissioners are
no more likely than CIV. Service Commiss oners to
be Influenced by personal. political mercenary
motives and the high officers Of the Fire Depart
mcnt who would control the Examining Board pro-
posed to be created by this bill could no more be in
nuenced by improper motives in the performance
OF their duties than could the judges OF your higner
courts These fire officers have won their grades by
service in maintaining discipline in fighting fires
Tho lyacn ~
Their felow-citizens. and commissioner who comes
to-day and goes tomorrow. while they hod life
positions could influence one OF them In
the performance Of his duty as an examiner than
he could influence Your Honor a member Of the
civil Service Commission to do dshonorabe act
THE members of the Legislature may justly be
considered as honest az the members of the CIVIL
Service Reform Association. and their judgment
may he more practical In the everyday affairs OF
life The thirty Senators who voted for this bill are.
each one OF them entitled much consideration
AS the one who voted against II.
This bill is not perfect Outside of the domestic
relations there Is nothing perfect in this life 1t is
easy 10 imagine perfection and to deceive ourselves
about IT, The people OF this city called their police
force the finest in the world and thought 1t nearly
perfect until DR.. Parkhurst and the Lexow Com
mttee proved that some mer.bers Of the force were
robb.ng diso.derly houses TO get money with which
to buy promotions.
lieved that the city OF New-York had the best sys-
ten Of fire alarm telegraph In the United States,
until recent inquiries proved that ten times as
many fire alarm boxes fail when pulled 10 send
alarms OF fire fa.l In other large cities Of the
wood -,
its Administration. II II were. II would not change
as iLlnss ana Us ratings 50 often that It's own
memDcrs cannot remember them. II would not
raise the standard foi eligibility from ~ TO ~
amer "A class had passed examination az the nrst
figures. wound not require 10 per cent upon every
subject. ana tnen rerate at an average OF ~ per
cen. subjects, II would not fail TO hold meet
ln,r a.l ei lGc pubic business walt because one
member was cleaning house or another was out OF
the city. and nnaliy. II II were perfect. Il would
credit other honest men with honest motives and
would be- IN harmony with itself which 1t has not
always been.
MS bin IL not perfect. but. In my belief. 1t
would give better civil service examination to
the unii ormed force OF the Fire Department than
the present system gives And for that reason |
ask a Mayor who never lodges an issue or shirks
a duty to return this bill with his approval, II his
law; or. II his judgment d!sapproves H. TO srnd IL
back with his reasons for dlsapproval, when the
Legislature ought TO have.
In the only instance where there wae a a.
ference OF opinion In the Board OF Fire Commits
soners 10 promotion the majority OF ms
Board favored STREET compliance Win ths ClylI
Service rules by the promot.on OF the veteran VINO
stooi tlxhes, On tae eligible list and one OF the
Comm. ss.oners favored delay and change in the
regulations the effect OF which would have been
1, violate the letter and the spirit OF me Clyli
Service law ard regulations. rci thos' t"o , VINO
we're for a strict construction OF the rules nave
been held up In the pubic press a devo' hs ,ne.r
time since they came into he Department III erau-
Ing or c!rcum venting the C.vil Service rules ne!
haze been advertised the editorial page OF an
cv,ning journal as extraordinary persons, anu az
"a. r6o has read with approval the writings OF
the editor OF that journal Tor more tnan tMehy
years part cularly on tie subject OF Divu ,b,
io,or,, I am at A loss determine whether thlS
opprobrlous epithet OF being an extraordhaty per
a. ought 10 be regarded as reward OF iier.t or
!, nunishment for folly. But. being OF a cheel LUZ
DISPOSITION shall take the liberty 10 peeNe ma ,
,n 'yien of the work which the Mayor OF uls c''y
,ound 10 do when he came into once, wh,tn ne -
49, dolrg and greater work OF reform "hich nc
bas 90, 70 do he d feel JUSTIFIED In appointing
nri,,,ory persons as members OF any OF ue coi,',
rf.s,ons under the municipal government eNctpl
nossibiy I'm the OF the Clvl service .l,,n
soner who aas retired from the duty OF CT ~ 81
iI ~. comm ss.oners to the larger duties OF cru.
Using the universe and holding post NOR ZEN ~,
am nations on COMM ss'ohe'S WIN ~ ~
Wavor strong said that he would have 70 cut ,ne
.n"acrcs shor. as ne had an engasei'e" " - "t
,rrd The unwilling OF General Erah,s eau,. %
tn,u, IN Rrooklyn The Mayor gave no 'i ~, ', ,h
"a os ~ what disposition he would MAKE OF ,"e
M M MANY people believe that he VIII approve !"