New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-27
FOR CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
HEARING ON TIE SANGER BILL

Asscmblyman Sanger and backed by the civil SER
vice Reform Association of the State. strengthening
the laws relating to Civil Service examinations for
| State and City officials. had highly interesting
hearing this afternoon before the Assembly Judi
/ ciary Committee II will be remembered that this
| bill was the result Of careful investigation made
| by Lieutenant Governor Sax:on. Edmund O'Con-
! nor then President pro TEN. Of the Senate, ana
Martin r. Mcmahon. then Senator in 1894. into the
practical working of the Civil Service Reform laws
Of the State Many defects discovered In those
laws ana accordingly Mr.. Saxton. Mr.. O'Connor
and General McMahon drew up the present San
ger BILL which if enacted into law will carry the
State mp higher plane in regard 10 examinations
for the Civil Service. This measure passed the Sen
ate last year. but was killed by political influence
in the Assembly
Those who appeared before the Assembly Jul
dietary Committee to-day requesting that they be
heard the measure Carl Schurz. President
Of the National Civil Service Reform Association:
Everett i. Wheeler. chairman Of the Civil Service
Commission Of New-York; Matthew Hale. of the
Albany Civil Service Association, and John Hopkins
and George c. Euell. jr. of the Rochester CivN
Service Association. Al Of these gentlemen spoke
in favor of the bill. no opposition appearing al the
hearing The friends of the measure pointed ont
that ii is much more stringent than the bill o! last
year The essential distinction between this bill
and the rejected measure they said, that Ia this
bill the Civil Service rules extended to counties Of
100 00 population. whereas In previous assures
only State and city departments were made SUB
scrVent to the rules OF the Civil Service II was
noticeable also that at to-days hearing the civil
Service reformers did not come as pleaders for egs-
laton but more as advisers. directing the attention
Of the Judiciary Committee to the means by which
they may best carry out the provisions OF me Con-
s,itu;ion putting all eryants Of the state undef
civil Service examination laws The reason Tor the
change Of attitude and increase OF confidence lies In
the recent decision by the Court OF Appeals IN Inc
case of Mcclellan against Controller Roberts Nc
Cleuan was appointed office by Superintendent
N1,idge Of the Department OF Public Works.
Controller Roberts refused pay his salary on the
ground that he had not passed CIV! service eN-
animation Mcclellan sued for his pay arguing tha'
the Department is not under Civil Service rules he
Court of Appeals decided against Mcclellan III idNOr
of Controller Roberts and Civil Seryice'reformers
OF the State.
Carl schurz the frs. speaker in opening his ad-
dress called the attention Of the judiciary Commit
tee to this decision and quoted as follows from H.
The principle that all appointments in me Wv. ONi
Service must be made ACCORDING 10 merit anu "a
~ he esccraiued by competitive examinations IS eA-
pressed in such broad and imperative iIhsl'tr, ~
N some respects 1t must be regarded a. peyoIIu Wv
control Of the Legislature and secure rom nam, HmS
mere statutory changes. II the I.esisid'n' ~ sb
let Of appointments in the civil Service me ma
date OF the Constitution would sun ie mo, c,'r,1
would so far execute Itself as TO requ'I- u. VDI'
in a proper to pronounce appon,'nigs ,, N'''
without compliance with lis requirement mega"
Further on the Court says:
Whatever doubt or dsirust may exist with 'sSpeS ,
TO the possibility of obtaining Tor me Jaw az r
ana fair execution. there Is none ana can g' - II.
Intimate beneficial efec, upon the service ln e ~
must II fairly and honesty dul hs w.. nave be-
cone peculiarly ripe and active in our polurai h
few inteieen, peopds o Wno IN So FAR as It's a
ministration may depend upon an acton ~ ,,,,ees
yM receiva fair and liberal constructing not ony
according TO It's letter. but its true spirit anu '
general purpose OF its enactment
Mr. Schurz then stated that the Consu'ul'o"
made =, OBLIGATORY not optional. for the lcsslat-
ura N enact laws facilitating and maintaining the
integrity of the Civil Service law This was no,
necessary in order to give the Constitution N''"'
force but TO prevent coAfus.on IN the 'h'''p'e'"
ton Of the Constitutional provisions. ~ Is ho'
only constitutional duty" said Mr. Schurz' 70
enact this Civil Service bill introduced by Assem-
blvroan Sanger or one possessing similar merits
but its enactment would be a good political move
mont which would rebound 10 the credit OF the
| party furthorng such legislation
Ex-senator Edmund OConnor. OF Binghamton'
was the next speaker. He said that IT was no
longer a question OF whether the members OF the
LEGISLATURE desired Civil Service reform or not
for IL was here. and the only question which pre-
scented Itself was how should the Legislature best
deal with Il. lie asserted that ii was the duty OF
the present Legislature TO pass law improving
the civil Service Of the State. Il acknowledge
I 4
civil Service Reform idea believe that the State
VII derive great benefit from placing among ts
statutes a Law adding str.ngency TO rs Civil Ser
vice rules. The experimental STAGE has passed.
1t IS no longer a theory. but condition which con-
fronts US. 1t Is, in my OPINION. now mandatory
upon this Legislature TO pass upon this question
From political pom; Of view. believe 1t would be
goo1 poe to Pass sar a% 'n Of h
state. II would be good political move for tine
Republican majority TO assert itself rs in favor OF
As the ex-senator ended Mr.. Sanger raised the
question that II was often urged that Civil Service
vantage those who had received but fair cdu-
cation. Mr. Schurz answered this by stating that
only 10 10 per cent Of those appointed under Civl
Service examinations were college graduates where
a common school education Mr. schurz further
stated that the stories that the ability TO pass civil
were untrue and tina; the reported quysto to
the depth Of the rivers Of China and the distance
of the moon from certain fixed stars were. their
Everett T. Wheeler appeared as the chairman Of
sad that he had served eight years n the Civil
Service Commission OF New-York City. under three
Democratic and ono Republican Mayor. and his ex-
perience was that only practical questions were
| sideraton required that practical questions should
be asked at civil Service cxaninations lie cited
| New-York 10 show how practical the questions
were made AS means OF showing the necessity
for examinations in order to discover candidates
in the Registrars Department of New-York city
! butcher had been employed as copyst. and his
inability had made necessary the cutting of III
| pages from the records to he recOpied. This
| had been appointed under Cvil Service rules.
| but reward for political services.
Mr. Wheeler then explained the bin In detail, taxi
ng each section separately. The bill has already
| been explained In The Tribune.
John Hopkins. OF the Rochester Association. called
attention TO the fact that although the hearing had
been announced. no opposition had appeared.
Matthew Hale. of Albany well known for his
abilities a Constitutional LAWYER. appeared for
the Albany branch of the Civil Service Reform AS
ociation and explained the decision OF the Appellate
Court in the Mcclellan
| THE ANTI AIRING BILL TO BE PASSED.
! Albany. Feb. 26.-Thc Anticipating bill will pass
the Assembly next Monday night. As amended,
| and II will pass. IL provides follows
person who. within this State. engages in in
-. o.. all % q