New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-05-23
LESS THAN HALF QUALIFIED.
POOR SHOWING OF PLATTs SPECIAL EN-
CISE AGENTS.

AMONG THOSE WHO FAILED TO PASS THE NON
COMPETITIVE EXAMINATION WERE BROTH
ERs OF JACOB WORTH AND CORNELIUS
VAN coTT-THE NEW LIQUOR TAX.
GrRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBuNEl
Albany May 22-Thomas c. Platt Is not ind
Ing II an easy task to fill the choice places IN the
State Excise Department with his followers. Act
ing under Inspiration Governor Morton put the
sixty special agents to be appointed by State EN-
else Commissioner Lyman in the non-competitive
class. That is, the authority to name the agents
was substantially given to Mr.. Platt. but each
man so named was required to pass simple ex-
animation as to hls qualifications before the chief
examiner OF the State Civil Service Commission.
Easy as the test was, over 30 per cent Of the
men named by Platt for special agents failed 10
pass the examination recently held in New-York.
There were twenty-seven Platt Republicans who
appeared before the chief examiner and only
thirteen OF them qualified. The following four
teen were rejected: Abram Lewis. Louis s.
Grenner. Patrick J. O. 'Brien, Louis Freidel. James
F. Pegnam. Whitfield Van Cott and Joshua I.
Easton OF New-York City; John Worth, Matthew
NJ. White Henry Hanbury. Gustave Nathan and
William Henry Harrison, OF Brooklyn; Patrick ].
Mcdonnell and Jacob Gundlach of Buffalo
pull" DID NOT HELP THEM
1t is interesting to note that John Worth.
brother OF Jacob Worth. Patt's lieutenant in
Brooklyn. and Whitfield Van Cott, brother Of
Cornelius Van Cott. Of Platts chief assist
ants in New York. failed to pass. A strong pro-
test against the appointment Of Abram Lewis was
filed and he Is among the rejected ones. Henry
Uanbury brother OF Congressman Hanbury, Of
Brooklyn, also failed to pass muster.
Henry II. Lyman. the state Excise Commits
sione-. especially oppo.ed the appointment OF
the special agents by competitive examination.
because as he said. 1T would take too much
time to secure them and I need their services
now" With over 30 per cent OF his and Mr.
Platt's appointees rejected 1t is pertinent to ask
II he has gained any time. These places must
be filled With a competitive examination. open
TO every one, there s no question that they
would have been filed by this time.
The chief examiner also announced that r. >
Mellen. Of Brooklyn. appointed auditor. had
failed to pass the examination
rh. names OF the men who passed tho ex-
animation are: Auditors-George Davis. OF New
York City and James +. Lotus. OF Bu1aio'
Special agents-Henry c. Adce John W. Noble
Howard Green, John J. y. Symes. Maniey .
Snyder William L. Turner. Henry D. Cusheh'
Moses R Cohen and William C. Rothmann' OF
New-York City; Andrew Frank. George IS But
fling and George Sem. OF Brooklyn. and Rich
ard W. Larkin. Of Clarence. Erie County.
MORE TROUBLE IN STORE.
Although they have passed the non-compcuiive
examination. the tribuations OF these special
agents have not ceased. Controller Roberts has
already said that ne Will not ray them their
salaries until he is compelled to do 80 by the
courts He holds that they have been appointed
in defiance 0. the constitutional provision tha'
whenever practicable those seeking appoint
nent I'm the service OF the State shall be COM
PEELED 10 submit 10 a competitive examination
Mr. Roberts believes that the Court OF Appeals
Will UNFOLD his contention that the examination
- these agents was perfectly ''prScticable,' ana
that. therefore, they have been Illegally ap-
pointed II is likely that the special agents are
about % pass through an experience similar 70
that inst endured by Aldridges collectors or
canal statistics who fpr a year have had the
nav,nent u their salaries stopped (unless Al
drldQe himself advanced the money!, ana now
even when Governor Morton Is considering bills
- nav ,he,r salaries. are In doubt whether Mr..
Roberts may not again under the C'hS"'"''o"
refuse payment Of these claime
RESULTS OF THE RAINEs TAX.
Commissioner Lyman had a statement made
to-day showing the amount Of money received
I'm each county last week from the liquor tax
The sum ~ 60s.Ol4 - was collected In all from
Nav II 70 Nav 1G From May to May . the
ann, - S3 400 7GO - was collected. From May |
~ Nav lG therefore. the liquor dealers paid ~
17777. II To the various County treasures
The STATE ap Tgesu oi y Tb,s ,s consdcraby lees
han the 50 900 900 IL was estimated the state
would receive and yet Senator R1ines says that
the states revenue from this source VIII be 3D.
'V Tb" amount collected by counties up to May