New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-11-14
THE CIVIL SERVICE wan
1T WILL. BE CONTINUED IN THE 81 '''''''''
COURT ON MONDAY
ROTH SIDES TO PROVE THE EFFECT OF Afro'>i
MENTs MADE UNDER THE PRE-

ENT SYSTEM.
II is probable that on Monday a oscus ..
begin before Supreme Court JUSTICE me- -,
the general merit Of the competitive System "
ing APPOINTMENTS TO the Civil Service p ~ '"'
s.nrdoy a,,ernoon In the suit OF 5. Il. 'h''teh-
den and others TO wipe out non-coinpe'''> -
a., ~ tho Rrooklyn Civil Service reguia'ioHS'
1,st,ce Keoeh excluded all expert testimony as "
the desirability of the competitive sys'e" VI w
amina ton for appointments. IA,
Al the close of the days session Inc JuS''Oc s"'
.Tbe record will show that permit 20" Do'
10 prove the effect OF the appoh''"e"'' ~
the Civil Service system
Corporation Counsel Burr. whois SERVING a. 'i''.'
In conducting the defence took exception 10 this
latter ruling Edward NJ. Shepard. counsei io' .ie
p,a,ntifYs who had frequently expresSeu HIS WI
ingness to take up the cudgels Tor the "ho,e -
declined 10 state at once whether he "ou'u '"" "
vantage Of the offer of the court lie said mat HIS
three important witnesses. Police 'o'"is'o''
pooscva,, Everett = Wheeler and toionei oiias r.
Burt. had been permitted to go lie "ouu nave
IN take until Monday to make up his NINA whe'he'
to recall them or not
Another important ruling made by the court was
on the word practicable In the STATE 'ohs''"
tioo That document says that examinations must
be made from competitive examination as i"' d"
practicable Justice Keogh said that an Important
point before him was az to whether prac"ca''e
referred 10 the mere physical ability TO hold ex-
aminations or the good or the pubhc seINSe'
whether the public service would be served better ov
an appontee selected by competition or not lie was
inclined TO take the latter view. and would hoid a'
any rate that when similar offices in the State gov
eminent or other cities had been filled by compeu-
tion 1t was evidence of the praccabilty OF hIiihe
similar places In the Brooklyn service by com
petitve examination This latter point was cieaii!
in favor of the plaintiffs.
The small trial-room was crowded in the morning
when Commissioner Roosevelt was called TO the
stand. Speaking of his incumbency as president OF
the United States Civil Service Commission. he
said:
We had exceptional opportunities to learn what
kind of service could and what kind could not come
under Civil Service competitive examinations. We
had only own experience but also reports
from many sources. There was a contest az 10
postoffce clerks coming under the rule and per-
sonay examined some, of them; For example the
President in 1898 extended the civil Service system
pOstoffces that had previously been exempt, ana
! went TO Evansville Ind to inyestieatT , Inc
for patrolmen by written series OF questions. and
ton is not given written examina tons but on a
system of rating. We pay more attention 20 record
any written examinaiions II is required tha, ex.
animation for promotion should include tests o.
Mr. Shepard asked him as TO the qualities of men
who had passed competitive examinations. and
petent than those who had passed non-competitire
e1aminations. The question was excluded
of competitive appointments had increased while
he was In the Commission and that now ali places
except those filed by Presidential nomination and
confirmed by the Senate were under competition
He described number of Offices in the service and
the qualifications for the same.
Everett p. Wheeler. chairman of the New-York
Bu nv Chairman Of the STATE SiS
Service Commission were called. and they testified
that places similar to those in dispute were filed
by competitive examinations in the State and New
York City governments
In opening It's case the defence simply offered In
evidence number of documents. II is understood
that Mr. Burr contends that the word practicable"
applies only to the good of the service and that
the placing of office in Schedule A by the
Mayor is presumption that competitive eXamina
ton impra cticable. and that TO upset such a
designation the good faith of the Mayor would
have O be attacked