New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-06
1T HAS CONE TO STAY.

Governor Morton has just determined upon a
revision of the Civil Service rules of the state
with view to bringing the practice of the civil
Service Commission and the departments into
full accord with the spirit Of the Constitution
This is wise action There has been too much
disposition manifested to play with the subject
of Civil Service Reform and to evade on one
pretence or another the fundamental law of the
State which the Governor. following the Court or
Appeals, declares to be self-eXecutng and bind
ing upon all officers. 1t is time that the RepuD
lcan administration in NewYOrk put Itself
souarely on record in favor Of the strict ENFORCE
ment of the Constitution and set its face against
the efforts Of sposmen to use the party organ
lzation to make mOckery Of the merit system
Civil Service Reform is not popular with poll
ticians of the baser sort and unfortunately, pol
ticans of the baser sort are those most actlve
In affairs. who are out and at work before others
have more than half realized that there Is any
thing TO work for Men of this class have done
their best to prevent the Republican party from
keeping It's pledges Of devotion to Civil Service
Reform and from obeying the plain meaning OF
the law They are still at 1t. One of the most
notorious spOsmen in the State dares to ask
the Republicans to make him Governor. and asks
with such persistency as to trouble his own as
socates and leaders, who fear his unsavory rec
ord. even If they do approve his sentiments. A
candidate for Governor seriously talked Of for
whom several delegations to the State Conven-
ton have been instructed. is George w. Aldridge
This Is the same George w. Aldridge who was
appointed Superintendent of Public Works in
the face Of protests from Civil Service Reform
ers In all parts Of the State; who as Superin-
tendent of Public Works persisted in appointing
subordinates without examination. notwitl-
standing warnings that his action was uncon-
stitutonal; who refused to obey the Governor
and the Civil Service Commission and have his
appointees examined: who sought to evade the
mandate of the Constitution and then to defy It.;
who after the Court of Appeals had decided he
was acting wrongfully. tried to make the State
pay his illegally named subordinates, and who.
when the Controller refused to be made party
to rembursng him for his own wrongdoing,
attempted and still attempts to get the Legis-
lature to pay him for wfully violating the Con
stjtution. This Is the same George w. Aldridge
who is ruthlessly using all the patronage of the
canals to procure delegates to the State Conven-
ton.
Now Civil Service Reform has come to stay.
Its progress in the Nation has been steady.
plication Of the merit system until it now covers
practically the whole field of Federal service.
No President will ever go back to the spoils
system. The National platform Of the Repub-
lican party declares unequivocaly foI the re-
form The party Of the State is committed to
It, The great body of the people want it.
Republican Constitutional Convention gave it a
place in the fundamental law. 1t Is going to
stay there for the next twenty years. whether
the politicians like 1t or not The true policy OF
the Republican party is to accept these facts,
and. as 1t has been the principal promoter or
Civil Service Reform in the past, become its
champion in the future So will it commend IL
self to the favor of the honest sense OF the
community. which, in spite Of all politicians may
do Furnishes or rewards parties according to
their deeds Any other course will be kicking
against the pricks. Civil Service Reform is
inevitable it IS a part Of the principles of the
Republican National party. 1t will be as bad IN
policy as In morals for the party In the State to
be false to that principle or to ask support FOR
candidates who are its enemies.