New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-09-17
A FUTILE ATTACH.

Some short sighted members OF me bioohI! IL
Board Of Aldermen have this week undertaken
what may he called the process OF Freezing
out the Civil Service Commission In that
city. The same plan las been tried III
Congress more than once As respects the Ma
tional Commission. and the Brooklyn Council
men can make no claim TO originality III the dea
they have adopted. 1t may be mentioned rlSht
here that the attempts of Democratic Congress
men 10 starve out or freeze out the Civil Service
officials failed every time; fact the bearings
OF which may be dscerned even by Brooklyn
Alderman.
The civil Service Commission in Brooklyn IS
composed of Il number Of citizens OF high replte,
who are charged by law with important duties
and cheerfnlly give good Zeal Of their time
without thought OF compensation to the per-
Torrance of their work Their scale OF eXpeidi-
tllrc has always been modest. They never ask
the Board Of Estimate for Il cent more than they
honestly need This year after full conslder;i-
lion they came To the conclusion that S-'"H
would be required TO meet their expenses. Inc
Board Of Estimate. however. thought it neces-
sary 10 scale down all items in the budget ana
the civil Service Commissioners. by emitting
number Of items. contrived 10 reduce their
requsiton to Sl7SO0. Even that amount was
not allowed by the majority Of the Board OF
Estimate which finally fixed the appropriation
arbitrarily at $1,000. Under the Brooklyn sys-
TEN the budget goes from the Board of Estimate
10 the Board of Aldermen for revision. ana
committee OF the latter body has taken ghoulsh
glec in cutting this item, already too greatly
snOrn. down 10 $4,000.
What the immediate outcome OF this attack
on on important and vital part of the municipal
machinery will be Is Of less Interest than lis nlil-
mate outcome. though we cannot believe that The
Board as a whole will, in defiance Of popular
sentiment. approve the silly action OF lis com
mttec OF the ultimate outcome there can be
no doubt The attack on the Commission Will
come 10 naught, as other attacks on similar
bodies have failed elsewhere. |, is too late for
any one to think that he can stay the strong ilde
in favo. of civil Service Reform in all depart
mpnts Of government In this State the 'Nll
Service principle has been embodied in The CON
sttution. ana the highest court has said that II
all statutes and regulations Oh the subject were
repealed 'thr mandate Of the Constitution would
still remain. and would 50 far execute itself as
ITO require the courts, in proper ease. TO pro-
.nouncc appointments made without compliance
with its requirements Illegal The require
mcnt OF the Constitution Is that all appointments
and promotions must be made according 10
merit. which shall be determined. so far rs prac-
ticable. by competitive examinations. The Al
dermen at the other end Of the Bridge seem TO
think they have power to do away with the ma
chincry bv which the examinations are carried
o. or at least TO cripple It seriously. The reason
for their action is not far 10 seek. They have
been unable TO get their friends appointed TO
comfortable places because this Commission
stood in the way. So they resolved to have their
revenge. Their resolve will prove impotent.
Civil Service Reform is bound TO go forward. not
backward and no Aldermen can stay its prog
ross