New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-11
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
urADs OF STATE DEPARTMENTS COM.
MENT ON GOVERNOR BLACKS
SUGGESTIONS
cporosEp BILL TO CARRY OUT THE EXECUTIVES
,nrA OF RULES wlTfI LESS STARCH" IN
THEM-CoNTRoLLER ROBERTS STRONG

THEM-CoNTRoLLER ROBERTS STRONG
LY DEPENDS THE SYSTEM
,r,oxrHx REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE. ]
Albany Jan 10.-Governor Blacks references
I, his message to the States Civil Service Re-
CORN, regulations have excited good deal Of
ak among the State officers and the mem
bors Of the Legislature. The Governor said;
every means mus, be adapted to the end de-
sired. ard. IN my Judgment Civil Service
will work better with less starch An ex-
animation for a public place should be suitable
- the kind Of service required, and sufficient
margin should he given those making appoint
ments. 80 that the most competent help can be
selected"
Nv Blacks remarks have been generally In
.ornreted as a criticism Of the present limita-
zion Of the rights Of appointing officers in max
tho amendments. Apparently he would in
crease the number Of persons from whom q
collection can be made in making an appoint
,oen. II certain number or persons shall have
osssd a competitive examination. some
,,er,bers Of the Legislature read his message,
he would give the appointing officer power to
take the man that pleased him best and not
limit him 20 the three men highest on the COM
nettve list. IF" says Mr.. Black. Ian exami-
nation has disclosed the fact that a certain
number Of men are qualified TO fill a 6iven po~
s,on the place would be more likely to be
rroperly filed If the appointing officer could
select from The whole number so qualified than
rhe was limited 10 quarter Of that number
Furthermore. II would reduce the chances Of In
,us,ioe 10 an applicant whose qualifications on
,he whole were superior 10 those of his conf
ne,tors who had outranked MIN on paper"
PREPARING A BILL FOR THE LAWMAKERS.
Assenblyman Abel and Senator Lexow, 1t Is
said. have under preparation a bill carrying out
Governor Blacks ideas. which they may intro
duce the present week. soon as the Legislat-
ure reassembles. In the mean time some Of the
State officials have expressed TO The Tribune
correspondent their Judgment upon the present
Civil Service, regulations examination system
and appointive system. These judgments are
given below:
James A. Roberts. the State Controller Is a
hearty supporter Of the present regulations
mo greater misfortune could befal the State.
he said yesterday, than any relaxation OF the
connective system which would permit of the
re-esta hlshment Of the discredted and odious
POLITICAL spoils system Of distributing public Of
fees l think the first who would have
cause TO regret 1t. and If they were honest would
express their regret. would be the public off,
Gals who now say they would like 10 nave the
authority 10 appoint whomsoever they please TO
public office. l do not think the present Civil
Service Reform law of the State perfect (what
law is0 but am willing TO give my evidence
that have been able to get from the eligible
list Of the Civil Service Commission first-class
clerks. They good clerks as any one
,ould wish who expected OF these clerks moth
ing but faithful service to the State. The only
defaulting clerk have had. the only embezzler
Of the money Of the State. not Civil Ser
vice examination appointment. 1 deceived
about the man. False representations were made
10 me about him. The fact was not disclosed to
me that he had been a defaulter before.
CAN TRUST HIS EMPLOYEES
II would like to state also that think can
trust the clerks appointed to confidential posi-
tons. have had no reason to doubt IT. IF the
competitive system has worked we'll at Washing
ton. why should II not in Albany? People say
that you may get men of bad moral character or
lacking ability 10 do your work. In that case.
dismiss them. There is no limitation as to the
power Of discharge. l do not believe that in
every instance an appointment would be salts
factory, even II II suggested by the friends
Of the applicant. and made without any competi-
contains the names Of some good and efficient
men, and. clothed with the authority TO dismiss
incompetent men. you can easily secure the en-
cellent material which you desire The present
competitive system. in my opinion. ought to be
strengthened instead Of weakened. for the sake
both Of the people and OF the Republican party
hurts more than it helps political
party"
SECRETARY PALMER's COMMENTS
"As a general proposition. Civil Service Re-
form may be said to work we'll" said Secretary
Of State John Palmer. but" he added. at is
far from perfection One Of its most grievous
faults Is that no examination and Board %
Examiners can learn Of mans character. An
examination may possibly define the cand
dates mental fitness for public service but
nothing but an acquaintance with the man
and with his habits Of life can define his moral
fitness FOR place. This is of the worst
features Of the Civil Service regulations. II an
employe Is needed. we get list of three candi-
dates who have been certified to by the Civil
Service Commission. and are limited to the
three for choice The certfcation of the Com
mission carries with it no responsibility for the
mans moral fitness simply that he stood a
certain percentage in examination. The head
Of department should certainly have wider
range in the choice Of an employe than the
certified three provided by the Civil Service
regulations"
Civil Service reform IL to my mind. snare
and delusion." sail State Engineer Campbell
". Adams The impract!cablity Of 1t as now
operated IL probably more apparent in my De-
partment than in any other department OF the
State Government. for there. II anywhere. prac-
Teal men are needed, and one of the weakest
points OF a Civil Service examination is that IL
does not provide practical men. For example,
a man was appointed under the Civil Service
rules last winter who on examination had stood
nrst On the list. having passed the examination
with percentage OF Ok When he was put to
work we kept ar ding unaccountable errors in his
work. His attention was called to the errors
out they continued. until we found II necessary
70 dismiss the This winter he was can