New-York tribune., 1897-01-11
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
Continued from First Page.

the Civil Service Reform problem. AS far as the
application of Civil Service regulations to this
department is concerned, it has not been an aid
To more efficient work. but rather a detriment.
Ny personal opinion ~ II is that Civil Service
regulations operated in this State. prevent an
honest. careful official from doing the right
thing. For instance. suppose that have posi-
ton to fill requiring a person OF good moral char
acter and peculiar ability in the special line Of
work in which the vacancy exists | know of a
person whom my own knowledge tells me Is pc
cuarly fitted for the position and possessing
the desired qualities as TO character and ability
/ cannot make the appointment a man desir-
ing to appoint the ablest person. but must go to
an eligible list and appoint some of whose
qualifications know nothing. save that by good
fortune or otherwise he or she had passed good
examination.
II have had numerous such cases come under
my observation in connection with the work OF
the department. and have been compelled by
the Civil Service regulations to appoint those OF
inferior ability. 1t is just the same with regard
to the discussion going on in New-Yorlk in regard
to placing all the teachers under the Civil Ser
vice regulations II is not practical A young
graduate might pass n much better examination,
but who would say from this fact that he is bet
years OF experience in the classroom"
State Historian Hugh Hastings is more than
pleased by the Governors suggestions. In his
department, even where so few are employed
the Civil Service regulations have interfered
to prevent the selection OF the most efficient
clerks
"A short time ago" said Mr.. Hastings II
found 1t necessary to secure the services OF
additional stenographer / made some inquiries
and found that there was a irst-class one to be
had who had fortunately passed the Civil Ser
vice examination. | interviewed the stenogra-
pher and found that she well acquainted
with that portion Of this country's history upon
which the work was TO be done in fact, she was
a finely educated stenographer; but upon APP
plcaton to the Civil Service Commission. I
found that she was eighteenth on the eligible
list, and that before | could engage her per-
manently. / must try the other seventeen eligi-
bles Who for the most part were simply me-
chaEica operatives. with no knowledge Of the
work to be done. The Civil Service Commits
sion would simply certify to the stenographer
whose services I desired for a month. when
she must give way to those whose names stood
first on the list. | engaged her for the month
and would wager that she achieved more in the
month than any one OF the eligibles would have
done In a year"
WHAT COMMISSIONER LYMAN THINKS.
Commissioner of Excise Lyman takes the view
OF accepting the Inevitable with as good grace
as possible He said The Civil Service Reform
system based upon examination before appoint
ment has been passed upon by the people. and
no one need waste time arguing for or against
II, unless it be with the view of amending the
Constitution. I have felt ever since the adop-
ton Of the new Constitution that the Legislat-
ure should at pass appropriate laws to
make the Civil Service provisions thereof APP
plicable and operative. l fully believe that IL
the rules and regulations can be made which
shall make the examinations thoroughly practi-
cal and Of a nature TO develop candidates fit
ness for the particular duties required, which, as
l think, ought to include moral and physical
qualifications as we'll mental, that the sys-
TEN will prove beneficial and popular
Il am not favorable to the scheme Of putting
the examination of candidates upon the heads
OF the departments That would result In load
ing the appointing officer With annoyance. sus-
pcion and abuse, which would be more intolera-
be than the responsibility Of direct personal APP
pointment"
The Commissioner Of Agriculture. Mr. Wietng.
was asked how the rules Of the Civil Service had
affected his department. He replied ITO
certain extent the operation Of the Civil Service
regulations may he satisfactory. but IL Is carried
so far to render it only preventive Of good
clerks and mere mechanical men are concerned.
but when we want man for special position,
or for special service. the eligible list IS made
quate. and we can seldom find there a mar quail
flied for the work in hand
Factory Inspector O'Leary believes in an edu
cational test for public office but considers the
Civil Service rules as placing unreasonable re-
strictions upon his department. Recognizing
the Civil Service rules as binding upon me alike
as citizen and a public Official said he. Il
have made no attempts - evade the law.
|
aware that an evasion II the law would mean
much better service TO the state. and would pro-
feet much more efficiently those interests which
It is expected that this department will protect"
HOW IT WORKS WITH MR. EAsTON.
The Superintendent Of Public Buildings Fred
erick Easton, has experienced many difficulties
with the operation Of the Civil Service rules.
The Civil Service eligible list" said he. gives
me a choice Of say. three who stood highest
on the list. one OF the three is perhaps. an
old veteran. / must appoint him. and do So.
He goes to work and. after a few days. comes
TO m. with the complaint that he cannot do the
work assigned him because of an injury re-
ceived during the war. put him at something
else and another injury prevents his doinS
that sort Of work also, until | am finally obliged
to secure helper for him. for he knows only
too well that it is much harder to get rid OF a
veteran. once he is appointed than II Is To DO
the work. And in this way the Civil Service !
law costs the State more than one good sound
man would.
Again | think that the regulations Of the /
Civil Service do me an injustice by requiring
hat my WatChmen shall be selected from the
civil Service eligible list. | have to give bonds
for all the furnishings which come under my
charge | am naturally anxious that those who /
are left in charge at night should be- those in /
whom | have confidence. but the civil Service |
rules saw No: we have held examination /
and know better than do YOU who should be /
left in charge Of the property for which you !
have given bonds and am pinned down IN my my,
appointments to irresponsible men from all
sections Of the state
"CiVil Service Reform. If carried 10 the logl- /
cal conclusion its radical advocates would have /
il carried TO- wOIld inevitably lead to mon /
archy" said the Commissioner cf Labor Statis- /
tics NJ McDOnough. IF clerk in a depart /.
ment should be kept during good behavior. why /
should not the head Of the department be con- /
tinued in Office during good behavior? Why not /
ret ain the Governor in the Executive Chair dur /
inn, pund Leha Xinr as nnicklE 10 lhat b. :