New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-16
COVFRNOR AND CIVIL SERVICE.

4 b,ue mcneil could be used to advantage IN
tho Executive Chamber The Governor needs
editing The memorandum given out yesterday
with the announcement that he had signed the
civil Service bill for which he was the sponsor
contains the substance of all the arguments
,b.t have ever been advanced against the strict
counet,tive system No additions were required
IN mako il from the point of view Of those VINO
aoree with Governor Black and approve the pur-
nose of the act a satisfactory statement OF tnelr
nosltion A faithful and competent mentor, such
as Colonel Lamont was in the days OF Gov
ernor Clevaland's ineyperience, could nave con-
verted the Black memorandum by short ana
s,mn,e process of elimination into toleraDly
st,Ifu, nea IN defence Of an attempt to avoid the
constitution In the form IN which the Gov
ornor issued II the document Is not State paper,
I'M, q stump-speech reduced to writing. 1t IS
defsced throughout by such manifestations OF
,omnor nc arc commonly suggestive Of feeble
mind, and they are doubly unfortunate in this
instance. because they are unbecoming in CHIEF
Magistrate and do injustice to man of superior
,rtel,joence Without them that part of the
memorandum which is perhaps fairly entitled
TO be called an argument would not have been
conclusive for it has been met and refuted many
general sentiment Of the State than to those In
d,r,duals whom 1t is apparently intended TO hold
up to contempt.
II "a q singular fact that the Civil Service Is
tho only subject which Governor Black Is in
capable of discussing in public in a calm ana
decorous manner. He has not kept himself in
seclusion since he was installed in the Execu-
tive office. nor been particularly reticent On
hos XVhn
has made a somewhat excessive use Of the great
mower which Governor can WELD when ne
chooses and has interfered too much with the
course Of legislation. That has not been Our
o,lnon. for in most cases he has so employed
his influence as to justify himself TO the good
noon,o ~ the State. But ut any rate, his de-
meanor and methods Of operation have not iacKeo
dionitv Mt any time from the date Of his first
message to the Legislature to the issuance oil
This memorandum. That first message more
oyer was temperate and sensible III It's treat
ment of every topic with which 1t dealt except
Ing only the Civil Service At that point the
Governor seemed TO lose possession OF himself
and INDUCED in expressions when PRODUCED an
effect Of utter incOnQruity and a disagreeaDie
surprse So again in this paper relating 10 the
same subject, after months OF soDrety, he SUD
denly betrays extreme excitement anu speaks
after the manner Of president Of County
Committee rather than Governor.
This extraordinary perturbation on single
subject is like the mental vagaries with which
alienis;s are familiar. In the case of Governor
Black it is wholly unaccountable 1t would D'
foolish and false to attribute 1t to feeling OF
resentment arising out Of any disagreeable per
sonal experience. The Governor has never ha(
ANY fault to find with Civil Service examiner
inoulrlng too curlously into his qualifications FOL
office, and his motive therefore would seem L
be magnanimous rather than selfish. We Ger
rtaipIv make no insinuatiOns against his sin
cerity. He doubtless believes that the Civil Ser
vice regulations are objectionable from the pub
lie point of view, and that is unquestionaDiJ
an opinion which 1t is his privilege TO hold IL
opposition to a vast majority OF the citizens o.
New.York. But they have a right to insist tina
II 10 not his province to amend the Constitution