The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-08-11

DETROIT, Mich, Aug. lO,-To-day's
proceedings before the association for
the Advancement OF science were en-
livened by criticism of Governor
Black, of New York, by William H.
Hale. Ph. D., Brooklyn, before the Sec
ton OF social and economic science. DR..
Hale's subject was "Civil Service Re-
form" He said. in part:
Last year at Buffalo, presented TO
the association a discussion of the cur
rency question and later had the sat-
isfactlon that the people of the United
States. by an emphatic vote. adopted
The view for which / then oontended.
At that very time n great political party
holding what regarded as sound We've
on this question. was convened to NOM
mate candidate for the Office of gov
ernor OF the state Of New York and se-
lected for that office a young man.
This man, Frank S. Black, un allen to
the state by birth and q recent settler
in II, was destined TO i'll the chief exec
utive and become the most bitter and
OllbHthl I1luL hAlN
TEN ever met,
For several decades there has been
gradually growing up in England and
America n system OF testing by compe-
titive examinations the fitness OF per-
sons to be appo!nted to public Offices.
Results have been In the main satisfac-
tory to tax payers and dlstasteful only
to professional politicians. who look up
on public offices as spolls and upon tax
payers as ut subjects to plunder. The
system was adopted to limited extent
by the state OF New York In lsS3 long
before the advent OF Black within our
borders, and steadily increased in effi-
cheney and In favor with the people.
Governor Black slgnallzed his access
sion TO office by embodying In his an
nual message to the legislature a rec
ommendation that legislation be had
which would authorize the appointment
OF employees In the civil service from the
foot OF the list first which is evidently
forbidden by the constitution. The leg
islature had not the temerity to carry
out this audacious suggestion; but near
the close OF the session they passed a
bill which the governor prepared, pro-
VldlnE that examinations for merit
should be held by the civil service COM
mission and should count only 30 per
cent, and that examinations for fitness
should be held by persons holding the
power OF making appointments, and
should also count 30 per cent, and that
the total percentage of persons exam
ined should be ascertained by adding
the results Of both examinations. The
rules when finally adopted had been so
modified nt Governor Blacks sugges-
tion as TO assist spoiismen to the full
extent permitted by the constitution, II
not more"
Referring to the relationship Of civil
service reform to the question OF state
and municipal ownership OF quasi pub
lie works DR. Hale said:
There are many obvious advant-
ages in having a responsible govern
ment control and operate all franchises
which use public highways and supply
public necessities. II Is well that the
comfort and convenience OF the people
who are supplied by these menepelies
be made the paramount consideration.
rather than the gain Of soulless and
selfish corporation. Strikes and boycotts
the bane of street railway system, would
thus be lverted or minimiZed.
81 bell "e that this country is on the
eve of vast extension OF municipal
ownership and control of systems 20
supply light. heat, transportation, etc
Perhaps there Is danger OF too sudden
and explosive q movement In this di-
rection, Work OF this kind requires
skill, integrity, industry aud experience
which can only be secured by a careful
selection OF men for merit and fitness
and the best men cannot be obtained
without n somewhat stable tenure Of Of
fee. To leave these difficult and i'm
portant public works a spoil 20 pollti
clans would seriously impair their eill-
cheney and would also confer upon par
ty leaders dangerous power of fire.
sponsible and unlimited patronage, The
system OF reformed civil service which
aims 10 secure and TO large extent
succeeds in securing the best men for
the performance OF public duties, nf-
fords the only economical and there
fore the only practical solution OF the
problem Of governmental admlnlstra-
tlon OF these natural monopolles for the
public good"