Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-08-10
W. q. Hale Indulges in Unsparing
Criticism of New York's Governor,
CALLS Him A POLITICAL SPOKESMAN
Does Not Like His Amendment of
Civil Service Rules.
5 Z Z &c II AT ETROIT

| DETROIT. Mich. AUGUST 1o.-Mambers
OF the American Association for the Ad-
| Vancenent of Science were still arriving
when today's sessions began. The general
council. after a morning session. adjourned
| until tonight when IL is expected tina. cam
| didates for offices and next place of meet
| ing will he discussed
Today's general session was brief and
was occupied mainly in announcements.
The botanical brarch met this morning
| and elected officers to fill vacancies. ]. J..
Davis of Racine. Wis, being named as
president and A. F. Woods of Washington
secretary. Permanent officers will be eject
ed later.
Members of the American Chemical So
| ciety are visiting the Detroit laboratories
| ana manufactures today.
Inc programs of scientific addresses and
DISCUSSIONS before the several sections of
tne association this afternoon We're extern
sive, and for the most part largely attend
ed Most of the papers read We're by spe-
cialists distinguished in ,heIr ras,sao,tp,
lines.
Today's proceedings before the Associa-
ton for the Advancement of Science wers
eniivened by criticism of Gov Black by
VIM. ii. Hale, Ph.D, BROOKLYN before the
section of social and economic science DIR
Haie's subject was Civil Service Reform"
He said in part:
I<lsl year al BUnalD L presented "a fha
association discussion of the currency
question, anc later I had the satisfaction
to sea that the people of the United States
by an emphatic vote, adopted the view for
which then contended.
AT that very time a great politicay
party, holding what L regarded a. sound
views on this question, was convened TO
nominate 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, an alien to
the state by birth and a recent settler In
IL was destined to fill the chief executive
once and TO become the most bitter and
formidable opponent that the merit system
ever met.
Evolution of the Merit System,
For several decades there has been grad
ually growing up in England and America
system of testing, by competitive exam
nations, the fitness of persons to be ap-
pointed to public Offices. Results have been
In the main satisfactory to taxpayers and
distasteful only to professional politicians
VINO look upon public offices as spols and
upon taxpayers as fit subjects to plumber
The system was adopted to a limited ex-
tent by the state of New York in lSS3 long
before the advent of Black within our bor-
ders. and steadily increased n efficiency
and i'm favor with the people.
Gov. Black s'gnalized his accession TO
once by embodyiEs in his annual message
legislation be hf7d which would authorize
the appointment of employees i'm the civil
service from the foot of the list first which
Is evidently forbidden by the constitution.
The legislature had not the temerity 10
carry out this audacious suggestion; but
near the close of the session they PASSED
bill, which the governor prepared pro-
vfding that eXaminat ions for merit should
be held by the civil ivice commission ard
should count only 81 per cent, and that
examinations for fitness should be held
by persons holding the power of making
appointments, and should also count rO
per cent, and that the total percentages of
persons examined should be ascertained Ivy
adding the results of both examina tions
New Rules in SpOiIsmen's Interest,
THE rules when finally adopted had been
so modified at Gov. Blacks suggestion as
to assist spoilsmen to the full extent per-
mitted by the constitution. If not more"
Referring to the relationship of civil serv-
ice reform to the question of state ard
municipal ownership of quasi-public works,
DIR. Hale said:
There are many obvious advantages I'm
having responsible government control
and operate all franchises which use pub
lie highways and supplE public necessi-
ties. 1t is well that the Comfort and con-
venience of the people who are supplied
by these monopolies be made the para
mount consideration. rather than The gain
Strikes and boycotts, the bane of street
railway systems, would thus be averted or
minimized.
Il believe that this country is on the
eve of a vast extension of municipal own
ership and control of systems 10 supply
light, heat, transportation, etc. Perhaps
there is danger of too sudden and explo-
sive a movement i'm this direction.
The Work Requires Skill.
Work of this kind requires Skill irteg-.
rity, industry and experience, which can
only be secured by a careful selection Of
men for merit and fitness, and the best
men cannot be obtained without a some
what stable tenure of Office. To leave
these difficult and important public works
a spoil to politicians would seriously i'm
pair their efficiency and would also confer
upon party leaders a dangerous power of
irresponsible and unlimited patronage. The
system of reformed civil service, which
aims to secure, and, to a large extent, sue
ceeds in securing the best men for the
performance of public duties, affords the
only economic and therefore the only prac-
ticable solution Of the problem Of govern
mental administration Of these natural
monopolies for the public good