New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-07
SPOILS BILL DENOUNCED.
BLACK GIVES A HEARING ON The
CIVIL SERVICE MEASURE.
CARL SEIZURE MAKES THE PRINCIPAL sFEIIn
AND EXPOSES THE iNloUIrIEs OF


CARL SEIZURE MAKES THE PRINCIPAL SPEECH
AND EXPOSES THE INIoUIrrEs OF
THE PROPOSED Law.
Albany May (speciaD-Governor Black gave
hearing to-day his Civil Service bill. and Win
the exception Of the Greater New-fork char'er'
no measure has brought to Albany so many per
sons competent to speak on the subject under con-
sideration. The opposition to the measure was
powerfully expressed The chief speaker was |a''
Schurz, who spoke as one acquainted with the oe-
merits Of the spoils system and the merits OF the
competitive system through his service as eec,e
tary of the Interior Addresses were also mace os
william J. schiefrelin one OF the civil Service
Commissioners Of York; William q. Low OF
Brooklyn; Alfred T. White. ex-Commissoher %
City Works OF Brooklyn; Thomas I. H. Lo"en.
J. T. Harris. president Of the State Federation OF
Labor Dorman B. Eaton 8. W. Briscoe, SECRETARY
OF tho New-York Civil Service Board: Cnaries D
Somers. Civil Service Commissioner, OF brooA'S",
and j. T Owens representing the Union 'e'e''''
Protective Association.
Letters OF protest against the Dill were lei' = a.
the heads OF nearly all the city departments ia
| Neu,-york and Brooklyn George McAneny. secre-
tary Of the State Civil Service Reform Assoc''o"
submitted over one hundred letters from proiii.en
citizens Of the State urging the Governor "ot ~
sign the bill. s 81.
| In speaking Of his own experience u"ue' ''0
spoils system Mr.. Schurz said:
not merely believe know that the plea tor 'iio
discretion OF the heads OF pubic par nost de-
making snow that heads Of departments
who cared more for party politics tnan ~ sor
o od ths or PERSONAL ends Without regard to
the public good. know that heads o. uep snr narty
noii,,cs mus, have had in them the stuff that
martyrs are made Of In order 70 bower
that political pressure which sought to extort TON
them appointments obnoxious 10 y .ne" have been
plenty / know that the Incompetent and disnoness
persons that infested the service genetay S' MAN
| however able and worthy. could get place without
except in extreme case Of emergency. know that
when a department cher my sell, an sol -
upon me- for appointment with force and per- per.
sistency extremely difficult TO resist know tna'
ave even for habtual drunkenness, without having
lot OF Congressmen on my hands protes'tHns
as to threaten me with obstructing the appropria-
tons for my department. Il insisted / know thai
/ the most unjust removals were urged 10 make
room, or the creation OF new berths was impetu-
ously demanded. and that thus the pubic pay rolS
were overloaded with salaries that were mere wan
ton waste.
/ Other parts OF Mr. Schurss speech follow:
The existing law is based upon the right princ-
ple-that is TO say. 1t provides for competitive ex-
open 70 all the WS are 70 DE
appointed and act under general rules ordered or
different Municipalities respectively, but are not
subject TO direction or influence on the part 81 me
spssc and the rass to be made
Being thus independent Of the appointing power the
lmpartiality and freedom from influence This
system. therefore, gives everybody an equal chance
without favor. and is essentially democratic. t5ut
under this BILL S only v Tss Service Is eom
missioners Independent Of the appointing officers.
and however successfully the examined candidate
rating Of 30 in oothat is to say he shall be consl
cred only half qualified for appointment-the other
ity that ia TO examine him for what Is called mt
ness And who is that other authority? The APP
Thus the essential principle. that to secure the
examination Of candidates for office AGAINST ,ss me
huence they must be Independent OF the discretion
of the appontns 9cersthe principle eyiaeny
completely nullihed. Is it not? Is there anything
in the bin IN se hs
ing the ratings on the part OF the apponting ON
may conduct these examinations just as he pleases
in secret or in public orally or in writing person
party district committee or consstory OF divines
or even the barkeeper OF the nearest saloon foI
into htnesS may be Wholly oral and leave trace
behind except the verdict And that verdict a1
and unjust it may be. is to stand unimpeac'h,
held BY ,l;'a an independent and impartial board.
The consequences If this bill becomes law are
the appointing officers have the power to shape the
examinations for fitness az they please man me ne
upon them in faIi force cajoing. urging, bullying
I them into compliance with its behests. And how
/ many OF the appointing officers will be strong or
virtuous enough to resist?
II you think. sir, that the existing Civil Service
system has defects which should be remedied. ther
| ask you. in all candor. DO you see no other way
TO accomplish that object than this sure method
utterly 70 ruin and destroy the system? Must yot
needs burn down the whole house 10 make a chlm
ney draw? What do you complain OF? That IN
questions asked In the examinations are TOO scho
lastic? That no sufficient means are employed Il
ascertain character? That the interests and wishes
Of the several departments are not sufficiently re
garded in the purview of the examinations! W NY
sir II these complaints were well founded, you al
Governor have the amplest power 20 rectfy al tni
In the simplest way The law gives you the powe
10 approve disapproVe aye virtually 10 make th'
rules in accordance with the constitutional manda 3
and 70 modify in a genera sense the methods o
procedure OF the Civil Service boards. And so nave
the Mayors OF the cities the power All that Is re
oulred s that you should sit down and with sucl
expert aid as you abundanty command, q
over the rules and over the records or the ex
aminations You can say Here is rule that seem
70 DO 700 broad TOO narrow, and order IL 10 d
changed thus and or. fail 70 fnd here prope
methods for the ascertainment or character or o
nractical skill or experience and direct ina
such and such methods be adopted. or thar the de
partments be consulted TO the line the exanliha
lions should follow. You. as Governor. can 90 a.
This You can do everything consistent with TN
Fundamental principle OF the constitutional man
da,e There Is absolutely no obstacle in your way
and we shall ali be happy 70 aid you, IN making IN
system more effective and beneficial
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