The evening times., 1897-04-16
BLACKS BILL FINDS FAVOR
Civil Service Measure Approved
by New York Politicians.
BOTH PARTIES SATISFIED
The Governor Claims 1t VIII Not
Lower the Tests-Insists That 1t
Be Passed-Republican Machine
Politicians and Tammany Leaders
United Hints of Spoils Division.

New York, April 16.-The civil service
bill, which is being fathered by Gov.
Black, is the main topic OF discussion in
| political circles. The machine politicians OF
beth the Republican and Democratic parties
are delighted with the measure, which, if
passed by the legislature and held to he con-
stitutional, will restore the spoils systen in
the distribution of offices.
Abraham Gruper, the head of the Civil
Service Progressive Association, strong
Republican organization which has been
seeking the repeal OF the existing civil
service law, said: 1.-The bill is good, but it
does not go far enough. There ought 10 be
Some provision in il that would prevent the
civil service boards from asking sill J ques-
tions. thought To be provided that the gov
ernor o the ma yors of cities should go ever
the civil service commissioners questions
and strike out those that are not practical.
The bills step in the right direction, low
ever, and ought to be welcomed by all good
citizens II gives heads OF departments
power which they need for the good of the
service. Some people say that heads OF de
partments cannot be trusted 70 award fair
percentages. Let me tell you thatthis kind
oftalkis undermining our government. Let
the people once getimpressed with the idea
thatheads of departments cannot be trusted
to make good appointments and what viii
become of our government"
The Tamuany Hall leaders generally are
as much pleased with the Black bill. They
believe it means complete restoration OF
the spoils system, and they exp pect to be the
beneficiaries next year Surprise has been
ex presse ithat the Republican machine, with
the prospect of a certain defeat in the
Greater New York election, should play into
the hands of Tammany, but the politicians
are not surprised Among them it is re-
garded as sure that an understanding has
been reacheti-that either Tarnnany or the
Republican machine must rule Greater New
York, and that the winner Will make "a fair
division of the spoiis. The leaders of both
machines know that they can get nothing
in the way OF offices if the Citizens Union
movement succeeds, So it is believed they
have decided that that movement must tie
defeated in any event. 1t is not believed
that any formal agreement has been made,
hut il is evident from the talk of the politi-
clans on both sides that they are deter
mined that one OF the machines must win.
The bin meets the hearty approval Of the
Tammany district leaders. Ex-senator g.
W. Plunkit:, the Tammany lea Ter of the Fif-
teenth district. said: 1T is a good bin, tut
it does not go half far enough. l would
abolish the whole civil service hunIbng. The
politicians should hold the offices. The are
honest, for the nome ut a politician becu mes
dishonest the peoplethrow mdown There
are more civil service reforiners in State
prisons than politicians. I have so much
confidence in the honesty of politicians that
/ would favor the enactment of law max
ing theft of the peoples money punisha-
BILE by death. Say, if that were the law,
you would see mighty few politicians
dangling at the end OF a rope or sitting in
the chair at Sing Sing
Corporation Counsel Scott said: Gov.
Black does not mean TO revolutionZe the
civil service law, but to abolish it. If the
bill becomes law and the courts do not de-
clare it unconstitutional the heads OF the
departments may appoint anybody to office,
and the civil service examinations viii be a
farce. The appointing power can give the
man wanted so per cent for fitness, and il
he gets only 10 per cent for merit. he can
secure a higher percentage than the man
who gets go per cent for merit, for the ap-
pointing power can give the latter only 3
per ceat for fitness.
1T would be better to openly abolish the
law and return to the spoils system than
to have sham examinations While have
given the matter no consideration, it seems
to me at first sight that the bulis clearly
Il.
the State constitution
Gov. Black is very much in love with his
bill, and insists that 1t shall be passed by
the legislature. He says the bill is not de
signed to lower the educational test or the
test of merit The test will remain Just
as high under the new law as it is under
the present law.
The governor does not believe that the
bill, if it becomes a law, would lead to
grave abuses. He thinks an honest eXecu-
tive, who wants to uphold the civil service,
can guard against such abuses, and he
thinks the new step about to be taken will
in short time convince the public that
the change is for the better. The governor
recognizes that the departure is radical
one, and he does not object TO the free
criticism of his bill, but he does think that |
tie men who have set themselves against |
the measure are not at all familiar with !
the vexations of the present system to |
those who want public work performed |
expeditiously and well.
The civil service commissioners Of New |
York city, accompanied by a delegation of |
civil service reformers, went to Albany |
yesterday and protested to the judiciary |
committee of the senate and the assembly |
against the passage of the bill, which, |
they said, would undo the work of their |
board.
Now that they have received the hint |
from Gov. Black, the legislature rs *
pected to pass the measure without loss cf |