The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-01-06

Of a tract of ground covered. with those trccs
which arc to be tho subject of experiment.
gain from it the knowledge which will enable It
by and by to deal with tho millions OF acres IL
h Tbs s,iiT ms l,i GS eam w,H when N .h me @ sGSte Wiil s ssIl ii%:
Der to the lumbermon. spruce to the pulp mills,
reap n largo revenue for itself, and stin retain
the woods. open to the public, protecting tho
fDuIfSS St S Cultivation. ThS anu m sISsetaS na'S Of
Wei Of politics. It should DO placed in
charge Of the Regents, or OF the trustees OF Cor.
nell un y ,a or oS Of some r simi sfrt BODY aSoI n2t
administor the plan. Rcports should be made
sG t pFoa GSSoF nSd " rosa ths hf qhs income %Snf ProlS
the tract so acquired should BIO paid to tho
stG,S and nTob asS lan os iissl st shSu aad Pe = pSTt t of the
forest preserve Mt the expiration Of " period
named.
once. sclf.sustaining, for tho trees now ready to
he cut would produce Immediate revenue.
intervals. Tho benefits could lie hardly over
stated, and In this direction. as In many Others.
tho wisdom Of New York entering upon n, com
parativcly now and untried Held would DO
finally approved.
CIVIL SERVICE.
The law enacted, last year, known as tho
s sSxSw ever e,f'i had ID 'n Il H Is distinct Iyh sfT gain over ,S@ S Src,
yious laws in tho direction which the, best
friends Of the service most desire; The inior;
ilhtlOn " tuc phbiiS uloli tbp bubISep vi wa
service reform is moro imperfect than that
upon any Other subject SO generally discussed.
information.s so slight that their opinions arc OF
little value. There is nothing In the now Law
and there wa was nothing n in the old - f prevent rent
BIO filled regardless Of The law IL those employed
portunity exists now, but II q less degree.
some who are unfamiliar with the subject fear
d nat under N ,ro the RTI;G c $ srrI iGw some 10 Sc cnl" [or na S,t Ee
Such fear has no basis. for three reasons.
First: A largo number of officers appointed
three years ago. and VIII ,e places. Will be filed
again now. belong to the class which has never
been controlled BY any so.cnllsd ciyii service
tarics. stcnographers and all others holding re-
lations of confidence or peculiar responsibility.
havo always been exempted under every law.
law than the.old. and third: Because "A majority
of the employees OF New York city arc the crea.
tlons Of the same political forces that have Just
returned to power. und such employees have
never been removed, 1t certainly was no fault
M %an fSo Hail heM left ef~ in q Office eth three n'; Years ~ ago, at tho
time Of her inglorious departure. she finds still
there on her triumphant return. l mention
it belongs, and without protesting TO see In 1t
any superiority OF the old civil service law
n nndSr m %hIsh ah sdey 70 a tRfs day nnint MfrS eeifi,;
a better understanding Of the subject md Of
the laws and rules which attempt to control IT
would readiust the standing of disputants and
place many whose feelings.ere now hostile in
in the service is true, whether admitted or not.
viduals get:for theirs. The ofiiceholding, class,
joys the privilege which many other servants
do, of getting from their employers much they
large. and viii not. with its. consent. be dc,
creased. 1t should not with the consent Of the
p% 4isliiSf tho, be G psrn r It's i ThS d BsSPt1 e ex Wisl n where BE
they cannot control 1t il they choose. For
these reasons ] have, never favored indofinite
better service. but would quite as likely result
in worse. While the service might, not be the
removal The one thing morally certain in a
fixed plan of indefinite continuance in office Is
that place holders you'd be beyond, the peoples
reach. l do not believe this would raise the
efficiency of the service.
The knowledge in an employee that his place
other influence to make his work such That his
superiors will not wish toTemove him. His ac-
o 1Smpldish In sTtsv Geear aIs Gro of tbs State sR Mscr is
competent men have retained their places I'M
der all administrations for years: And while
t tssy pr By fet .hs%set tSe right Ias Pupils to dism nj a.s0 { RPGs
right the public should, never, surrender. In
f@ls cT HonatdEs so spe Gm eias aoi @oagid f'a Be i SnS%ld tent
with the principles, the history, and every pun.
pose Of a Government Ike his; The seoplo
and should so far retain the management Of
their business as to keep whom they desire and
ulSCnurkC WHOM tney please. luty sHOulud lSO
be free to select help as mon select theirs. re-
garding every quality which makes applicants
desirable or the reverse.
rect. II they are. then that law is. the best
which comes nearest to. carrying them out.
bill will do it. but the Lexow bill is now doing
and will hereafter do better than any law here
requires that places in the civil service shall
be bestowed according to merit and fitness, to
be determined in competitive examinations.
I ' nln fhn nlH In w al tho tNIn Na rrNInp 4 into
effect. merit and fitness for the State, service
were determined by examinations which, in my
made success or failure depend mainly upon
the educational a~ttainments of the applicant.
The examination papers IN recent years, for en-
trance to the States employ. show this to be
true. Qualities of character, habits. tact, en-.
durance, played little part in thesresult. The
Their value is such that no private busines s
any where engages help without an oxamina-
public should not be inferior 10 the servants of
cover such inferiority is defective. The Lcxow
bill remedies that precise defect. Its operation
has not in any way diminished the educational
tests of the old system, and was not intended TO
another, which should disclose and take into nc
count those necessary QUALIFICATIONS which, the
by the new. Tho first required at least 20 per
cent. out Of 100, the second at least 80 out Of
still. and If a candidate fails in the examination
for scholarship or merit, he cannot take the sec
ond for the qualities which prove his fitness.
There is, therefore, no chance for Incompetent
persons 10 DO crowded into public service.
The requirements are not narrowed; they are
enlarged. Many who could enter tho service
under the old system would fail under the new.
If a fitness examination is required. somebody
must hold it. Those most competent to do so are
they who know the precise qualifications re-
quired. This would mean the person for whom
the services were to BIO rendered. Further
more. Il examinations are conducted by differ
cnt authorities there will be less chance of IN.
voritisIn than if both are held by u single OK.
aminer. Tho larger the number OF examiners
the less chance OF collision, for all must agree
to dcfraud the law; or 1t cannot be done.
1t IL said that the head of IL department may
be dishonest. That is true, but there y no GER
tainty that an examining board will not be
afflicted In the same way. The criticism aimed
at one, reaches both. The fear that this law
will not work well is founded upon the suspi-
cion that the appointing power may not be
faithful. but the success OF the system In any
event must rely upon the good faith either Of
the officer, oppoIn,ing or of the examining
undertaking must depend upon the ]integrity,
upon confidence. and against their failure
through betrayal there is no safeguard except
ILL.,.