New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-07
CITY CIVIL SERrICE RULES ATTACKED.
ARGUMENT IN THE LEFT CASE BEFORE THE
COURT OF APPEALS.

Albany Oct. GA test case to decide whether
New-York City has special complete and ex-
elusive statutory system OF civil service was argued
before the Court Of Appeals yesterday. and during
the argument some interesting charges were made
The appeal is by George f. Leet from an order OF
the Appellate Division. First Department. affirm
ing formal order made b. Justice Kellogg. deny
ing a motion for writ of mandamus to reinstate
and employ relator In the place of superintendent
of the Gay Hospital, from which he was removed.
Julius NJ. Mayer. arguing for Leet. said: This
case involves questions of the very greatest i'm
portance. 1t Is not merely contest over n small
office in NewYork City. but test case involving
not only the right 10 hundreds Of Offices. but what
is much more important, questions vitality affecting
the Civil Service OF the entire State and the whole
system of the civil service laws He then at
tackled the system in New-fork City say
ing: at is worthy of note that the
civil service rules and regulations Of New
York City. promulgated March s. 1896. which
have never been approved by the State Civil
Service Commission. make radical and
serious chang ,s In the system hitherto existing a
system approved by long experience and radically
dnerentiate the Civil Service system Of New-York
City from tina; prevailing in other parts Of the
State. They amount to virtual destruction OF the
competitive system. Scores Of places formerly
competitive have been placed in the excepted list;
the system of labor registration has been abolished,
and the labor force restored to politics. hundreds OF
have been made without examination. under rule
permitting temporary appointments and are evil
IDENTIFY intended to continue indefinitely; many OF
the competitive places have been filled under ex-
cepted titles; removals have been made In great
numbers without any statement OF the reasons
therefor and without Offering the slightest oppor-
tunlty for explanation. All OF these abuses were
imprac ,icable under tlie old system which was III
force prior to January l. 1893. All of these abuses
are directly due to the changes made by these new
rules and regulations OF March 3. 1895
The annual result OF this is that OF the thou
sands of appointments made since January l,
1875 only 29 have been made the result OF actual
competitive examinations, and of these nnety-one
were iremen appointed from the old eligible lists
holding over from 1897 Surely this is matter OF
State concern and Of the gravest Importance TO
the people OF the entire State.
why should the city of New-York make It's own
rules and every other city be required 10 submit
them to the State Board? Surely that could not
have been the intention OF the Legislature. Such
a construction OF the statute simply means that
thousands OF public places can be placed In the
exempt schedule ard political rewards dealt In
one city subject 10 no control or supervision OF the
State and IN violation OF the spirit OF the Constl-
tuition whereas the clear purpose OF our civil Ser
vice legislation has been 10 have uniform system
throughout the whole state. consistent In principle.