New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-07
LIABLE TO INDICTMENT.
BREAKING OF THE CIVIL SERVICE LAW
INVOLVES DANGER.
TAMMANY HEADs OF DEPARTMENTS ANXIOUS
OVER THE PENALTY FOR DIsREGARDING

THE REGULATIONS.
The letter Of George McAneny. secretary OF
the Civil Service Reform Association. calling
attention to the danger which Tammany heads
Of departments may encounter II they disregard
the Civil Service rules in the dismissal OF sub
ordinates and the appointment OF other subord-
mates. was the subject OF some anxious con-
sultation among the Tammany officials yester-
day In the afternoon several OF the officials
went to the office OF Charles II. Knox. president
OF the Civil Service Board. at No "a William
st. and consulted with him as to their rights
TO make appointments and dsmissals Trib-
une reporter called at the office and sought an
interview with Mr. Knox. but was Informed
that Mr.. Knox was too busy to give informa-
tion.
The points raised by Mr. McAneny which
seemed to disturb the Tammany officials most
were contained in these sentences:
II the Controller pays the salary OF any person
the full amount OF such payment may be recovered
from him personally. or from the sureties on his
payer. II department. officer dismisses a subor-
ainaie e1 S N any but the legal manner he must him
Code.
Mr.. McAneny yesterday sent a letter to Con-
troller Coler. asking him not to pay the salaries
of O'Rourke. the recently appointed warden at
Bellevue Hospital and Walker. the newly ap-
pointed Superintendent Of Docks and Ferries.
lie declares that under existing Civil Service
rules the two officials were appointed illegally.
Mr.. Coler referred the letter to the Corporation
Counsel.
The Corporation Counsel has not Informed City
Clerk SCUly to his power to make removals
and appointments and Mr. Scully has not dared
to remove the eight clerks OF the former Board
Of Aldermen. who We're placed in the classified
Civil Service list IN the administration of
Mayor Strong Mr. Scully has ignored the
eight clerks. and left them to stand around
without any work to do apparently expecting
that they would resign. They have decided to
employ counsel and make a. fight II they are re-
moved and so Mr.. Scully is waiting to ascertain
il he can afford to remove them and put his own
in office.
terday and elected Mayor Van Wyck chair
man and Corporation Counsel Whalen secre-
tary. This was significant The Supervisor OF
The City Record" usually has been the secre-
tary Of the Board. but when Supervisor Nc
Men presented his papers yesterday he was
requested to withdraw from the meeting. 1t Is
said that the Board is anxious 10 depose Su-
pervisor McMien. who was appointed by Mayor
Strong about n month ago. and to put w. A
Butler in his place. There Is some doubt as to
its power to do this the place is Civil Ser
vice one.
John c. Graham, Superintendent OF Public
Buildings In the old Department OF Public
Works. was removed yesterday by Commits
sioner Kearny Of the Department OF Public
Buildings Lighting and Supplies. new Su-
perintendent Of Public Buildings Is TO be ap-
pointed 10 act independently OF the Deputy
Commissioners in the boroughs.
Tammany officials have some fear that the
State Civil Service Commissioners may interfere
with wholesale disregard of Civil Service rules
IN this city, end the local Civil Service Com
missoners have some doubt as TO their powers
to frame rules without the consent and super
vision OF the state Board. The State civil Ser
vice Commissioners are SilasW Burt OF this city.
an anti-Taumany Democrat: Mr. Cobb. the Ed
tor Of The Lochport Journal" and George r.
Lord o, Du,Cea Nr Cobb and Mr.. Lord are
Republicans. who are supposed TO be loyal 10 Mr
PlAtt Mr. Burt, when seen yesterday Dy
Tribune reporter. unwilling 10 be quoteu
about the situation in this city, but SAID there
might be A question raised as to the authority
Of the State Civil Service Commissioners TO SUI
pervise the rules affecting examinations In TINS
city The general law gave such power OF super
vision to the state Board. but II is held ny
some lawyers that the Greater New ! ork cnar-
ter took away such power because In It's pro-
vision for the local Civil Service Board no men
tion was made OF the State Board.
The civil Service Reform Association is ex-
necteJ TO take cases into court II necessary 10
nrnjsh infringements OF the rules in TINS city
and TO sustain the powers or the state ClVli ser
vice Board II the local civil Service Commls-
sioners take the ground that they are not SUD
icct in any way to the supervision or the state
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