New-York tribune., 1898-01-11
BAR TO A REVEL IN SPO1LS.
TAMMANY MEN KEPT OUT BY CIVIL
SERVICE RULES.

THE HUNGRY-A NEW SET OF REGULA-
rroNs FOR THE WHOLE CITY.
Corporation Counsel Whalen. the new Civil Ser
vice Commissioners ard the heads OF departments
In the new Tammany administration are having
the hardest kind OF time trying TO satisfy the de-
mands OF the hungry and thirsty Tammany work.
ers who want offices. There hundreds OF appl-
for every small office which is supposed TO be
the disposal OF department chief. and hum
dreds OF alleged promises TO be kept The crowd
OF ofce-seekers supposed that just as soon as Mr.
Croker had got through dealing out the big offices
the Commissioners could begin making removals
and appointments In the departments. Several OF
the Commissioners loaded down with prom
ises to make appointments when they took office.
and they were not allowed TO get warm and COM
Portable in their seats before they were assaied
with opportunities to appoint their political cronles
and the friends OF district leaders.
The Civil Service law stands In the way OF the
Commissioners and In the way OF the horde OF
ofice-seekers. and the Civil Service Reform Asso-
citation has served notice OF It's intention TO punish
officials for any and every violation OF the law.
The Controllers attention has been called to the
fact that he will be personally liable for any salaries
paid to officials who appointed TO office In
violation OF the Civil Service rules. Commissioners
have been made to understand that they Will run
the risk of indictment II they violate the rules In
| making removals and appointments. and lose their
own offices in the bargain. The situation Is dis
tressing to the heads OF departments and madden
ing to the horde Of place-hunters.
In every department office In the city yesterday
there was crowd Of Tammany workers. waiting
loungng. whispering and consulting District lead
ers passed In and out. talking with Commission
| ers and with the men they wanted TO havo APP
| pointed. Commissioners who had tried In vain TO
| get any satisfaction from tho Civil Service Board
| went to the office OF Corporation Counsel
Whaen and tried to get advice which would pro-
tect n he nd for offic
Whae1 was much at himself that he would
give no encouragement. He shut himself IN from
| newspaper men who trying 10 get Information
| about the situation, but the Commissioners who
| did talk with him said sadly that he could give no
| immediate help.
Charles H. Knox. the president OF tho Civil
| Service Board. said TO a Tribune reporter in the
afternoon:
| I'VE have nothing to DO with removals from Of
| fee The Civil Service law and the State Consttu-
ton protect who hold offices In the classified
list. We getting ready to prepare Civil Service
rules for the greater city. At present there is one
set of rules for Manhattan. another set for Brook
| lyn, another set for Queens. and there are some
portions of the city which did not have any Civil
| Service rules, apparently. The rules will have to
| be made uniform for the whole city, and the task
| may take several weeks. Probably the rules will
be submitted to the State Civil Service Board for
| approval when they are completed. Some changes
may be made in the CLASSIFIED lists, but II Is not
possible now TO say what those changes may De-
| Lee Phillips the secretary OF the CIVIL Ser
| vice Board, said the Commissioners were thinking
| OF taking the place OF Deputy Tax Commissioner
| out OF the classified list. a Deputy Tax Conmis-
sioner receives about & go a year, and there are
several OF the Deputy Commssonerships promised
| to Tammany leaders and followers of Hugh Nc
Laughlin. At present the men holding the office OF
Deputy Tax Commissioner are protected from re-
mova and there Is doubt II the local Civil service
Board could take the office out OF the classified list
without tho approval OF the State civil Service
| Board.
| City Clerk Sculy has been In a particularly en-
barrassng position on account OF the Civll Service
| law He was appointed with the understanding mat
| he was TO appoint clerks at the city Han on tne
Recommendation of a committee OF the Council.
| The committee has IT'S list ready but Mr. scuiiy
does not dare to remove the clerks OF the FORMER
| Board OF Aldermen. He has ignored the clerks as
far as possible. and left them to lounge about with,
| out work but they have declined 10 resign ana
| have combined TO employ counsel 10 make d nsht
| in the courts II they are removed
William A. Butler has for two weeks peen stated
| for the place OF Supervisor OF The City Rec,
ord Henry McAflllen the old Supervisor Is Civil
Service appointee. having got grade or 800 per
| cent in an examination for the place aiter Jonn
| a SleIcher resigned For this reason the Board
of c,itv Record has been slow about putting Mt.
Rutler IN as Supervisor. When the Board met q
few days ago It did not make the supervisor secre-
tarv OF the Board, has been done neretoiore,
and asked Mr.. McMllen TO withdraw from the
Board. ,o. vos.on,oy +vo
letters were delivered In the City Hail mall rney
were addressed to the Hon. w. A. Butler SUPER
visor OF The City Record" They are awaiting
| q claimant.