The evening times., 1899-07-27
coMpTRoLLER coLER vExED.
II the Civil Service Rules stand. He
May ResIgn.

IL the Civil Service Rules stand. He
May ResIgn.
New York. July 27-Comptroller Co.er,
declaring that the civil service rules adopt
ed for New York city by the State Civil
Service Commission will make 1t impossi-
BILE for him to conduct his office in busi-
nesslike way. said yesterday that Unless
the rules affecting exemptions in his de-
partment were changed he would resign.
! mo self-respecting man. he said, "can
retain this Office unless he has the power
to run 1t as it ought to be run. / shall
ask the State Civil Service Commissioners
to make such changes in the rules as are
absolutely necessary for the efficiency of
the Office and the protection OF myself.
and If they don't make them I'll get OFT. +"
II the comptroller should resign, his
place would be filled temporarily By ap-
pointment by Governor Roosevelt. Sue
cessor would be chosen by popular vote in
November. to take Office on January /.
Vnder the rules as they now exist the
comptroller will have to discharge many
employees on August II. 1t is believed By
him and others that an eligible list can
not be certified by the local civil service
board by that time, and even If il could
be made ready there would be dissatis-
faction on the eomptroiler's part
Most important of tie positions affect
ed" said Mr.. Coler, "are those of a conf
Dental nature and those that have 20 do
with the handling of millions OF dollars
OF city money for which i personally am
responsible.
For instance, under the new rules / am
allowed only one bank messenger on the
exempt list. The work of the Office alb
sOlutely requires ten or more. Money has
to be carried from each of the FIVE lor-
oughs. / am under heavy bonds, and am
personally responsible for every dollar of
the money these men carry. Now. suppose
have to take the first man certified on an
eligible list. / have to take long chance.
Honesty should be the chief factor in max
| ing the selection, and the civil service ex-
| animation does not go into that.
Under the rules there can be only one
messenger for the city paymaster's Office
and the auditors department We cover
all five boroughs. The city paymaster has
to send messengers out to all parts Of the
city to pay men. We have TO pay them
where they work or else they viii have to
go to the paymaster's Office, in Chambers
Street, and lose time for which the city
must pay them.
These rules work badly both ways We
are allowed ten examiners OF accounts and
institutions. The work could be done
by one bookkeeper. They give US six chief
clerks. There is only one, there will be
only one while / am here. and heaven
only knows what they think / could do
with six.
II have everything running in splendid
fashion in the Office now If have 20 dis
charge the men who have accomplished
this result and take whatever the civil
service gives me. the work OF rAe Office
will be absolutely paralyzed"
George McAneny, Secretary of the Civil
Service Reform Association. called on the
comptroller late In the afternoon. As he
was leaving he said:
II think the comptroller has spoken has
tily The State board is doing its best.
and when the comptroller explains his
complaints to it / believe it will give re-
lief There are mistakes that are una
voidable. l think the ones the comptroller
refers 10 are trivial