New-York tribune., 1899-02-09
STA PCUJNG THE STiRCHLESS.

ANY Republican opposition in the Legislature
10 n new and more stringent Civil Service law
will reasonably be regarded as sympathy Win
Tammany Hall Starchess Civil Service has
had its trial and Is a confessed failure. Men
Ike Excise Commissioner Lyman who served
under Governor Black and had practical expert
ence with his fayoritc measure arc frank 10 ue-
clare its demerits. 1t in no way conforms 10
thc spirit of the Constitution and since its pas
sage Il has been the ready instrument in the
hands OF spoilsmen Whether IT originated ID q
deliberate design TO surrender the State o1lceS
70 practical politicians or was due to crude no
tions of a nobler sort the result has been as all
know TO lower the character of the States pub
lie service The Republican party, which put
thn merit system under the protection Of the
Constitution and has obtained n new lease OF
power on the promise to correct the mistakes OF
its last two administrations. has 10 excuse for
leaving the starchess Law on the statute book.
The political Ideas for which it stood have been
superseded. A broader view Of party duty ana
party policy makes it an anachronism.
new law on the lines proposed by Senator
White is greatly needed for this city. 1t will
he good thing TO have the old merit ana
fitness" jugglery abolished In the State de-
partments, though with the new spirit when
animates them the defects Of the old law are
minimized by the refusal Of officials to take ad-
vantage of It's provisions to serve personal or
political ends. The restoration of n true civil
Service Reform system is desirable as much as
u matter of principle and a future safeguard
as for immediate results at Albany, and spoils-
men who use the Republican name have moth
ing TO gain there in the way Of offices by Oppos-
ing it. But Tammany has much to gain, and
opposition to the bill will be a valuable assist
ance to it, Between the bungling Of State Civil
Service laws and the new charter the merit sys-
tenn has been practically imperative in this city
since Tammany returned to power Mr.. Gro
ker's Civil Service Commission has made rules
to suit the appetite for places and has dened the
State authorities. The protection supposed to
be given by law to faithful employees has been
almost absolutely negatived. and the whole pub
lie service has been completely demOralzed.
At present Tammany is practically unchecked,
no matter how shameless may be its proceed
ngs. 1t is probably too much to hope that any
merit system will be fairly enforced by men
who proclaim "To the victors belong the spOs'
aS their doctrine. Nevertheless. some measure
Of deccncy can he secured If the city Civil Ser
vice is brought into the State system along with
that Of other municipalities. TO accomplish
this the State Commission must have veto not
only future Civil Service rules. but also on
those already in existence. Otherwise, hiding
behind its past misdeedS, Tammany will con
tinue in its old practices. The text Of Senator
Whites bill is not yet al hand and abstracts do
not make clear just how far the State control
extends. II should he made, if it does not al
ready do so, TO correct the evils which previous
omissions and contradictions in the laws per-
mtted TO be fastened on this city
Let the work Of putting back the starch which
was foolishly taken out of our Civil Service be
made effective and thorough. The Republican
party. State and National. IS committed TO this
reform. and all Republicans who stand in its
way are false to its principles and give aid to its
enemies.