New-York tribune., 1899-01-04
SCHEME OF THE SPOILSMEN,
PETITIONS TO ROOSEVELT TO REMOVE
DEMOCRATS.
ACTIONS OF THE NEW GOVERNOR WHICH rNpr


CATE THAT SUCH APPEALS Will. BE FUTILE
Albany. Jan lSpeciaO.-Governor Roosevelts
devotion to the cause OF Civil Service Reform is
well known He was a Civil Service Reformer IN
private life and then for six years was member
OF the Civil Service Commission Of the United
States His devotion 10 the principle Of securing
eicient service for the State by a system of COM
pettive examinations open TO men OF all political
faiths undoubtedly inspires him now that he has
become Governor Indeed. IT is said he has shown
that he Is animated by such purpose ny giving
assurance TO Sas w Burt. the Democratic mem
ber Of the State Civil Service Commission. who is
an expert on the subject Of Civil Service examina-
tions. that he will he retained. 1t Is also strongly
suspected by leading Republicans here that he VIII
not retain Willard 4. Cobb and George i. Lord
the other Civil Service Commissioners because
OF the Impression that they might be Influenced by
partisan feeling
This being Governor Rcosevelt's attitude. con-
siderable astonishment was caused to-day by the
news that the following letter had been sent TO the
chairmen of the various Republican county COM
mttees:
Dear Sir: The party or ,an!zaton is desrous OF
party by appointing none but Republicans to office
and replacing Democrats In the state service
The incosed petition is being sent to each county
and you are urged to have your committeeman sign
fully. - '''''''' -''''' i''e'''' 'e-r-~'
The man who signed this letter is not known
here. and out OF compassion for him his name ia
suppressed. The petition TO Governor Roosevelt
which he desires to have signed follows:
To -. -. Chairman Of Republican County
,bo Sir sn
iention to the large number Of Democrats holding
publican heads, and we would urge that You lay
the matter before the Governor-elect and would
be removed and their Places S sa by Republicans
wn1 may be Sapane , ol opg ss 'ne 70 tho
public service and yet as being in the Interest OF
the Republican party.
There are Democrats who hold places In State
Departments. but most Of these were appointed
under the Civil Service competitive rules. and
they are efficient they must be retained. The
outgoing Republican State offcers-John Palmer,
Secretary OF State James a. Roberts. State Con-
troer Addison Is. Colvin. State Treasurer; TheO-
dore A. Hancock Attorney General. and Campbell
w. Adams State EnCinee--retained capable clerks
In their departments whether they were Demo
Gratis or Republicans In several cases the Demo
Gratis experts in the bureaus In which they
were employed dealing with technical affairs.
general disorganization of the State departments
would have followed If they had been removed and
Messrs. Palmer Roberts, Hancock, Colvin and
Adams perceived this fact and did not heed the
cries Of those who said Put none but Republi-
cans I'm office"
Moreover Republican officials have perceived that
even IL they did remove Democrats posslolltF
that they could not hll the places with specified
Republicans. because the rules Of competition, II
legally followed might bring at the top of the
lists other Democrats or Republicans not desired
All Of the outgoing Republican State officials have
a right TO point with pride TO the record Of their
administrations. Rarely in the history OF those
departments have better records been made.
Governor Roosevelt has shown personally thas
he has no thought Of making clean sweep or
the Democrats in his Office. for every one
OF them have been retained All have been In the
executive office since the time OF Governors Cleve-
land Hill and Flower Governor Black was re-
puted be bitter partisan, but he Gid not remove
these men. He saw they were faithful ana re-
taired them . ,
Governor Roosevelt unquestionably intends to seek
TO have Ex-Governor Blacks 'starchiess ClVi ser
vice law repealed, and a stringent law passed IN
its place. one OF the principles of such law would
publicans aspiring TO enter the State service More
over he Will also without question appoint
State Civil Service Commission whose members
will ze1lously enforce the competitive feature of
Civil Service examinations 1t would be strange
indeed under such circumstances II Governor
Roosevelt would look with favor upon a
petition from the Republican county committees
In favor Of the dismissal OF every Democrat In the
State service and the giving OF places to none
but Republicans. The appointment or Coloncl
Avery b. Andrews. Democrat as Adtutant-Gen-
eral would seem to Indicate that the Governor
has liberal views.