New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-07-01
MAY BE TAKEN TO THE COURTS
E. F. CROKERs APPOINTMENT AS FIRE
CHIEF MAY BE CONTESTED.

QUESTION AS TO ITS LEGALITY. BECAUSE HE
PASSED NO CIVIL. SERVICE EXAMINATION
NEW RULES WORRYING TAMMANY MEN
The appointment OF Edward F. Croker. nephew
~ Richard Croker to the office OF Chief OF the FIRE
10arsrtmen, NAV be contested in the courts on the
g,ound that II was Illegal without previous COM
pettive examination under Civil Service require
ments The new Civil Service rules which were
agreed 10 at the conference between the Municipal
Commission and the State Commission carry i" 'ne
week Mace the Office OF Chief OF the Fire Depart
r,or, IN the classified list and make competitive
exanination necessary requirement for appoint
ment to the Office. The Civil Service COMMISSION
has not yet formally approved the rues' WIN"
nrobab ly will go into effect next week. ana II Is sup
posed that the action OF Fire Commissioner ocai"e'
in appointing Croker the Office OF Fire Cnief was
"A piece OF sharp practice lntehoeu ~ oea' ' 'f
ton OF the rules
Several similar appointments TO places uhoer the
control OF the Tammany administration nave Oeen
made recently, and It is expected that the Municipal
Civil Service Commission will refuse 10 certify 10
the names of persons appointed TO the offices on the
na,-rous II such action is taken by the Commits
sion I'm the case OF Chief Croker his case Will nave
TO go into court Immediately
Leo phillips the secretary OF the Commission said
raoortv that the Commission would not consent TO
the payment OF salaries in such cases He could not
sneak about the probable action of the Commission
in Crokers case yesterday. and In the afternoon he
was called 10 the Mayors Office for a consultation
| the nature OF which was disclosed by the ON
ciols Politicians will be disappointed II the Com
mission fails to certify to Chief Crokers name on
| the Fire Department payroll. because the Tammany
officials would not wish to dspease Richard Croker.
nv whose orders, 1t is understood. his nephew was
! raised to the command OF the iremen.
Charles H. Knox president OF the Commission
said Crokers appointment OF recent date. and
| he had not had time to consider II. The Commits
/ sion will do what is proper and legal under the
law" he said Il cannot say whether or not any
thing will be done In the matter. because do not
know that the appointment Is not proper. Thu Com
mission however can be depended upon to up
! hold the law"
| George McAneny secretary OF the Civil Service
Reform Association. said: The action OF the Fire
Commissioner 10 Illegal. and can be defended on no
| ground The position OF Fire Chief was placed In
the competitive class by the Civil Service rules
| which go into operation next week. and the APP
pointment evidently been FASTENED by that fact
| But, even without these rules the promotion
| is absolutely Illegal Since the passage OF the new
Civil Service Law April ~ the former rules under
which the place Of Fire Chief exempt have been
! imperative. The allowed such exemp-
| ton. unless It specially granted by the Com
mission in framing its classification. and since that
! has not been done and since the Commission has
| classified the place OF Fire Chief as competitive.
there is absolutely no for the action o, the
Fire Commissioner
| Just what the Civil Service Reform Association
| will do in the matter cannot be said now. Since
| April 10 there have been number OF appointments
| Of this kind. Ii seems 10 be a matter OF common
report that Mr.. Croker is efficient fireman: but
that does not relieve the Fire Commissioner OF the
responsibility OF giving other equally good men the
| opportunity Of advancement guaranteed to them by
| law
Several Tammany politicians whose names are on
| the payrolls OF departments OF the City Govern
ment and who have been drawing salaries regularly
| without doing much work for the city are ANNOYED
! because OF new Civil Service rule which will 20
! into effect week This rule will require head.
| or departments or persons who make up payros 10
| certify that each person whose name appears on
a roll has been actually at work for the city DUR ng
the hours specified and performing the duties OF the
| office TO which he was appointed
| II such rule Is enforced many Tammany men
now drawing pay from the city and spending nearly
| all their time In barrooms or In political organiza-
ton headquarters will have go 10 work and spend
! several hours every day in the department offices
! or have their names taken off the payrolls They
| appointed for political reasons to places as
clerks Inspectors, secretaries confidential mes
sengers with the understanding that they could re-
! port at the department Offices only when they
| pleased and take as much time OF they liked.
Some CT them might prefer to resign rather than
SO 10 work