New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-09-07
DIMINISHING POWER OF PATRONAGE


APPLICATION OF TIE CIVIL SERVICE LAW
IN THE CANAL DEPARTMENT
Buffalo. Sept (SpeciaD.-One of the objects
Of those who pressed the passage Of the White
Civil Service act Was to take out Of the hands
Of politicians the power to name the office hold
ers in State and city departments. That was
Governor ROosevelts aim. and therefore he TOOK
qreat noins in the framing Of the act to make
the Civil Service examinations truly competi-
tive. AS a former Civil Service Commissioner Of
the United States he knew how to make the act
stringent one. and in many respects. therefore,
the State regulations are far more strlct Ihan
those Of the United States.
Lately Governor Roosevelt has been com
mondine at county fairs the White act. and
in speaking about the canals he has expressed
tho oninion that not until the force of employees
Of the State engaged on the canals Is made
ornament one can the canal administration h"
greatly improved. He did not say what was
clearly in his mind. that the Canal Advisory
Commission had reported to him that the
Canadian Government was administering the af-
,i- % lie Great canals with far more ef
o,,o,.,. than those Of New-YOrk State are con-
,otad ,,.ith and that the reason Of this is that
tho canadian canal employees are permanently
,,,oyod while those Of New-York state are
norcod freorontlv certainly with every trans
for ~ noliticaI power in this state from one
,,ertv TO another. and often when merely new
c,,norintondent of Public Works OF the same
uolitjcal party is appointed The New-York
canal enoploves therefore never are long enough
oonroctod with the canal department to be-
come highly trained force.
PROMOTIONS FROM THE RANKS
.o,,or etao which Governor Roosevelt has
.o,,o, vbicb has already greatly improved the
oonoI administration. has been to institute,
.,,,.o,,,b Colonel John y. Partridge. the Super
,..o,dort ~ Public Works. a system Of filling
49,, h,rbor canal offices by promotion and not 10y
,ortotion from the ranks Of active politicians.
ror.,,, Colonel Partridge has thus put in
obaroo Of the western division Of the Erie Canal
q man thus promoted from a lower rank. and a
man hv the way who entered the States ser
,.,ca through the doorway of Civil Service ex
animation. without any backing Of politicians.
II NAV he stated as matter or interest in
speaking Of the appointment 10y Colonel Part
fridge that the Erie County machine ~ the
Republican party was deeply disappointed be
cause il did not obtain this appointment al the
hands Of Colonel Partridge. and Is disposed to
think that the superintendent Of Public Works
is not a good politician
This "machine" well as other machines
along the line Of the canals. also looks with dis
favor upon the proceeding Of Elon Hunting
ton Hooker. the Deputy Superintendent Of Pub
lie Works. MIR Hooker was not a politician;
his sole pull was his engineering ability ana
his practical acquaintance with works Of
nature similar 70 those ~ the canal depart
mont He therefore looks upon public work
with the eve OF a business man. Contracts must
be lived up to; no political influences will affect
Iim The men IN the employ Of the State De
partment Of Public Works must work as hard
as though they were in private employment.
II should he stated also that State Engineer
Pond has appointed 2 deputy. Mr.. Judson. who
frankly says H. knows nothing about politics."
and looks upon canal work solely with the eye
or an engineer. Mr. Hooker and Mr.. Judson
are canal officials Of a new type-a type tha,
has been much needed. Economy has taken the
place Of waste along the lines of canals that
they supervise.
I'd to the present time the reform admins
Continued on third page.