New-York tribune., 1899-02-10
NEW CIVIL SERVICE BILL.
OUTLINE OF ITS SCOPE BY SENATOR
WHITE

WHITE.
The Tribune oa Tuesday morning printed an Al
bany dispatch containing outline OF the new
civil Service bill which introduced into the
Senate Monday evening. The bill has been
printed. and Senator White has prepared the fol-
lowing statement. outlining it's scope and effect:
The bill introduced on Monday evening follows
the lines OF the Governors message. II provides:
l. For the repeal of the so-calied Black act
For the correction OF the conditions existing
force there, well in other cities. shall conform
% HSa o ana H@5 % 6 nn Ra
p For the extension OF the competitive system
and Erie-as the Constitution requires
4 For the incorporatlon OF certain I%mPortant %
itself
There are three distinct systems Of appointment
existing as result Of the confused legislation
Of the last two years. In the departments and In
stitutions Of the State proper the Black act is In
force in far It has over been possible 10 en-
force it. In New-York city. under the special au-
thorty alleged bo found in the charter system
quite different from anything previously existing
has been built up; while in Buffalo. Rochester and'
IN fact every other city Of the State the original
OF 1883 is IN effect. having been revised by an
act passed in March Of last year
As the Governor has stated, the operation of the
Black net has been wholly unsatisfactory The re-
suits Of the operation Of the rules adopted in New
The present hill will affect these two systems only
In the smaller cities II will hardly change the
listing plan.
The provisions relating to the State service affect
little more than a restoration Of the system as II
existed here prior 10 the passage Of The Black act
The incorporation NJ features formerly in the rules
insures the effect desired by the repeal OF that
measure, and AT the same time requires the re-
casting OF the Ncw-York City rules on a similar
basis.
OPEN AND COMPETITIVE.
All examinations so far as practicable are 10 be
omen and competitive and the division Of control
between ;he civil Service Commission and the APP
pointing officers is abolished II is required In terms
that the tests employed shall be Of thoroughly
practica character For laborers there is to be no
examination except 70 mechanical skill or physi-
T cal ca2acity Appointments 10 be made. as at
present I'm the State service. from the eligible list
most appropriate fer the place 70 be filled Instead
Of permitting the creation OF new lists at increased
public expense whenever an appointing oihcer
chooses 70 create a new place with a title unknown
10 the classification order 10 secure the services
OF persons temporarily without examination Ten-
/ porary appointments made I'm the absence OF hsts
are not 70 be continued for longer period than
thirty days Hundreds Of such appointments nave
been continued IN New-York city under the TAM
many administration for more than year WI"
/ the prospect OF further continuance
/ In the case ~ positions excepted wholly from eN
/ animation only one appointment is permitted
| under each title unless otherwise provided ny te
I rules In Neu-York City appointments are mace
almost without limit under excepted ut'S' VIII"
little regard for the character of the duties 70 ne
uorf,rmed hy tho persons selected. Promotions are
/ ~ be based on meritorious service as well as on
written competitive tests. and Increases OF saaIS
very properly are placed In the same category. fe-
movals are to be made only after the reasons nave
been filed in writing. and an opportunity onered
! me person coucerned to make an explanation. no
trial is provided for. and there is nothing in this
provsion calculated 10 embarrass the acuoh OF ue-
partnent officers Practically the only opportunity
! that an ernploye will have take MS case into
cour, will be where the statement OF reasons Is
absolutely denied 10 him.
! Practically none OF the provisions referred 10 are
original all having been contained in either the
former law or the rules. The section relating TO
removals is almost Identical with that contained In
/ the act OF March last the changes being mainly
Ve'0D' THOSE EXCEPTED.
Full provision is made for proper exception from
| classification or examination. In the definition OF
the term civil Service" officers elected BY the peo-
ple Offices filed by appointment subject 10 con-
armation BY the Senate. and all judicial officers
are excepted In Section further exceptions are
made In the case Of all heads % departments cleo
+ tion officers Commissioners OF Deeds. deputies and
secretaries. principals and teachers in the pub
lie schools Finally Section 3. IT Is provided
that other necessary exceptions be made IN the
discretion OF the Commission. provided that the
reasons for these shall stated In the annual re-
/ ports OF the Commission. - .-...s,-.
in any way with correct principles OF nom raIe a
| ZION. provided they do not Nioatt ult 'eil'S -
either the Constitution or inc genera dVe 4.
order insure uniformity the rues Oh en- IN 49,, 49, ],
are required 70 be submitted 20 the state toIlIllS
sion hut tor pI,gSa' ~ ITsSS SSe fs to- do so within
,ecess1ry arpointments. and II the rules are no'
drafted within sixty days more the ,onlHLss'oUt ~
a1v reep.ct they may be amended or rehcindtd D!
m, star. Commission. but not uhtI AN o'f ...'
,n@ke an ample explanation, and theu ohI w. r
r. anpears plainly that the purposes oi tne &C. a
not carried out Iht s'a,r d ineaiciency or mis-
conduct hui only by unanimous vote ana WIN ,tiy
written approva of the ,+oveiiGi iGisi iu r,les are
hearing Oh written charges huhiCIPeel - ai
-. ro, forro I'm their essentials 10 the funlantD.a
PROVISIONS governing the state service PIopv. or
I ali rules existing that 40 hot SO S,,te cor,-
tbaf have not been approved by the STATE DV"
mI9Sion aitv are for strict regulation Of the system
a., ci,ies has been shown strlkinsy oy ne go
actcr OF the civil Service admins. 80 ~fect nro.
lHnn - ,ba provisions referred 10 will ready ut
s.en A. a result OF the various iHetI.s ., o noe
IN ,@tIa. g.. hundred persons were appointed aIttl
I,,nefitiva examination TO city positions uI ''e -
the last year o.' ,n M ronorts viii shortly be made
,bitr showing IN detail the operation OF tne 5s
many rules and the a"uSeS ''''
possible under theH-
SUPPLEMENTARY VETERAN LAWS.
Tho new act contains section supp'erne"''"S
-, veteran Law. and providing that positions
IN 80, ha ruled out Of the competitive class
',,. on the ground that they are conilde'-N'
A educiarv While this applies to all appo'"'-
nts II will have It's principal euect Lmn,, Lm tn' n in
Of veterans Where hauciary pO,5ed IN each