New-York tribune., 1900-05-19
A GAIN FOR THE MACHINE
GOVERNOR EXEMPTS TAX APPRAISERS
FROM CIVIL SERVICE RULES.

Albany Nav is (SpeciaD Governor Roosevelt
to-day placed in the exempt class the eight ap-
praisers recently appointed by Controller Nor
gan under the Elsberg Appraiser act. and thus
in official way denied the petition Of the
State Civil Service Reform Association that
these important Offices should be kept in the
competitive class. where they were under the
White Civil Service Examination act. II. there
fore there is a technical flaw in the title of the
eight practical" Republican politicians recently
appointed TO these places by Controller Nor
gan. the latter official orce reappont
them and give them title TO their places which
will at least stand until the courts pass
upon the action of the Governor and the Civil
Service Commissioners.
II Will be remembered that while the Elsberg
bin was being considered by the Legislature
and subsequently by the Governor the accusa
ton was frequently made that the measure was
device TO put Republican politicians in
place of the Tammany Hall officials who were
enjoying good incomes from eppraisng estates
under the Inheritance Tax law in the counties
composing New-York City Erie County was in
cluded in the act, bue protest came from that
part of the State, since Republican held the
office OF Surrogate in that county. and il not
10 be supposed that Controller Morgan, q resi-
dent of Erie County and prominent Republi-
can Of that county. would do any injustice to il
in a distribution of political spoils. Those who
were pressing the bill, on the other hand de-
Tended il as measure in the interest of the
State and not in the slightest degree a political
measure.
PLATTS PART IN APPOINTMENTS
The bin was signed by Governor Roosevelt
On wednesday, April g. and on Friday April
e, there were newspaper reports that Senator
Platt had arrived in New-York from Washing
ton for the purpose Of seeing that friends of his
were appointed appraisers. II was further
SAID mat Controller Morgan had arrived in New
YORK from Albany to talk with the Senator re-
garding the appointments. The following dav
Saturday, April 90 II was stated in the news
papers or New-1ork that Controller Morgan had
met Senator Platt and Lemuei E. Quigg at SEN
ator Platt's business Office No 40 Broadway
Further. list of the man selected for ap-
praisers was given. The following day there was
a correction OF the list. The name OF Harry
Jscquillard. Sergeant Arms Of the State SEN
ATE, mad been on the list. This was expunsed
WIN the statement that TO Senator Sherwood
of Hornelisville. Steuben County had been
promised one Of the places and that friend of
his. Fay Rathbuu. would receive the place
All the statements of the newspapers proved
true and Controller Morgan announced as his
selectons for appraisers Robert Mazet ex-Sen-
ator Charles B. Page, Charles K Lexow Will
lam L Wilson, Walter II. Coggeshau son of
senator Coggeshall, all of New-York: Jesse d
Frost and Fay Rathbun. for the Borough OF
Brooklyn, and Seward A Smons In every
case, 1t was announced the men had the hack
Ing OF Senator Platt, ''the Republican organiza-
ton"
The members of the State Civil Service Re-
form Association who have slight sensa of
huInor' thought they smelled politics in these
appointments Its members, therefore addressed
letter to the State Civil Service Commission. in
WHICH lhe argument was made that these ap-
piehts were illegal; that the appraiserships
were In the competitive class" of the Civil Ser
wee rules Controller Morgan was seemingly
alarmed, for he appeared before the Board of
civil Service Commissioners in New-York nm nI.,,
IL ano argued that If these appraiserships were
not n the class exempted from examination
they should be. They were alf-J,,diciaI oe1ca,
IA ms opinion. ard these men would hold conf
Dental relations with him. -.
GOVERNOR APPROVES ACTION
Inc civil Service Commission needed Con-
tFoiier Morgan's request, and put the eight an
praisers in the exempt class Then the s+ota
Civil Service Reform Association annealad a.
reetly TO Governor Roosevelt, who by law is the
head Of the Civil Service Board of tho CO..
he must approve Of everything it does or n 10
oi no erect Governor Roosevelt therefore had
uie power TO cancel the action of the State Civ,,
Sohiihssioh IN this case Of the apprais-
ers but he has not done So TODAY he for-
naily approved of the act of the Civil Serv,ca
Commissioners
Inc Following entry appears upon the minutes
Inc Clph service Commission. which was
made public to-day:
s. At meeting held May II the following raso-
Commissioners: - ~ 'e oi'h service
resolved, That in the office of the State Com
uoler there be included in the EXEMPT class
eisht transfer tax appraisers appointed nv ~
Laws of 1900 N oopter ooo'
Approved: May 1s 1900
THEODORE ROOSEVELT
governor Roosevelt made public to-day Ietters
from Controller Morgan and Senator Elshere ~,
ihe subject Of putting the appraisers in the ex-
ernpt class. Both Senator Elsberg and C,on+rouor
Morgan protest against the adoption OF the ad
vice OF the State Civil Service Reform Assoc;a-
uoh- senator Elsberg argues that these an
p'aisers hoid ofices Of quasi judicial char
ac'er' ana therefore it would be unsafe to make
them competitive. and open to the occupation of
any able man.
Governor Roosevelt said:
concur In the reasoning of the Civil sAr,,,oo
Commission, the Controller and Senator Fishers
as Set forth in their letters to me II does not
seem 10 me that ii would be wise or proper at
TINS time TO try the experiment of holding q
competitive examination for these quasi iudiciaI
positions, nor do i see any good reason for re-
Iusing 10 the Controller the same entire liberty
or choice which has all along been granted
without hesitation to the Surrogates in filling
these identical places.
The Tammany Hall politicians therefore. are
to be succeeded by Republican politicians.
QUIT WHITE BREAD.
Could not Get Strength from II. A