New-York tribune., 1901-06-18
DEBATING CIVIL SERVICE RULES.
POTNTMENT OF ELECTION OFFICERS
WITHOUT EXAMINATION

The State Civil Service Commission. composed OF
William u. Collier. Cuthbert w. Pound and John
T.. KRAFT. met yesterday at the Hotel Victoria. in
this city to hear arguments about the right
claimed by the newly created Board OF Elections
to make appointments without competitive exam
nations. Ii held recently by the Municipal
Civil Service Board that the employees of the
Department of Elections exempt from Civil
Service regulations. and the Mayor approved that
position, but the State Civil Service Board declined
at its meeting in Albany May II 10 approve the
action taken by the local authorities. Alexander
Mason, a member of the Municipal Civil Service
Commission, and Charles b. Page. NJ. J. Dady and
John r. Noorhis, members OF the Board of Elec-
tions. present at the hearing yesterday.
Julius NJ. Mayer, counsel for the Board of Flec-
tions. made the arguments that employees of the
board were exempt from Civil Service regulations
because they were legislative employees and that
because the Department Of Elections is founded on
the idea of bipartsanship II would not be practI-
cable 10 nave the employees qualify under Civil Ser
vice regulations. Mr. Collier. who presided al the
hearing, said that the idea of partsanship was in
consistent with the plan under which the new de-
partment Is organized. NJ. J. Dady said that tho
Commissioners OF Elections united in the de-
termination TO have the department organized on
the bipartisan basis. II the chief clerk for one
borough was a Republican. he said the chief clerk
TOT another borough would have TO be a Democrat
There is TO he equal division of patronage be-
tween the two parties in the appointment of thirty
eight clerks. he said that nineteen will be Re-
pupHCdns ana nineteen Will be Democrats Mr.
Collier said that after the clerks appointed the
elections officers must be appointed on partisan
lines in pairs. to insure honest elections but II
would be Impossible to have two chief clerks in "a Oh
borough. Republican and Democrat with eonai
powers. w" equal
Elliot II. Goodwin. of the Civil Service Reform
Association. spoke in favor of keeping the appoinf
Tb bea oa & su1Sect 10 civil service regulations
day. N ~ d" H. TO-
Mr.. Mayer said yesterday that while the nlar ..
appointing employees without waiting for the W ol
proval OF the state Civil Service Board had haa,
discussed. he had advised that such stem nigh
lnvahdate the next election If the courts failed 70
give decision on questions that would he raiseS
previous TO the time for appointing the Inspectors
To-day the State Civil Service Board NAV take
some action regarding the police captains and
sefSeants VINO were appointed by the foru,ar
Board OF Police Commissioners shortly before the
passage or The new police law which created
single mead for the Police Department II has
peen contended that the Civil Service examinations
on, which the appointments made were iIIa9
gal. because the Police Boardl made partisan rat
ines OF applicants for promotion. and IL is possibia
hat the state Civil Service Board may declare thar
the appointments illegal. There was no 90
ton yesterday the police ~