New-York tribune., 1902-12-12
PRESIDENT COMMENDED.
Ci5W Service Reform League IN
dorses HIS AppointmeHts.


League began here to-day. Two public sessions
were held one this afternoon and the other To-
night. In the afternoon the annual report Oh lhe
executive council read. The report coiii-
mended the policy of President Roosevelt In max
ing federal appointments and called attention 10 the
persistent hostility of professional politicians in
both the great national parties to Civil Service re
form The special committee on Civil Service IN
dependencies also commended the President
George McAneny. of New-York, spoke at tne
evening session on 1.-THE Merit System as an Eie-
ment in the Reform of the New-York City Police
Department" He said in part:
The ideal system of police promotion no donns a5
would g give saaef aee Of
whose fitness he would have the pest lleanS oi
In 1901 the State Civil Service Commission brought
about the amendment OF the ueipa me po;r raie9 coms
sion almost TO nullity. Ihe nrst X, nt :
result Of il thirteen captains have been appointed
selection the HAD no f6 Ta
allows in choosing from the eligible list Not one
of @ fsss sa mef a b Was owa of Illness
regulation of removal in the .NeW-f oTk Ponce DE, De
Many reinstatements have thus been ordered by the
courts usually with allowances OF back pay me ne
weakened when it is understood among ms suG1ral @
OF duty win go unpunlshed unless they may be
proved by positive evidence. and to the SATISFACTION
can ca Be BeTeF o doaBt thaa h the peculiar nature
work requires that higher degree & OF pp3t9G1iu 3 a4
ever grade and that the process of fair and open
inquiry into the business Oh complaint sl'H4S
Every one understands that a fairly large pro
fopeiessy badIthat systematic neglect Of duty or
t Ter7 o p4es m aens S Wi xhc5 the
administration has deal is how to get rld OF this
eS and Mne the One or the IS Eene
= the G aenas at least
by the state of the law, and legislation restricting
and hs aRng the ne verdict Of the commission on the
evidence taken. the final word may very fairly ana
properly be asked
Carl Schurz spoke The Reform in the Con-
suIar Service" saying in part:
For many years various Chambers OF Commerce
as well other organizations or business men
consulaT serViee. Nothing can Be more sef-evident
to any man Of experience tnan that! as the c.El IN
competitive system which has 50 greatly limp iRrGoef 0e
the ether parts OF the tnof az fe mg5n e6ns
branch" Attempts at legislation to reform the
sr. t3o bills pending in Congress both Of which have
great merit-one Introduces by Senator todge; E o.
Of REPRESENTATIVE 1t is not my purpose to discuss
to say that while they might. perhaps. in this or
that particular point be strengthened hy amend
that If either, OF them even as i stands. were
snS ay nto to t6e pubc ab er the and
efficiency OF our consular service would De greatly
1t is reported in the press that Senator Lodge
intends to attach his reform b at the m Pre- emu
consular and diplomatic service and thus 10 press
its passage. We certainly wish him success, but
that success. regret to say is at least very DOUBT
full. He Will certainly find great obstacles in MS
path, and have to contemplate the chance OK
defeat.
But If this effort and other efforts to obtain the
desired legislation should fail. must We therefore
despair of accomplishing the reform of the consular
service? BY means. for the principal part OF
that reform. the introduction of the competitive
merit system for the filing of consular offices. can
be compasSed without any legislation by Congress
It is simply in the hand OF the President alone.
He say: THE Constitution confers upon me
the power and the duty to nominate, and, by and
with the advice and consent of the Senate appoint
suitable persons for nonination-reSts with me.
/ consider Il my duty select for nomination the
fitteSt persons I find According to my eS-
perience, the best available means TO ascertain the
fitness of candidates and, general rule, TO dis
the ftteSt IS the open competitive exarnina-
ton I. therefore. for my own guidance and con-
venience aid in the performances OF my duty
that applicants for consular positions go before
examining board designated by me 10 be examined
in conpetition with others. and that the examining
board certify the three five (as the case
may bel candidates who have passed the examlna-
tion with the highest credit: and from the list so
certified TO me I shall select the person to be
nominated l shall also make my selections for
filed the incumbents OF consulates OF lower
grade by way OF promotion
If the President does this there will be con-
stitutionaI question TO encroachment upon his
powers for he does II of his free Will II viii
be his way of exercising mis- powers and OF per-
forming MS duties. This action will stand above
all constitutional cavil.