New-York tribune., 1902-06-20
A REPLY TO DR.. WOODBURY..
EX-SENATOR BRUSH SAYS THAT VETERANS
ASK ONLY FOR FAIR TREATMENT.

To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir. As one who was instrumental in matters OF
legislation affecting the veteran soIalers N ms
state permit me to reply to Commissioner WOOD
b,,rys statement in your issue Of this morning as
To the operation of the veteran act upon MS oe-
nortment He says: This law affects my Depart
roent more seriously than any other anG' asdll,
"Sunpose he (rneaning the veteran soldler) shou4u
10 ex+vfo,r wears old in feeble health. and other
wis. incapacitated" etc. thus giving the com
,n,,nftv the impression that this law has 1oisteu
upon him men physically unfit properly TO serve the
city which pays them
- Co-,r,is=i3ner Woodbury. has such veterans in
his emDIov 1t is his own fault. and not the fault
Of any law. Let me call MI Woodbury. atteti
+io 70 the provisions of Article " Section 3, or the
constitution of this State. which says: Appoint
n,ents and promotions in the Civil Service OF the
state and OF all the civil divisions thereon. shaIl
be made according TO merit and htness' 10 De asceI
tanned so far as practicable by examination. WHICH
so far as practicable shall be competitive" Every
veteran soldier, therefore. must pass an exaInlna-
ton as to his fitness. both mental and physical.
before he is eligible for appointment part OF
this examination Is theoretical and 1t stands 10
reason that recent college graduate or schooIooy
would obtain higher marks in geography ana MS
tory than the older man. who Is rusty on 'nese
subjects but is proficient in practice fecos-
nizipg that the veteran soldier must have his aver
age diminished by this the constitution rightly
gives him preference. If he gets on the s whether
he has the maximum required or not
That he is competent to be on the list Is sum
cient though he may have lost a Few points on the
theoretical side of his examination No sef-respec
ing veteran soldier asks more than fa1r treatment
under this provision the constitution of the
State and that he has the right to demand. He
had to fight his way from 1851 to 1862 and mas had
TO fight for his rights since Every conceivable
device and trick has been resorted TO by those In
political power evade the law. and prevent MS
aDpontment or throw him out If already In, II
his political opinions happened to differ from theirs
II commissioner Woodbury. finds his department
hampered he states the remedy IS at his hand
and he ought know how to use it. The constitution
of the State not does the veteran act pro
vide for the appointment or retention OF veterans
who are incompetent '.ncapacitated'' or enfeebed
in health" Ii they become after appointment.
they fare the others in the employ Of the
city and the Commissioner knows the method
which he can take get rid of them.
The Civil Service law evidently does have its
disadvantages in practice for Mr.. Woodbury.. for
1t makes others the judge OF the fitness OF the men
he shall employ. and properly takes away arbitrary
power which he would evidently unjustly. This
may work a hardship for MIR. Woodbury. from &
personal standpoint but is fortunate for the
eran soldier who has succeeded in getting on the
list in spite of the strong competition with which
he has had contend Commissioner Woodbury.
says his department is not an eleemosynary insti,
tuition. thus Implying that the veterans employed
der in his employ should resent this 1t is such
men who risked their lives in the hour of their
countrys peril that are calculated 10 paralyze and
dwarf the spirit of patriotism in the rising gen
The veteran soldier does not ask aims of Com
ciates but he asks for his lawful rights under the
constitution and laws of this State and the priv
mined by the Civil Service Commission. which GER
be treated with the courtesy and consideration due
the dignity of his position. even though he may
- 0''U' '' 7''e''' GEORGE ": BRUSH
No 4ss Ocean-ave., Brooklyn. June Is. 1902