New-York tribune., 1902-03-23
ON MERIT LAW
MAYOR LOW AND STATE AND CITY COM
MISSIONS STRAIGHTEN OUT
DIFFERENCES.

Mayor Low and the State and Municipal Civil
Service commissions yesterday Strengthened out
about all the differences that have prevented a
practical administration of the Civil Service in
this city. The Mayor met the commissioners at
the Hardware Club and there were sessions
before and after luncheon. Mayor Low. speak
ing for the conferrees afterward made the fol-
lowing statement:
At the conference with the State Civil Service
commission this morning action was asked for
and none was taken. The general plan for reor-
general, the purpose OF the plan was approved. The
lon until the details Of the plan worked out
The object of the conference was, however. fully
law as affected by The decisions Of the co1rts is
a subject so highly technical as to be dificuIt Of
treatment in way 10 be popul|rly understood
aimed at in the classification under discussion are
Frst-A classification of clerks and other mem
Cers OF the city service. as far as possible. by
the purpose of being the better able to comply with
the law In relation to promotions.
purpose of the Civn service Commission and for
scme cases Of the departmental names Of the posi-
tions. For example. the proposed salary OF sixth
c:crk in some department. is called an index Clerk
on the civil Est and on the payroll he would figure
sity of asking for a new classification by the MI-
civil Service commission every time c4erkshlp Is
created with a new name In creating a new posi-
II
grade of the position. Then the salary Of II and
the classification of IL will be settled automatically
Third-A Of names for offices in the exempt
that shall differentiate them from offices IN
the competitive class. For example at the present
time there auditors in the Controllers Depart
In the exempt class and auditors in other de
partments in the competitive class II Is proposed
to call the exempt auditors auditors of accounts
thus leaving the title auditors wherever used, TO
signify a position in the competitive class. Every
care will be taken in the course of this reorganiz!-
ton to preserve intact the rights OF individuals
under the Civil Service law. The system proposed
is substantially that In use In the CiVil Service
Of the United States
There were present at the conference besides
Mayor Low. Willis L. Ogden. Cornelius Van
derbilt Theodore NJ. Banta and Secretary Nc
Aneny. Of the municipal board; William Miller
Collier John E Kraft and Cuthbert W. Pound,
of the State board.
The new classification desired by the Mayor
was outlined by him January 6 in a letter to
heads of departments. Some OF the salient feat
ures Of the new classification are:
No change as 10 officers whose salaries are fixed
No change as 20 the enlisted force OF the Police
Department. the Fire Department or the Street
Day laborers and teachers. examiners and mem
bers OF the supervising staff of the Department OF
Education are excepted.
Glass Annual salary of go or less
Glass B-s720 more. but less than $40
Class C-sS4O and not more than $500
Glass D-SGO. but less than $1,000
Glass E-S1.OOO to s12OO
Glass 81 200 to sl.40O.
Glass 81 400 to 81. 900.
Glass 3-S1 600 to $500.
Glass +$1 500 TO 5000.
class 5$2 600 to $500.
Glass 6-s2.5OO or more.