New-York tribune., 1902-12-08
REPLIES TO HINSD4LE
f.. y. Abbot Tells -4ttitude Of C5Ua
Service Reform Association.
SAYS BLACK LAW DERAucHED SERVICE

The following letter was written by Everett
V Abbot chairman Of the committee on mem
bership OF the Civil Service Reform Assocla-
ton, in reply to received from Justice T. b
HfnsdaIe of the Court of Special Sessions, in
which he declined TO join the Civil Service Re
form Association and criticised ii:
receipt of letter of the Sd inst. a IN n
becoming member Of the Civil Service REFORM
Association
Permit me to say that the association has no
reason to be other than grateful 70 you Tor your
frank expression OF vour opinions If correct they
should be publicly known: if not. they afford an
opportunity to dispel what may be a WldespLsdu To-
error We think however, to be frank on oll st i
you under a considerable m1sapPreheI921on
both as 10 our aims and as to our meth0os tn o far
not 10 appreciate that the assoclat9n; 50 i I
from being a body of theorists or pima Iol-
from a mass as Of accnmuiated experience. which
the whole period of the civil service
organized than that of any single individual, ana ana
probably that of any single board OF
If for example, you. with experience WHICH, as
you inform is confined to your own par G
the model of an efficient and practicable Slvll ser
vice law. prove to you by actuat tos Fscolus
whenever you choose TO examine them tnaI instgan 5
of being an efficient law it was mere inVltaLioE
to universal debauch of the service, an lnviLdt!3a
that was eagerly accepted II you aIgIf leicisis
somewhat academic premise that public ofclais
the somewhat doctrinaire concuSlon LldL @ 7-e1t
therefore be universally trusted TO appoint e
and the whole federal government artence LIds @ In
these matters it is you, and not tne aoe-'''-'--
that is the theorist. 49,. - a,.z-sa
| do not. however, understand that we olsas[ge
as 10 fundamentals We both desire practlCaoIs
and common sense law, and We snouiC ootn
the abolition of the "a deploraole step Daca-
ward" Moreover, when IL comes to actuaI Gets.
there is far accord than you apRalr IL
realize You speak, for example, with corStoeraole
feeling of the clauses of the law whlch give d
preference TO veterans. We can assure you t1iis a.
your feeling against this preference Is oIts ~
which we heartily join One of our prnciPaI eIIort
is 10 minimize the effect CT those provisions, ed
cur hope is eventually, If possible. to aooilSn tAss
altogether You speak also of your experience OF
the administration of the law and OF the i
which nave been placed in your pain py tne -. " ~
Service Commission. Let me call your attention 70
the fact that in the earlier days OF your
in the hands OF la1nEle1ilS to-4'
and its administration the subject OF con
Gus and stringent criticism from TINS assoc tiu,
present government we entirely join with you IN N
yoIIr structures. The association IS ana nLs . oeeI
J-ieoro1Isv engaged in effort to procure S1eaei
eFiciencv and promptness IN the work OF the SAlsI
must be aware OF the puptlc IeltoL
witch this association sent to the Mayor onty d IS
roo Won will find upon examination OF the EeGoius
of the Civil Service Commission tnal we az - ~
sense responsible for its action IN retuStls ~ C.
ernTt +ha -Dostion of female prooat ton of1lcer
will not occupy your time with q ColSIe bIIt
of ali the matters touched upon IN your Letls ptt
believe that If you falniarize yourSeL VIII tie
actual work Of this association you VIII Iiu
* acrjveIv engaged In advocating the
3Jaes which YOU contend for-that Is. a pracIcaol9
Ind common sense regulation OF the pupuc ser =
the most potent means now open 10 you anu -
CTbar citizens Of New-Tork to carry ouI, the 60
TinIstrative reforms which you yourseIT lnlnA are
needed.