New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-18
TO GUST TAMMANY MEN.
CIVIL SERVICE BOARD NAY TRY TO
TAKE SOME CLERKsHIPS FROM
COMPETITIVE CLASSES.

Important and perhaps radical changes are
Impending in the administration Of the civil
service in this city. The net result is expected
90 give heads Of departments greater latitude in
surrounding themselves with progressive and
wideawake assistants than is possible under
existing conditions.
There is a strong probability that Mayor Low
and Colonel Willis L. ogden. president of the
Municipal Civil Service Commission. will ask
FOR legislation at Albany that will put a large
number Of classified clerkships in the nom
competitive class, thus giving TO Mayor Lows
heads OF departments opportunity TO retire
q number Of Tammany followers Of proved in
competency.
Colonel ogden viii in about two weeks make
report 10 the Mayor on the work of the Civil
Service Commission he has found it. The
coloners deductions. it is said. viii be backed
up by actualities IA her than by theories.
Colonel ogden called on Mayor Low yester
day. When seen later by Tribune reporter. he
raid:
In two or three weeks shall make report on
abe Interest. ] don't care foreshadow that re-
90 more for an honest and efficient civil service
,ry,ng =, %oed since early this year have been
locally practised. and I think have succeeded
There have been some very rotten spots in the
noIklhgs OF the elk1l service We have discovered
many instances OF trckery by those in positions OF
Throat and our hope is that at the end Of another
year the system viii be more honest than it ever
OF one thing hi am firmly convinced in regard to
that is that the heads of departments must have
greater latitude than they now have in surround
trust know there are hundreds of eminent civil
service neformers who have holy horror of put
but in my opinion We shall not secure the best
resuts-the practical results that eountunless the
heads Of departments allowed by law TO sur
sound themselves with men whom they can depend
on TO produce desired results.
I by this that the number az non-com-
petitive positions should be largely increased
Goodwin. of the National Civil Service Reform As
ISOLATION. Neither are the heads Of departments.
protecjed by the civil service or course the great
bulk Of clerical work should and must be done by
employees appointed from eligible lists after COM
petitive examination, but the principal clerks-the
men 1Pon ~hom me heaqs OF 9ePsbb55me nus are
pointable by the chiefs.
pared 10 say that the best results will not be OBJ
seined unless the civil service in this city IS ad
same extent as is Observable in the conduct Of any
T sneTP i of tes s sTt bS
uses free hand IN seseng men who VIM Ine best
siismisses the tricky and unfaithful.
can you obtain the necessary legislation from
Albany and the necessary sanction of the State
Civil Service Commission for the changes de-
slred?" Mr.. ogden was asked.
II am confident we cam" he replied. Il am
confident that whatever the Mayor asks in that
lire, supported as he will be. by the local Civil
Service Commission. viii be granted. In fact.
81 is in line with enlightened and practical pub
lie sentiment and accords with the ideas of the
Republican leaders. AS I said before, however.
81 will be two three weeks before / shall
make public my formal views on the subject Of
reforming the civil service Of this city. At that
time the wider the publicity the papers give the
matter the better 1 shall be satisfied"