New-York tribune., 1905-01-05
RAY TO PRESS CASE.
Examiner May Take Dismissal to
MagOr or Courts.

David II. Ray. the Civil Service examiner dis
missed on last Friday from the place he had
held after trial before the Civil Service Com
mission, has written letter TO The Tribune. IN
which he charges that his dismissal was due
simply to his protest against violations OF the
Civil Service law His attorney, Professor
Charles Thaddeus Terry. Of the law department.
Of Columbia University, said that Mr.. Rays
protest was against clear violation Of the
Civil Service law. Professor Terry declared yes
terday that ne had been instructed to press the
case and that Mr. Ray might take It 10 the
Mayor or the courts. or both.
Mr.. Rays letter follows:
To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: desire to thank you for the impartial ac-
The loss of the position is Of no consequence COM
pared with the principle, which IS the essence OF
present conditions things are moving so that II IS
1 raI1f2 On me S5tJ-iI service F7xanining Board OF
New-York City. so my dismissal IS a relief 49,.
Civil Service law is Violated in letter and spirit
and when one who makes protest Is danned
farce When one cannot retain his self-respect
and the position Of examiner dismissal after pro-
seek no notoriety and no yindication. have
this matter iupersonaIy and imparually. You
viii do public service which VIII add TO your
prestige There are least 90 900 TO 5000 positions
under the Civil Service rules IN this city. These
should be pF9teefed Inc ,1 CrOeCn Ian - OS r,,I|
subway was built under the eye OF engineers and in
Board Of which I was an engineer examiner for
two and one-haf years. until last evening;
The recent amendments offered by Mr.. Coler may
or may not be q subtle trick 10 distract attention
from the gross and ouLr@seogs Vl2I4uoHs @ ION or tHe S
ofnce examiners whose ability and qualifications
Charge Of being the tools OF spoismen and bosses.
Why were not these examiners chosen at Large
{on bed @ as 10 Ts Weers a. apSotntmenf These ex
amin
were competent and willing There was no work
appointments cannot be Justified ,- =, -.
DAVID H RAY. c. T.
Associate American Society Mechanical Engt-
New-York City. Dec. 81. 1884
Professor Charles Thaddeus Terry. OF the
law department Of Columbia University. counsel
for Mr. Ray, said yesterday:
Mr. Rays protest was directed at violation OF
Municipal Civil Service Commission, in respect OF
two so-c9lled expert examiners. 70 VII AessIS;;
some seven months ago BY the Municipal Civil
Service Commission. headed By Mr.. McCooey
(Which commission has been since removed from
Office by the Mayor OF the city,, ana the latter OF
whGn Td0fea was "a tbdP SRPO6assSd saesd 0 ne"
The Violations OF law and the Civil Service rules
involved IN the appointment and retention in Office
of the two expert. examiners referred to seem
a. cbapter No go of the Laws Of New-York
passed April 19 1893. the civil Service rules pro-
be appointed except 10 conduct some special exam
nation and that they shall be continued In Office
only for the length OF time necessary to conduct
such examination and in no case more than TWO
months in any one year BY special exaHiqatiOn
is clearly meant one which would not lie within
the ordinary province OF any OF the regular board
OF examiners. OF which at the time Of the ap-
pOintment OF the Two gentlemen named there were
three
Ms Ray decares-aud such appears TO be the
factLthat there was no special examination IN
hand recurring the appointment either OF Mr.. Wei
Ter or OF Mr.. Moore, that a matter OF fact
neither OF those gentlemen did conduct any special
examination at the time directly following their
aDDoiD tulent. and that they had not done since
II is an undisputed fact that both gentlemen have
been retained IN Office beyond the two months
peri6d provided in the rules.
Mr. Ray took the position that appointments TO
the board OF examiners OF persons who had been
subjected TO previous examination themselves
struck AZ the very root OF the theory and practice
OF civil Service; that the thousands upon thousands
OF appointees positions In the municipal service
are obliged 70 pass szaIpLnations prepared and