New-York tribune., 1906-04-26
4 GOOD BEGINNING.

| Assemblyman Prentice did good work in get
ting the Rules Committee notwithstanding the
pressure of the sessions closing days, to re-
port the Civil Service Commissions measure to
| require public employees TO file annual state
ment of their political contributions. He sue
| ceeded in bringing the bill TO vote at which
| ifty-four members were recorded in its favor
with only twenty against. AS seventy-six votes
were required for passage, the bill failed, at
| least for the time. Perhaps on reconsideration,
when the attendance is larger Mr.. Prentice may
be able to rally constitutional majority, but It
is not likely that the measure will become a
law at this session.
Even if the bill fails to pass, the workers for
cleaner politics have reason to be encouraged
1t means a good deal to get ifty-four votes in
a legislative body whose members have been
trained up in prevailing political methods for
drastic proposal of this kind, while it is still
novelty and before any strong popular senti-
ment has been aroused to demand such a re-
form. From time immemorial all political
parties have looked to their adherents in public
office to supply them with campaign funds.
Only few years ago the levies were made
openly and in a systematic fashion. The Civil
Service law of this state strives to protect en-
plOyes from the exercise of any pressure by their
superiors. but large sums are still given-how
large and how voluntary nobody except the
collector knows. The plan OF the Civil Ser
vice Commission for report which would show
whether or not Republicans under Democratic
chiefs were giving to Democratic funds or vice
versa, and whether or not contributions We're
such uniform percentage of salaries that they
suggested a systematic levy, naturally seemed
radical 1t did not, as Mr.. Rogers opposed it
for doing, attempt to say what employees should
do with their money. 1t left them free to do
what they pleased, but merely exacted pub
licity to the extent of the exploitation of the
Civil Service for campaign purposes-a require
ment quite as legitimate as that for similar ac-
counting by a private citizen who runs for Of
f1ce The state would have a right. however, to
do what Mr. Rogers seemed to think this bill
did. 1t could as properly forbid civil as mill
tary servants to take any part in politics, and
some Civil Service reformers have questioned
the expediency of this bill lest it should tend to
give a sanction to contributions by civil
employees. Most of them, however, believe it to
be a moderate and practical step in advance,
since it would reveal all attempts at system
attic exploitation of employees without restrict
ing their individual political activities
The immediate acceptance even of a moder-
ate measure interfering with political customs
not to be expected 1t had to encounter
stupidity. misconceptiOn and suspicion, as we'll
as real objection TO the reform sought.
Much has been accomplished when the subject
of contributions from Offceholders is brought
seriously TO public attention and when bill
TO deal with the subject is not only reported
from Il committee controlled by such men as
Speaker Wadsworth, Mr.. Moreland Mr.. Hooker
and Mr.. Prentice, but secures so large a vote in
the Assembly. good beginning has been made
toward a future reform, and the Civil Service
Commission did we'll to propose and Mr.. Prem
tice to push the measure.