New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-02-19
PREFEREFCE BILLS.

The legislature this year has before Il an IN
usually large crop Of bills to demoraIize the
public service by further extensions Of the pref
erences now given to Civil War veterans with
respect TO appointments, and 10 them, as well
as TO Spanish War veterans and volunteer
iremen, in limiting the power of removal. ex
cept after trial, with q right of appeal to the
courts. These bills are in large number and
great variety. Assembyman De Groot wants
TO extend the appointment preference now ex-
clusively possessed by Civil War veterans TO
volunteer fremen. A veteran who passes a Civil
Service examination now, even though he be the
lowest on the list, goes automatically to its
head, and the appointing power, instead Of
choosing one of the first three has no choice
but must take him. This bill would place the
fireman after the veteran, and absolutely force
his appointment next 1t also contains pen
sion provision for the favored classes. Assem-
blyman Bowling has a bill to extend to every
honorably discharged member Of the National
Guard or Naval Militia once in office the right
10 carry the question of his removal into court
and force his superior to face the difficulties of
a police commissioner who seeks TO dismiss an
inefficient corrupt policeman
Assemblyman Thompson wants to make pro-
motion of all police and fire department graft
ers easy by forbidding the record and char
departments to be searched back for more than
three years. Assemblyman Murphy and Sen
atOr Gardiner would forbid a Civil Service
commission 10 refuse TO examine an applicant
account Of crime committed under the age
of fourteen, a matter about which commissions
now have discretion, SO that a youthful Of
fender who seems 10 deserve it can be admitted
TO the public service Assemblyman O'NelI pro-
poses TO, give to Spanish War Philippine and
Chinese expedition soldiers the same preference
for appointment now enjoyed by Civil War
veterans, which IS manifestly unconstitutional
for the constitution gives an exclusive privilege
to the old soldiers which they cannot be com
PEELED by the legislature TO share He would
also make this preference apply to non-com-
petitive places, which would mean that the first
of this privileged class applying for such a
place would have to be nominated by the ap-
pointing power, even though the place were
non-competitive because the character of its
work made discretion in picking out the incum-
| bent necessary.
Senator Page has brought forward an amend
ment TO the constitution lawfully TO accomplish
what Mr.. O'Aeill sought by his bill He would
| put Spanish War and Philippine veterans in
| the same class with the veterans of the Civil
| War; Senator Cooper has a similar amend
| ment rather more clevery drawn, for while Mr..
old soldiers at the idea of sharing their prefer
ence Mr.. Cooper would leave them first place
give Spanish, Philippine and Chinese expedition
veterans a secondary preference, and all other
honorably discharged soldiers, sailors and ma
rines of the United States tertiary preference.
| Besides these, there are many other bills OF a
more special character for the benefit Of one
or more individuals at the expense Of the merit
| system.
We shall not attempt at this time to discuss
! In detail the defects of these measures. Nor do
we question the motives Of their sponsors
| Most Of them are due TO good natured senti.
| mentality. Nevertheless, they are one and all
| vicious. The passage of any one Of them would
be not merely severe blow 10 Civil Service re-
| FORM but also n serious handicap upon efficient
administration. The constitution has estab-
hsh'd The general rule OF competition for the
| public service. Further extension pS preference