New-York tribune., 1907-05-09
EXEMPT CLASS ABUSES.
REVISION RECOMMENDED
Ci1W SerOice RefOrmers Hold
1nnuQl Meeting.

Auburn. was the first speaker 10 call the attention
" ule gathering 10 the need of agltatlng against
preferred ofticehoders and two of those who fol-
Io"ed backed him up in his assertion that ii is a
degrading relic OF we'll intentioned origin in our
present civil Service law. All the speakers who
ueciared Tor free field to all applicants for places
III lhe public service said that they had the great
est respect for the old soldiers who were specially
considered In the appointment to places public
employment but gave their opinion that the state
coud better show its gratitude to the veteran of
us wars IN other ways. If the veteran himself were
not up to the requirements Of the place 10 which
he sought appointment
About hundred and fifty members of the
ClNH Service Reform Association and Womens
auxiliary sat down TO dinner in the small ball
'oom OF the hotel Comptroller Metz also
uere lie styled himself a ''jackass" in the course
Oh the evening, but that because he had
strayed into a gathering which he himself ad-
mitted he was generally reputed to be hostile The
ClVi Service reformers applauded him. nevertheless
when he said he didn't see why this opinion should
nave gone abroad. he felt in many ways kindly
disposed to Civil Service reform, although he
thought the reformers sometimes pushed the good
thing too far. 1t merely because he had ever
went into politics or accepted public office that
he labelled himself
The Controller grew enthusias site in defending bis
own valuation when Isaac y. Selgman protested
ana SAID that any business who into
public office in the class OF those who bray, be
cause. matter how faithfully they might try
they succeeded in their efforts every scalawag
could roast him and ask If he were not A crook
Colonel Silas w. Burt. president of the associa-
ton. presided. At his right Mrs. W. H. Schief
elm. president Of the womens auxiliary and at his
left was the Controller, The others at the guest
| table Isaac y. Seligman. Everett p Wheeler,
Thomas NJ Osborne, ssenblyman John Lord
o Brian of Buffalo; Richard Watson Glider. Hor-
ace =. Defining. Dr. L. T Chamberlain. r. c. f
Brown, of the State Civil Service Commission. and
William +. Baker r. Appleton, Municipal
Civil Service Commissioners.
Controller Metz. who was the first speaker,
caused laughter when blushingly confessed his
difidencc being the dinner. drst. because
ladies present. and secondly. because, II re
port were true he was a friend of the other
diners. He then gave the assemblage some inter
esting figures In regard to the expenditures made
by New York City each year, and comparisons Of
the amount spent by this city each year + with
those spent by other cities and natioualities.
The Controller admitted he touched the subject
of civil service reform with some embarrassment
but attacked il with the remark that while per
sonay he was believer in responsible party gov
ernment he could say that he felt civil service
was help rather than a hindrance He defended
his wish TO go beyond the list approved. however
when the list would not meet the requirements OF
the responsible head of public department But
that" he asserted. lis just whore you reformers
in while there IS a vacancy and present me
with the list. II YOU believe strongly in the list
why do you business men not I'll vacancies In your
own establishments from it?
The Controller then declared that any business
man who went into politics was a jackass, and
cited himself as an instance. Il know what am
talking about" he said. and there Is just two
years ana eight months OF Il for me. Then
back 10 the dye s;ufrs business" Mr.. Metz also
said that under the present state OF bookkeeping
in New York City he could make 10000 year
out OF his ONCE without any body else being the
wiser One of the things that he had found out
since entering office that man who was pro-
teCted by the civil service laws might become op-
posed 20 working oveTmuch and might demand all
the little comforts and conveuiences which he could
not and would not ask we're he In the employ OF u
private business house.
E-Mayor Osborne recommended that the CivN
Service Reform Association spread the light OF It's
principles upstate. where 1t was badly needed. lie
thought It would be good thing whenever Il
Mayor was elected in city to have an emissary
cau on him and try 20 convince him that he would
reap the best results from his administration were
he to consider civil service in the appontment OF
his subordinates. The Mayors upstate need This
attention and would appreciate IL as compliment
Probably. too. the speaker said, some of them at
least would be willing act the advice given
them. Mr. Osborne said he had no doubt that MT
Metz would agree with him when he said that II
was all right TO put up the bars at the front doors
of public Office strongly as possible but 10 ieS'e
a way to let down those AT the back.
The reformers applauded Mr. Osbornes reference
to Governor Hughes having found it imperative
that the power of dismissal should be vested In
responsible governing head If proper adminiStra-
ton OF the public's business was to be achieved
Speaking Of privileged classes in the public SER
vice he protested against them. Il have the
greatest respect for the old soldier" he declared
but don't for heavens sake. degrade him by
keeping him in place II he is inefficient II Is to
him you do the great wrong" Mr.. Osborne also
said that he knew from experience that firm grip
on a position was likely TO make mans charac-
ter deteriorate and have generally demoraizing
influence on him.
After all" said Mr.. Osborne, though the pres
cnt machinery of the Civil Service is good In
It's way It is only the TO end" Behind
all this machinery he wanted emphasize.
the human problem. he cited instances of two
young boys sent to prison, whose sentences he had
been instrumental in getting commuted One of
them came a victim of the opium habit, the
other a morphine hend And they served
with these drugs he said by the prison officials
who are appointed under the Civil Service rules
What good did civil examinations do in the selec-
ton Of these officials? No matter how good the
present law may be and the rules for candidates
places In the public service. after ALL Con-
troller Metz has said you must go down behind
them all and solve the human problem"
Assemblyman John Lord O. Brian also concurred
with Mr.. Osborne's views on the necessity of agi-
tatng against preferred classes in the selection of
public servants. He said the whole system which
made preferences In the appointment of offlcehod
ers mandatory was unfair both the veterans and
others so privileged and TO their fellows who
could avail themselves of no such privilege.
In referring to the mention of the Bender IN
the associations annual report and the late Gov
ernor Higgins's action In the case. r. c. f. Brown.
of the State Civil Service Commission said that
while he felt the Governor entirely mistaken in
his view of the case he never knew him to be
guided by any consideration other than for the right
in his decision upon any question. The speaker was
applauded when he said that II 1t were remembered