Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-09-11
THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION
HEARS EXEMPTION PRAYER.
MUCH PRAISE FOR Mr.. TITUS
Holder of Position of First Assistant
Attorney General Declared to Be
Peculiarly Fitted for the Office
Opponent Says This Should Assure
Him of Passing Competitive Test.
Madison. Sept. 5.

| The civil service commission yes
terday heard the application of At
torney General Gilbert for the exemp-
tion of the position of first assistant
In his office, now held by A. C. Titus
OF Superior The commission has al
ready ordered a competitive examina-
ton for this place, which pays a sal
AIRY OF $4,000 year, and the applica
ton is for the commission to exempt
the office from the competitive feat
ures of the merit law, thus to aban-
don the examination which has been
ordered.
| A number of prominent attorneys
from Superior and other places in the
state appeared and supported the APP
plication. the arguments being main
! ly that Mr.. Titus is so peculiarly fit
ted for the place that it is useless
and unnecessary to subject him to a
competitive examination and that the
position is of such a character that
the incumbent maintains confidential
relationships with the head of the de-
partmenC so that the place is not one
adapted to filling by the competitive
examination process. The speakers ar
gued that the commission ought to
take liberal view of the civil serv-
ice law and not apply it strictly
There were present Commissioners
Cunningham of Chippewa Falls and
c. E. Buell. of Madison, Commissioner
Otto Gaffron of Plymouth being alb
sent Among those present at the
hearing. most of whom spoke in IA
vor of granting the requested exemp-
ton, were Attorney General Gilbert,
Deputy Attorney General Jackson, ex-
Attorney General l.. NJ. Sturdeyant
lex-Assistant Attorney General Walter
d. Corrigan of Milwaukee, l. L. Len.
root of Superior, Attorneys c. n
Crownhart, l.. K Luse, Scion l.. Pier
ron Louis Hanitch, all of Superior; j
A. Murphy of st. Paul, Colonel George
w. Bird of Madison, and F. C. Esch
weller assistant district attorney oil
Milwaukee Most of these men were
in Madison on other business and die
: not come particularly to speak at the
civil service hearing They were il
: favor of the exemption and all whC
, spoke highly praised Mr.. Titus ant
} said ne ought not to be compelled tt
: take a competitive examination.
Attorney General Gilbert last nigh
l submitted a brief and argument. HI
contended that the confidential rela
! lions that necessarily exist between
the attorney general and the first as
r sistant are Of sucN character tina
{ any examinatou which might b,
? made by the clsA service commission
e would fail to determine the qualifica
S tion of any person to discharge thu
9 duties that devolve upon that official
He further contended that the com
S mission had ample authority unde
4 the law TO exempt both the position
and the person and that in his opinion
, it was its duty to do So He alst
D submitted letters by Professor Bur
2 w Jones, Judge James ONeill of tn
+ seventeenth judicial district and Sen
ator w. C. Owen of Hudson all sup
porting this contention.
Gleway Maxon of Milwaukee ap
peared as a representative of th'
State Civil Service League and con
tended that the civil service Law
shorld be maintained and that the ap
plication of the attorney general II
exempt the position would eventuat'
in the breaking down of the Law
: through applications by the heads o
|. other departments for the exemption
of subordinate positions under them
He said that the commission nigh
find some authority for the exemp
ton of the persona. c. Titus in this
case-and keep within the letter o
the law without letting down th'
bars. He saw no reason why Mr.
Titus should not take the examination
and rely upon the judgment of tht
commissioners to consider his expert
ence of so much value in the offic'
that they would be compelled to place
him at the head of the list withou
particular regard 10 the other qualif
cation which the examination dis
closed
GARBAGE DISPOSAL COSTLY.