New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-10-03
METZ INQUIRY ASSURED
STATE &. S. BOARD ACTS.
Conference of State and WamGpdt
Commissioners Closes.

Albany. oct 2-An investigation into the
Finance Department of New York CITY is TO oe
made bv the state Civil Service Commission
according 10 an announcement maze pS 'f
commission Tonight The proposed lnNestisd-
tion is the result Of a complaint MADE against
Controller Nets department by the Civil SER
vice Reform Association. alleging violations OF
t,o administration of the Civil Service law and
,1,les II IS alleged that appointments were
made for political reasons.
The Ciyn Service Commission announced that
the complaint Of the Civil Serviee Reform AS
ISOLATION presents allegations Of fact which the
commission without committing itself to the
conclusions suggested in the complaint. ieeIS
should he inquired into"
A resolution adopted that the coin1his-
sion make investigation concerning the enforce
rnent and effect of the Civil Service law alu
rules in the Finance Department of the city Of
New York as authorized by Section of the
Civil Service law; that the president be au-
ihorized 10 fix the time and place for such IN
vestigation and subpoena witnesses"
At the closing session Of the conference of the
State and Municipal Civil Service commissions
to-day q resolution was adopted recommending
an amendment TO the Civil Service law TO pro-
vide fixed term Of office for state and local
commissioners. AT present the state commlS-
sion serves az the pleasure Of the Governor and
mayors
The resolution declares among other things
that the uncertain tenure of Office of the diff
ferent commissioners seriously interferes with
and prevents the fullest exercise of independence
in the official acts and conduct of said commits
sIoners: that the present system of appointing
an entirely new commission by incoming ad-
mnistration is in principle and practice detri-
mental 10 the best service. in that il deprves
the various commissions of the experience and
knowledge gained 10y the outgoing commission
ers: that an incoming administration should not
change the commission except for cause or as
terms expire
President Milliken and Secretary Brdseye of
the state commission conferred with officials
representing cities Of the second class to con
slider plans which viii give uniformity to the
positions Of chief Of the police and fire depart
rnents IN those cities 50 far the Civil Service
classification is oonCsrned
: report was presented To the State Civil
Service Commission following the conference,
and adopted. providing that these two positions
Be included Sin the non-competitive class. but
that no person shall be nominated for non-com-
petitive examination who is not at the time of
such nomination a member Of the department
in one Of the first ~ second lower grades. The
municipal commissions are to have an opportu-
nifty 10 express their views al a hearing the
date Of which viii be fixed later.
The programme for to-day's session Of the
conference included an address on Enforcement
Of Civil Service Laws, Federal, State and Nunic-
ipal: Violations and Prosecutions" 10y Elliot
H Goodwin. secretary Of the National Civil Ser
vice Reform League and the following special
topics: oral Examination fer Subordinate Pc
sitions' b. Commissioner Ellsworth H. Cohen,
of Schenectady; The Origin OF a Civil Service
Commission Commissioner F (Jerten-
bach. Of Yon1ers. The Merit System Us. Prac-
teal Politics" by Charles Hagen. Of Troy, and
Relations Of Civil Service Commissions 10 the
Public by Charles s. Fowler. Chief Examiner.
of Albany. State Commissioner John T. Kraft
r-esdad