New-York tribune., 1908-01-27
CIVIL SERVICE REPORT.
TIFUS OF STATE BOARD.
Preference to Other than Grill u ar
Feterdns Opposed.

.7bz-v Ian aS-The report or the State ClNh
se-,ice Commissioners. Charles F. MInken. John
L 5--sft snd Roscoe {. Z Brown. viii he trans
..,as to IN. Legislature tomorrow evening.
Abiding te the fact that the year 1907 closed a
-,ar7e- OF a century OF practical effort TO enforce
-he principle mat appointments and promotions IN
the civil Service Of the state shall be made accord
-- 10 merit and fitness. the commission notes that
s--re- to the merit system exists not so
much IN she assaults OF those whose prerosatives
- IA frorsse its enactment affected from the
more subtle influences that come Of personal inter
- and the feeling Of appointing officers in partic-
,-1ar instances that their personal knowledge OF
-he fsithfuness and capacity Of candidates should
prevail.
Note Is made OF the fact that none OF the several
rr5Ils proposing 10 amend the Civil Service la"
introduced at the last session or the Legislature e
vra enacted The commission reiterates It's beeI D"
INC wisdom Of an amendment applying to the Whoie
state and county service the requirement as 10
removals that applies only in the city OF New
YORK This provides that previous to removing i"
subordinate an appointing officer shall file charges
s-d give tho enlploye affected an oppoTtuHl's "
,zplzi7 The commission holds that the provision
for 4 hearing would act Nhoieso'"e 80
uron arbitrary removals for improper poilu pol,'s
without in any way limiting the power .i,-n
should properly he coupled WIN Hu4''''
-cspousibility-
SPANISH WAR PREFERkHSh-
7f,e commission expresses itself enlphatcatS
against +he rropossl under consideration y '7
legislature TO amend the constitution -. = q
cxrend the preference IN tho matter -, q ~
r0e-rs now enjoyed by veterans oi III III - :,
~ soldiers who served in the war WIN
-ae Philippines or on the march TO F7h1's
A-v amendment along this line, The merit
tz ~onv7nOed would most disastrous - .v Is not
s--rb3Itable 70 any lack Of sppreelayl9] 49, - or sol
services wish 70 see Ull5ri - .ron7 a grateful
country i Is founded the facL ma ~. e4fcisncv
go rToposed would inevitably lower ne tlg dow,
.r,r e---E-a -f-i1
institutional rule a comp s -3oe- corretent
,-s--r v-born rhe Civil Service toIhnllSsesLL ssa -
provide II = untai- it--aTsac;on Of their business
- a-e less competent The tIyll W az W.
c-sns bad 7eT favored for Office before The
institution Of The men, sIsr1 Was decreed provided
hat fhev might continue 10 enjoy IN theIT L oeC- Gu
+7e-sffor that been previously accoTaed
Sucr initial restraint III appNli1s I; u - down
-,-are n has once been established The ilvll ar
T0tsraTs - agu go .,-1t ~ 20 INTERFERE with the
-rre oF equal competition. The Spanish War sol
es1g aSTs az Of ten resident in The state More per
--e-a5 ~ T-rtted states service from the New
v,-L, National Guard alone during the war with
Sasi- thar are to-day il the entire civil service
- re- state and the classified counties These TO,
-a-re- vrf+1 -ro New York volunteers from civil
Ire Spanish Mar veterans who may cor COM n +b
77rfnpines and IN China. form body Of men sum
ivory Tacanct' likely to occur IN ne T Sc 'i'e %
les cocgties ana st56a a6T Sc ave2ase number
- a q 6 --1r- ee-Z-iCe was 50 II the
lHG s4'e aslJ .oI7y % - fi7a cent vars applied
with the advantage of preference for such num-
% -e Pacez !, with e men ToOr1 man Of whom would be
appointed after having shown themselves baTeE
more O. and al OF whom would be forced upon
~ pov0- of selection or the .east TgIlI lo pass
over candidates having personal shortcomings NOT
80 sr-e7+.ee Through a short period Of pro6a-
II =E-,afSE r~1as7 1T
~ formal trial renewable by the courts This
-vogid mean the paralysis not merely Of the merit
system but of the whole public service
Oue n the frequent pleas MADE TO the com
MISSION 70 secure an exemption Is that an anIon1
important s1horolnate mat even the rue ali9N 3'
iaE nm - pick one from three does not give MN
far chance 10 get assistants best fitted by per
<o- his work. and that # veteran passes the ex-
animation. even a the bottom OF the lst- Rllh a
-l.-o :. 80 ieset j7srice in tl7is claim
>0r 'arEer liberty OF selection from among persons
certified be competent. then II would certainly
-r.rst-atiou and the power of public officers per
<orr witt credit 20 themselves the duties FOR which
tfSt s-e held reSponslole sun fGrtheT 70 narrow
s 2e-r n selection and presei6e tae PaGtegaT
CzE = 1laI man as Nou!o reg
W. one % the least competent Of a long list OF
-7- people with important duties should not be
mus handicaprad- The people Of the state should
-o- nc depr 81 of the most efficient service posi-
Re IN AZ effort u compound the debts either Of
---s zro nav desire 70 ente- The states service
should no. bo excluded from fair and equal com
7'ass. however worthy
Tho commission proposes 70 hold during tho COM
- yez- 2 second state conference OF Civil Scr
v.-r commissioners. reports that il Is engaged
Hsr for the thorough and systematic revision
= ro r-aSsffration OF the entire and county
Service with + view 70 making that classification
Uniform and minimizing the proportion Of exempt
positions and saws that II is considering the prac-
"raoilit- of extending 5hc operation OF the Civil
Service rules tn such positions as keepers and At
'sr5a--E county almshoUses ana county jails
zta county and town highway officials
Trs report says IF in the case last mentioned
'tr handling or the great work Of highway i'm
r-ov=reat n which the state has committed itself
e m hr done hy men or capacity and training
-e0ours@ mus hc had such system IS that
provided hs tho Civil Service Ian"
The commission reports that tho last at
'rnl- a. tha Kings COUNTY Sheriff TO man
5su-s TIE state commission into recognizing
'-e legality - his appointments 10 certain posi-
TORS which there has been controversT for
t~Ze-@. years defeated near the end Of the
reaT l~ decision Of Justice Fits, Albany County
Ne-r'or Is made also o. the action Of the Court
~ 4rueeIz IN tbs case of Frank p. Seeley. SUM
-1s~f', removed from the service by tho Supern-
''-lsl- ~ Public Works or the assumption that
'-@ -o-s- triton gives thar official the right % an
H0IrtEus-r and removal unaffected ~ the linita-
'.|- provisions o. the civil Service Law. Seeley
49, vr-e-sn. and. II held was entitled ~
t--7E ea charges and % Z review IN 'he courts
TIE LABOR CLASS.
Tho questions involved IN labor exemptions and
-f-rs-rss'ors are discussed the report ~ some
'frE-h. Tse commission says that il has taken
s's9- 20 purge the roster of the names Of persons
''Hl-rEeL under Vhe title of laborer hut really per
''-r0I-g duties belonging % positions IN the com
fsL:-rC or uou-conpefitive class In the State En-
sInee-s Department i found more than four nun
re~z0