New-York tribune., 1910-01-01
SIX ELY OUT AND In
BRIEF .SUSpENSTOH.
State Boards Tiec More Sc
uere than Ctr Boards.

Because Of the E>ttcrs sent by John F.
skeily, assistant secretary OF the Municipal
Iiv1 Service ,-nmission. TO Senator
Frawiey, Mr. Ske,ly was reprimanded and
suspended fDs eight days by the commits
sion yesterday. The suspension was
dates rom December %. At the time the
Ia: lare were written Senator Frawley was
ga of town with Charles f. Murphy. The
commission gave out this statement:
The investigation conducted by the State
Civil Service Commission and the Civil
Service Reform Association satisfied them
that there was no basis of fact in the So
called Jerry" Flood and Mccarthy, cases
in The American" and. further. that
there was nothing in connection with these
or employees of the Municipal Civil Ser
vice Commission.
Skellv testified before the state board
and before this commission that there
was no truth in the statements contained
in these letters, in so far as they i'm
puted any improper or irregular conduct
rectly or indirectly with the office Of the
commission. He testified that the letter
e. private communication to friend,
Senator Frawley, written in an exaggerated
and humorous vein. as was sometimes his
habit in writing to him, and. further. that
Senator Frawley testified that ne. fully
understood the spirit in which she letters
were written and did not for an. instant
believe take them seriously. The fact
that a man Of Senator Frawleys expert
ence, or, in fact, any one familiar with
the enforcement of the Civil Service laws,
would know or could easily ascertain the
falsity OF the statements would seem to
be proof that Skelly did not intend to be
taken seriously.
The publication Of these private letters
undoubtedly shows @ that the W writer sr,h;,s has
indiscretion, in view OF his official con-
nection as an officer with this commission.
but there is no evidence of any evil in
ell If,y n
or associates. 1t would seem to be fair,
in deciding this case. to eliminate the vex-
sion by the publication, as Skelly was
certainly not responsible. for that. and to
merely deal with the indscretion and bad
taste shown by Skelly in indulging in
..umor on serious subject.
The commission feel they should take
into consideration Skelly's excellent rec
private business previous to entering the
city's service. His record in this depart
particularly active in running down cases
of criminal violation of the Civil Service
laws. In view of all these circumstances,
SkeIly for his lack of discretion and direct
that he be suspended for eight days with
out pay, such suspension to date from
December q.
STATE BOARDS VIEW.
The report Of the State Civil Service
Commission took a less lenient view of
Skellys conduct 1t said:'
In their most innocent aspect as an ex-
vate communication to a friend, accus-
toned to such humor, these letters We're
mp in duty Gt bound In. ali his acts, private as
well as public, to safeguard the admins
tration Of the merit system from possible
suspicion. He could not be ignorant of the
common insnuations against the integrity
of examinations, particularly In the Police
Department Yet in spiEit OF OF frivoity ri a
foster the belief that favors could and
However justly he may complain or the
dishonorable methods by which his pri-
vate letters became public. he must face
the fact that. being public, they inevitably
awaken popular distrust of him and the
administration of the Civil Service law, in
which he has influential part Any in
depreciation of the letters which takes ac-
nose of furtnering Mr.. Spencer's advance
ment still more clearly shows his obtuse-
ness to the requirements Of his position.
He, an administrator of the Civil Service
laws sincerely deSirous to aid Mr.. Spen-
Ger, commends him to the favor of a polit-
ca leader professionally employed in fur
thering the desires of his constituents for
leader could expect illegal and dishonora-
bic favors from Mr.. Spencer.
If this was not serious ii is impossible
to conceive of the commentator of Mr..
Spencer serious, for 1t is all there is of
the commentator He made untrue and
damaging statements about the secretary
which could only injure the latter in the
eyes of a political leader whose favor was
not to be secured by the hope of a dishon-
est administration of the merit system.
1t is impossible to reconcile the alleged
humorous and acknowledged serious feat
ures of these letters on any theory which
does not discredit the good sense and dis
cretion if not the good faith and integ-
rity, essential to the proper performance
of their writer's official duties.
He has impaired, whether in mere folly
or by graver fault. the confidence which
must be reposed In one called upon to dis
charge duties calling for as delicate sense
of prcprety md honor as the judicial Of
fee Itself.