New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-11-01
70 PUBLISH EXEMPT LIST.
Goodwin StirS Commission by
His Protests Against Action.
MANY JOBS EXEMPTED
Factory Inspections Matter of
Humanity, Not Politics, Miss
Perkins Says-No Decision.

Perkins Says-No Decision.
The state Civil Service Commission, at
10 nublic hearing yesterday on the propo-
teton that IL reverse itself by undoing the
exemption from competitive examination Of
,hs eight factory supervisors. heard the
issue squarely put by Miss Frances Per-
v,re who said It was not one OF politics.
hut one Of humanity
The crowd Of persons who Wished TO be
hoard IN opposition to making political jobs
=, these places was so large that the hear
inc. which took up the entire morning. had
m he transferred from the rooms OF the
Municipal Civil Service Commission 10
sheriff Shea's jury room. on the ground
soor Of the building, No. 299 Broadway.
The commission reserved its decision.
one person only, Alfred j. FULLY. former
~ Civil Service Commissioner, expressed
approval Of the commissions previous ac-
ton in granting Labor Commissioner Will
isrs's request that these places be ex-
empted. but az the end OF the afternoon
session John Kraft. president Of the CON-
mission, said that he was not wholly sat
ished with the arguments that had been
advanced against the proposed exemptions.
Elliott II. Goodwin. secretary of the Civil
Service Reform Association, stirred Mr..
Kraft into making some broad assertions
On civil service generally, when he made
a sort Of review of the number of eXemp-
tons granted so far by the present state
commission.
Williams request for these exemptions
was purely formal" said Mr. Goodwin,
and believe he made it under pressure"
minute later. when a request from the
Conservation Commission for the eXemp-
ton Of a record clerk was read, Mr.. Good
win. in expressing his opposition, added
Something like thirty-eight exemptions
have already been granted by this com
mission TO that body, and the number is
excessive"
Before the echoes OF that had died down
Mr. Goodwin was up with another objec-
ton TO a request from the state FIRE mar
shal for the exemption Of the post of con
fdential steaographer, who, Mr.. Kraft ex-
planned. was 10 handle the records of IN
cendisry fires
Bah! That argument could be applied
10 every stenographer In that Office" de-
olsred Mr. Goodwin. "and we know that
there have been eight previous exemptions
in that Office each Of which has been a
purely political appointment, ana that they
have all been carefully apportioned by dis
tricts
That was the straw that broke the cam
els back. Mr.. Kraft had been fidgetng
around during Mr.. Goodwin's previous at
tacks but this last one stung him into
speech
Dispute About McAneny,
at seems to me that we're working at
cross purposes" ne said to Mr. Goodwin,
when we should be working together
I've fought for the merit system. the same
as you have. and l want TO tell you that
the reformer is just as much of a spois-
man when he gets into Office as the Demo-
crat or the Republican For instance,
George McAneny has requested Just as
many exemptions as any one else. This
commission has worked just as earnestly
as any previous commission to uphold the
merit system"
Mr. Kraft has heen a member Of the
state commission for nearly ten years.
Mr.. Goodwin took exception to Kraft's
statement about Borough President Nc
Aneny. and then said he had one request
10 make OF the commission, and that was
for list Of the exemptions they had made
I've asked for such a list before, and
I've never got IT," said Mr.. Goodwin.
We're going 10 give It 70 you, but Il
you want it you know you can get It In the
files II tie once Of the Secretary Of State"
retorted Mr. Kraft
Isn't that a public record in your of.
fee" queried Mr.. Goodwin.
Yes, it Is. You can go up to Albany
and get it," replied Mr.. Kraft
rs that the answer OF this commits.
son?' Mr.. Goodwin wanted to know.
But al this point Mr. Kraft changed to
a conclatory tone and told Mr. Goodwin
that the commission was preparing such
a list and would forward d copy to him as
soon as il was completed. He thought the
list would be ready in about week, and
said that II would be sent to the newspa-
pers.
Mr. Goodwin pressed his adyaniaEe ay
adding that he would like to examine the
minutes Of the commissions meetings, and
Mr Kraft said there would be no objec.
ton.
"Not Politics, but Humanity"
Miss Frances Perkins. Of the Consumers
League, who was instrumental in persuad-
ing the State Civil Service Commission to
review It's action granting the exemptions
declared that the question before that body
was not one Of politics, nor of anything
else but humanity.
This is a question Of protection for
laboring men, women and children" she
said 1T is not a matter for politics. Men
are so foolish. they must embroil every
thing with politics. You men don't trust
one another. Members of one party, IS
soon as they get in power, feel uncom-
Portable n members OF any other party
are IN the ueighborhood'
Mr. Tally, following Miss Perkins, not
only advocated the plan Of exempting the
inspectors from the competitive class but
objected 20 what he termed the interior
ence OF women. Civil service commissions
ers. he said. were always being attacked
by every one
Joseph T. Cotton jr, who was counsel
10 the Wainwright commission, which
grated the bills authorizing the appoint
meni Of the supervising inspectors. told
the civil Service Commission that the
wainwright commissions report had adj
Focated that the, places be put in the
CLASSIFIED competitive class, and that he
could see no reason for eXempting them.
You DO not agree with Commissioner
Williams report saying that COMPETE
i've examinations for these inspectorships
would be impractcable?' asked Commits
Aoher Walter T. Burton, and Mr.. Cotton