Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1912-11-01
SAY FREEHOLDERS
BROKE PROMISES
Civil Service Association De-
nounces Messrs. Ahner
and Roemmele.

The New Jersey Civil Service AS
ISOLATION has formally denounced
Freeholders Christian Ahner ana
Ferdinand Roemmele. jr., who are
seeking reelection on the Republican
ticket.
1t Is alleged that these two men
deliberately broke pledges made to
carry out the principles of civil serv-
Ice. i
Both Mr.. Ahner and Mr.. Roemmele.
1t Is pointed out, voted to GUST Her
bert Walker and Pierre Black az
county bookkeeper and county build
ing Inspector, respectively, although
those men were upheld by the Civil
Service Commission and ultimately
were ordered reinstated by the Sus
preme Court.
In voting against these civil service
ofice-holders it is said that the two
'freeholders' expressly violated their
promise. 1t is on this ground that
the Civil Service Association is cam
paigning against the two men.
That Mayor Haussling holds an
opinion at variance with the school
commissioners in regard to the APP
pointive power Of the School Board
is clearly shown by aspledge which
he recently signed in favor of the
adoption of civil service in the school
district. This pledge was sent to him
by the association. He answered the
questions as follows:
DO you favor the adoption of civil
service for the school district of the
city of Newark" YES"
IF elected to Office will you sup
port the principles and practices OF
civil service?v Yes"
Applying this pledge he wrote a
letter to the association stating:
LAS l am very much in favor of
the extension Of the present system,
1t may not be amiss IL / further our.
line my attitude as follows:
II advocated the adoption of civil
service regulations. including the
merit system in appointing and pro-
noting, In my first annual message.
After the State law governing the
subject hard been adopted, l took
pleasure, In calling the attention OF
members of the Common Council to
the matter, and eventually signing
ordinances ~whereunder the law
was adopted by the city. After the
courts had decided that this method
Of adoption was improper. l lent ala
to the agitation leading to its pre-
sentation to the voters.
Any observation OF the workings OF
ne civil service law In Newark leads
me to the conclusion that the city has
benefited almost immeasurably by 1t.
The dismal spectacle of a scramble
for place under the old spofls system
is seen no more. The holders of city
offices have a feeling of security
which greatly enhances their useful
ness, and they are encouraged to i'm
prove themselves In knowledge and
conduct of work falling to their share.
a condition which would have been
impossible under uncertain tenure of
office, When such things can be said
of the workings of the law the minor
drawbacks sink into insignificance.
In conclusion / may say that I feel
that though the law allows some lati-
tude in this respect the appointment
of the leading person on the eligible
list should always be made, unless
some strong reason to the contrary
is presented. This is the policy which
1 have recommended to the boards or
bodies over which i may pe said 10
exercise jurisdiction"