Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1912-11-01
HOSTILITY
OF SCHOOL BOARD
Civil Service Commission Pre-
pares Statement, lmpugn-
ing Motives for Action.

Action of the Board of Education
in opposing the referendum TO place
all employees of that body under civil
service rules, which will be voted
upon mex Tuesday, is strongly resent
ed by the New Jersey Civil Service
Association. Appearance Of the refer
endum on the ballots without instruc-
tions to the voters as to how to vote
on the proposition has called down re-
buke on the head of County Clerk
John B. Woolston, who is seeking re-
election on the Republican ticket.
The association began a campaign
promptly this morning to counterfeit
the attitude of the Board of Educa-
ton at its meeting last night. A let
ter was prepared by the officers of
the association. which is made up Of
employees under the merit system,
and will be sent broadcast through
the city during the nexl few days.
The document impugns the motive OF
the board. 1t is as follows:
we desire to call your attention
to the referendum on civil service
which appears upon the ballot to be
voted on Tuesday next. November 8,
proposing to extend to the employees
of the Board Of Education all of the
rights and privileges now enjoyed
by the employees OF every other
municipal board and department in
the city of Newark and county of
E-.aw oud oIso o,4oxyad hu oil of fha
employees of the State of New Jer-
sey, similar rights being enjoyed by
the employees of the United States
government.
THE Board of Education of this
city has declared against the adop-
ton of this act, and we must assume
that its motive Is to retain the
privilege of making the appointments
and promotions Of its employees at
Will. being unwilling to have such
appointments made through a merit
system, operating under the general
regulations which are in effect in all
other municipal and State employ
ments.
{ THE principals and teachers of
the public schools will not be af-
fected by the adoption of this refer
endum. the method of their appoint
ment and their tenure being estab-
lished under another law. Why does
the Board of Education object to a
law regulating the method of ap-
pointment and tenure of the other en-
ployees Of the people?
I'VE appeal 10 you to aid in having
the referendum adopted, to the end
that public employments may in all
equity be under the same general
regulations"
The civil service men contend that
much confusion and an unfair vote
will result because Mr.. Woolston in
terpreted the law as making 1t I'M
necessary to print instructions on the
ballot for anything other than the
candidate vote. 1t IS feared that men
wishing to cast their ballot for the
adoption of civil service for the edu-
~cational employees will mark the
word For" which appears above the
proposition in the lower rlght-hand
of the ballot, instead of draw
ing a line with black pencil or ink
through the word Against"
While an act passed by the last
Legislature provides the use of the
For and Against" the civil
men hold that section BE- of the
Geran, law takes precedence and the
words mo, and Yes should have
been printed to the left Of the propo-
sition and parallel with the little
marking squares such as appear oppo-
site the name Of each candidate. The
section referred to prescribes this
method and contains a facsimile plan
for the printing of it upon the ballots