The Penn's Grove record., 1912-06-28
Tax Board Secretaryship Discussed.
Salem, n. J., June e, 1yI5
VIM. A. Sumnerill, Esq.
EditnnLnf DDn.fn G,orn Dnaonl

Salem, N. j., June rs, 1915.
VIM. A. Sumnerill, Esq.
Editor Of Penn's Grove Record,
Dear Sill: Noticing a statement re-
Gently in your paper that the Civil Ser
vice Commission had decided that the
Secretaries of our County Boards of
Taxation were State Officials and could
hold the positions given them While
these Boards were under Republicans
tor life or during good behavior, l
thought a few lines regarding this re
malkable decision might he of interest
to your readers.
Ever since these taxation Boards
were organized they we've controlled by
Republicans until Woodrow Wilson
was elected Governor. Secretaries
we've employed and discharged without
any regard to Civil Service. Last win
ter when it Was known these Boards
would come undel the control Demo
Gratis, a Republican Legislature at.
tempted to amend the Civil Service Act
so as TO retain their old Republican
Secretaries in these Boards OF / axation.
After the amendment had passed The
Senate it WAS found impossible to reach
these Secretaries i'll Salem and other
counties that had never adopted the
provisions of the Civil Service, because
these Secretaries we've III the paid ser
vice OF their respective counties ana
not Ill the paid service of the State lis
they must be unless Il county has adopt
ed these provisions. Hence the amend
ment after passing the Senate was
dropped and allowed ITO die a boinln''
Fooled in this an appeal was made
fol- a decision from oul $25, 900 Rtpub
lean Civil Commission 10 justify the
old Republican Secretaries III holding
onto their jobs referred TO by you.
Now recall that our Civil Service law
says the Civil Service Of New Jersey
shall be divided into The UNCLAssIFI.
ED and The CLASSIFIED SERVICE
OFFICIALS Iii The tulmer designated il
the law shall not be subject 10 its pro
VISIONS. Continuing the law says, the
CLASSIFIED SERVICE shall include per
SONS Ill THE PAID SERVICE OF TIL
STATE Il not Included III The I'm
CLASSIFIED Service.
The law also provides Thai any coun.
ty desiring TO adopt and come unde
the provisions of Civil Service mus
held elections by which the people Cal
dec de whether 10 do SO or not. Othe
cou!,tieS besides have never had sucl
all election OF attempted to adopt th'
provisions OF a law That might compe
her 10 keep men III office for life a
County expense.
Hence it will be easily UNDERSTOOD
that as matters stand the only person
in our county who are subject to TIL
provisions OF tins law and liable to b
kept i'll office for life, ale PERSONS II
THE PAID SERVICE OF THE STATE, all.
not i'll The unclaSsitied service OF tn
state.
Yet this REPUBLICAN COMMISSION
and REPUBLICAN MEMBERS OF oUl
COUNTY TAX BOARD now claim tia
these SECRETARIES employed by Count
Tax Boards, and paid, not by the Stat
but by their respective counties ar
State officials in the paid service OF tn
state and subject to the provisions [
Civil Service.
1t seems incredible that any set G
sane men could be induced to thu
openly defy the very laws they were Sc
lected to Interpret ana enforce.
When it is recalled that a majorit
of these Officials responsible for such
defiance OF our laws were selected an
gwen their positions to repay them f(
c%orrupting public elections, we can be
ter understand why it became pOssib.
to secure such a. decision and all wi
realize the need removing every ino
yidual from this Commission and Ia
Borrds chosen because Of his we
known r~ascality.
ssss. Very Truly, -
CLARK PETIT
Sec'y Salem Co., Board OF Taxation.