Perth Amboy evening news., 1912-07-11
CIVIL SERVICE
LAW CHANGES
Probe Commission Finds
Need of Several Amendments
(Fro,n the NEWS correspondent.)

(From the NEWS Correspondent.)
Trenton, July 11:-Need of sew
eral amendments to the state civil
service law was developed yesterday
at the investigation conducted by
the Assembly Civil Service Probe
Commission. The session yesterday
was devoted to an inquiry into the
general workings of the law and It's
administration by the Civil Service
Commission. The chief amendment
suggested by the Civil Service Com
missioners was one providing that
when reductions are made in any
force for reasons of economv, that
the last man appointed shall be the
first man removed, except good rea-
son be shown why such a course
should not, in propriety, be follow
ed. 1t was shown hat as the law
stands men may be removed from
Office on the ground of economy,
who belong to the political party out
of power, thus defeating the prin-
ciple of civil service. A law giving
this proposed amendment passed
the Assembly last winter, but failed
in the Senate.
Another change needed in the
law is one to prevent any permanent
appointments being made during the
interval between the time the act is
adopted and the expiration of forty
five days grace before it takes eff
feet, except through the regular civil
service examinations. There is
nothing now in the statute to pre-
vent politicians in a municipality,
after the law has been adopted, from
making a lot of snap appointments
in order to get in under the law
without taking the test.
Need Definite Legislation.
1t was made plain that there Is
urgent need of definite legislation
defining explicitly the Head of a
Department" Department heads
are not subject to civil service and
may be removed from office without
charges being preferred. There has
been much confusion over the in
depreciation of the term. In some
cases politicians have lodged the
civil service regulations by having
ordinances passed designating GER
tain minor officials as heads of de-
partments and then having them re-
moved to make way for favorites Of
the politicians working the plan.
Still another amendment suggest
ed by the Civil Service Commission
ers was one providing that all pay
rolls of all state employees must be
certified by the Civil Service Com
mission, ever though such state en-
ployes are paid from funds of mu-
inequalities not under civil service.
Assemblyman Pikaart, of Passaic
county, head of the Probe Commits
sion, presided at the investigation
and Counsel William l. Lewis,
brother of Vice Chancellor Vivian
M. Lewis, asked the questions. All
the members of the Civil Service
Commission and it's chief officers
were present. The questions were
directed chiefly to President Multi
ken and to Chief Examiner Gardner
H. Colby, who is also secretary.
Mr.. Colby gave very full infor-
nation as to the workings of the
law. He detailed it's various opera
lions, told how the examinations
are conducted and gave much other
information. He said the Commits
sion had received very cordial and
helpful cooperation from the state
departments in the enforcement of
the law, but the cities and counties
which have adopted civil service,
have not been quite SO willing to
cooperate.