The Detroit times., 1914-06-01


entire equipment there has been pat
INTO shape, without the expense OF a
penny OF city FUNDS, 50 that II does
the work required OF IL IN even better
fashion thar when frat installed The
r, ,iring official had strong support
ard, under the old system. could
scarcely have failed OF appointment
and the taxpayer would have been the
Loser
Thai criticism OF the commission
heCarse OF the giving OF non-competi
tive examinations i'm certain cases
has been unwarranted and has re
suited from ignorance OF the law was
claimed by MIR Hirsch. who cited the
provisions OF the act creating the
civil service commission II Is ex-
pressly required that. when one de.
partInent desires To obtain the ser.
vices OF man In another department
II las first to make it's request in
writing 10 the head OF that depart.
merit and obtain, In return. his con.
sen. 10 the transfer. These papers
shall them. according TO the terms ~
the act be turned over 10 the civil
service commission and the man in
question shall be given "non-com-
lpctitiye examination" for the purpose
OF determining his fitness for the pro-
motion
Attempts have been made. prob.
aoly through ignorance OF the law"
said Mr. Hlrseh, Ito construe this
course OF action into an attempt on
the rart or the commission 20 take
care OF Marx favorites,' when. as a
matter OF fact, the commission has no
alternative in the matter"
rs tribute 10 the personnel OF the
commission OF which he was head
Mr. Hirsch told OF the attempts OF
the commission 10 bring the Board OF
Health under its provision The Yer.
| der sct. under the operations OF
which the commission was created
provides expressly that "all depart.
ments" OF the city government shall
come under the operations OF civil
service The health board contend.
ing that as It's members were ap.
pointed by the governor, Il was ex.
emit from this provision. refused TO
abide by IL and obtained q ruling from
Corporation Counsel Lawson TO the
effect that the commission had no
Jurisdiction
L.
bOurd by the rulings OF the corpora.
ton counsel and, although lacking
furds &C obtain attorneys, decided 10
bring the board under its control AS
a result James -. May. an able attor-
ney and a member OF the board, with
out personal interest or without hope
.of compensation, took the matter be-
fore the circuit court and fought the
Issue, decision In which is now being
withheld by the circuit judges but
which will be announced within a
short time
Salaries OF $255,0OO have been
turned over by the city in the inter
ests OF the health board during the
vast year. according 10 Mr. Hirsch,
and the commission feels that the
city should have something to say as
to whether the recipients OF its mon.
ey are efficient
A like issue obtains in regard to
tho operation Of the water depart
ment, says Mr.. Hirsch
AS q result OF an examination for
assistant city boiler inspector the
services OF q man formerly I'm the
employ OF one OF the largest accident
insurance companies in the United
States have been obtained, said Mr.
Hirsch
Il am very much pleased with my
appointment, which was entirely
unsolicited" said Mr.. Hirsch. II have
taken deep personal interest in the
work and have been pleased with
my associates, every one OF whom has
endeavored 10 make civil service the
real. live institution for which the
people declared themselves by vote
of aoproximately 27000 TO 1000.
After years trial the commits
sion has satisfied itself that there are
seN eral amendments 10 the law which
should be passed and these will be
placed before the people in the No
vember election
can frankly state that no ques-
ton of politics has ever arisen in the
debates OF the commission, and want
TO reiterate that this commission IL
not cog in anybody's machine and
Is not bossed by anybody believe
that civil service is the broad buffer
which protects both the city employe
aud the taxpayer from the evil effects
or machine politics and bossism"