Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-10-07
CIVIL SERVICE
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HSilt. II Is 1ard 10 uHueTsldliu WHY
the comptroller of the state of New
Jersey. in view of his training as a
banker, to which he proudly refers
should place himself in SO vulner-
able a position.
Alleged NIis-statements.
1--WE desire to call, attention to the
following mis- statements;
mo. 1.-That the cost of the civil
service amounts at the present time
to $4,000 (s11, 900 for the regular
work and 5000 for the Geran cleo
ton work. The total appropriation
made for the pear ending Octoberysl
1911, amounts to sal 800, including
both the Geran election department
and the regular. civil service work,
and a part, at least, of this is not
likely to be spent. The statement OF
the comptroller is, therefore, over
$1,000 out of the way. Qtem 3S,
chapter $50, p. L., 1913, and item 8,
chapter 200. p. l., 1914.)
No 2--Mr. Edwards states the APP
preparation for the first year of the
work as $4,000. This appropriation
supplementary was for only six
months, from. May | to November l,
and approximate inaccurred of los
per cent. on the part of the comp
troller.
mo. s.--on the strength of his as
sumption that the first full year S
appropriation was $4,000 he argues
that in the succeeding six years, the
appropriation has increased four
fold ($40.000) in reading the present
amount. AS. a matter of fact, it has
only increased two and one-haf- fold,
over statement of 60 per cent.
No. 4.-Mr. Edwards in his refer
ence to extra work done by the
clerks in the Geran election, depart
ment, states that acquisitions cover
ing 1900 hours for extra services
have been made. The bills for extra
services during the year for this
work covered but SAB hours, an
exaggeration of 4,0111k hours.
In referring to a requisition for
medical services at an examination
in Jersey City, the comptroller has
stated that the reduisition, the
amount of which he quotes, covered
one days services. AS matter of
fact, the requisition mo. 9S of this
department., Account No. 3sA) on
file in his office distinctly states that
the services requistioned for were
to cover two days, and the bill later
rendered for this work covered a
period of three days and amounted
to 1914, $26 less than the amount of
the requisition or estimate. This
1914 covered the charge for a COM
plete medical examination of 30S can
didates. In the case of the Patsr-
son examination the actual cost was
sl6S.15, as compared with $3.50, the
amount of the requisition. This COW
cred a medical examination for 10
candidates and strength test for
104 candidates. That the cost of
medical examination, in view of the
exceeding Importance of securing
candidates physically fit, has not
been excessive, Is shown by the fact
that for the fifty-one days of such
examinations held during the pres
ent fiscal year to date the average
cost has been only 1887 per day.
In his criticism OF the requisition for
medical services the comptroller
seems to have praticed a deception,
as 1t has been clearly recognized
since the requisition system was put
into effect by Mr.. Edwards that wide
allowances would have to be made
by departments in estimating in adj
vance the amount of expenses slong
certain lines sttf ~
The two commissioners also say
that the attack upon the internal add
ministration of the civil service and
the reflections cast upon Chief Elk
aminer and Secretary Colby are
quite uncalled for. MIR. Colby's
statement reads as follows.
Colby's Statement.
II am not particularly concerned by
Mr. Edwards attacks upon me per-
sonally in his recent statement. 1
have long known his animosity for
me, and it is pretty generally under
stood by many in the State House
and in Jersey City. where he has ex-
pressed it on frequent occasions. What
does disturb me is the fear of the
ff IA M no eay1 a 4 Hon
upon the civil service of the State,
splendidly supported by the public
hitherto, and the product of long years
. of hard work and sacrifice.
His attitude toward the civil SER
vice in the somewhat historic "Fe-
male Cleaner" case has not passed
from memory nor the amendment to
the econoy and efficiency bill by
means of which in the consolidation
of the department of accounts with
his department employees of long
standing were deprived of their pro-
lection under the civil service and
the positions filled through appoint
ment outside the ecivil service. The
same is true of the bill of last winter
permitting appointment of collateral
inheritance tax appraisers and clerks
without civil service examination.
+. These things, however, are mat
ters of history. The problem now is
how to keep the civil service opera
tive under the methods employed.
The comptroller is at this time great
ly hampering the work of the civil
service, and if he persists in his at
titude, will soon cause an absolute
suspension of our work.
He raises so many untenable
points on almost every item of ex-
penditure. causes so much delay and
uncertainty, that it will be ifnpossi-
BILE much longer to carry on the
work. 1t is scarcely credible that his
recent attack will divert the public
from a watchful supervision over the
interests of the civil service, which at
this moment is passing through the
most critically dangerous period of
its history"
The Civil Service Commission is
still apparently deadlocked over the
question of exempting the position of
custodian of the State House. At
Yesterdays meeting the matter was
again laid over for another week. 1t
was stated by one of the members
that new considerations had arisen in
the case which caused the delay in.
final action.
Would Correct His Mistake.