The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-02-16
Bridgeport Legislator Says Republicans In Last Cam paign Never Saw "Evil'' of Old Civil Service Bill Favored Retaining Pres ent Law.
Senator Isben Leads In Rul- ing Out Purcell Amend ment, and Is Upheld By Lieut.. Gov. wilson Sen ator Bishop Says He Couldn't t Stand for Bill.
(speciaI to The Farmer )

Especial to The Farmer.)
 Hartford, Feb. 16.-Senator IsbelPs s'amendment'' to the state civil service law was damned through the Senate this afternoon by the Republican ma jority.
 Two Republicans-Sen Con1ley of Bridgeport, and Bishop of Nor walk-Yoted with the five Democrats against the emasculation of the pres- ent law.
 said that he could not vote as a, Re- publican for the majority report He said 1t had been proven by the Eng fish government that the best results in filling an office can only be ob- tained through competitive tests Said the senator:
 During the past campaign never heard of a single Republican on the stump who called attention to the naonshrous blunder in the passage of this civil service law or who decIar- ed the Republican party would cor rect the evil If the competitive test is right the commission should not have the power to eliminate it and if 1t is wrong 1t should not enter into the bill at all. The competitive test Is the fundamental< bazis- for civil service z
 He closed with an appeal to re- tain the red civil service law as
 
 peraences of other co11nfr1es-
 The bill was ordered transmitted to- the House. where it will be taken up tomorrow. It 1s probable that the O.. Q. F. majority there will jam it through in the same manner that characterized its passage in the upper house today.
 In taking up the majority report section by section and explaining it's effect upon the present law. Senator Isbel1 characterized ass useless the methods of the commission in ceI-ti-- lying to three eligible candidates for appointment. stating that this method gave the three best selections for the place. Such declaration was absurd the senator said. and no business man would dream of de1egatfng a clerk to go out and look up the character and morals of a man and be forced to ac- cept that clerks decision arbitrarily.
 Senator Isbel, after explaining the majority report moved it's adoption and Senator Purcell Democrat, nov ed to amend the majority report by presenting his amendment offered last week.
 Senator Isbe11 objected to the Ptr- cell amendment on the ground that the motion as made applied to matter which was not germane to the ma jority report. The chair upheld Sem ator Isben and Senator Purcell ap- pealed from the decision. A roll call vote was ordered on the appeal, the chair being sustained 25 to 8. Four Republicans supported the five Demo crats on the appeal namely, Whiten, Barnes, Hewitt and Bishop, while Senator Tatem did not vote.
 The taking up of the civil service bill had been delayed by argument on resolution appointing Frank s. Fay judge at Meriden When Sena- tor Isbel made the report he aroused Senator Bree who spoke in favor of the present incumbent, Judge King, declaring that not until Judge King was appointed did Meriden have. clean administration He said that the whole trouble was that the Republi- cans are opposed to MT. Danaher as prosecuting attorney and that the Danaher for his able work and had declared that The must go.''
 Continuing, Senator Bree said:
 .slJow is the time for the Senate to show that it is non-partiSan in re- gard to its courts
 Senator Heinman rose to the de- fense of Meriden and went back to the administration of Thomas L.. Reilly as mayor to recount incidents which were exactly similar to those charged by Senator Bree. Moreover, he said there is not a, citizen in Meriden who can say that Judge Fay did not make an enviab1e record on the bench and when he was removed two years ago it was purely for political reasons.
 The Senate adopted the resolution and sent it to the House, where it was passed, as were resolutions nam ing willis T. Fem, deputy judge at Meriden; and Frank H.. Frost, deputy judge at Naugatuck.