Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-01-06
MAYOR FIRM IN STAND
CIVIL SERVICE HEADS
/ MUST RESIGN OFFICE
cOccessors of Two Already
rbosen-Minority Appointee
Still to Be Sc
a.n. lected
vpErDER TO "CoME BACK"

= ,,.,.o- Smith today refused to bulge
,Js etand that the members of the
lroi 1m service Commission should resign,
CNi second letter was received from
si.et commissioners asking for reasons for
.to;r reouested resignation.
' ..I have received letter from the civil
..ina commissioners asking for reasons
serViSt resipnations," the Mayor said.
r pI oan sav is that they will get them"
M oxnected appointments, In the face
~ refusal of the present commits
,.,ars 70 retire voluntarily, did not ma
sD,nii9o today The Mayor left. his Of
sao shortlv after noon to inspect the city
nI.so,srfront, without having announced the
rew members of the commission or max
nv ~ any other appointments.
lhs song o the callers in the Mayors office
- rnnrning were Congressman William
ui9 go senator McNlchol and Congress-
o Iot, r X. Scott. Newspaper men
man ma. secluded from the inspection trip,
Wiz was made on a city tug, in com
wv of Director Webster of the De
.partment of Wharves, Docks and FERRIES /:
director wilson, of the Department OIL
D'.h,jc Safety. and other city onicials
rr.,s evening the Mayor will be the guest
~ Ell kirk Price, at the latter's home,
U, ,.n be will meet the members of the
park Commission ,,,---
n ia regarded as certain that WlluaHl
>, rrreider will return to his former post
~ will be n member of the new civil
anrv,ce Commission. The Mayor today
Ia tbat he has decided upon two OF the
commissioners. The Demoeratic hiei'Oei
"a in doubt. ~. A., ......
nI have decided upon two of the mem
x.n said the Mayor, but VIII not
r,oke the names public until the board is
onn,nIeted Yesterday Postmaster Thorn
ron called in the interest of ex-Magis-
crate Boyle. and Charles p. Donneliy
and City Chairman b. Gordon bromley
have called in the interest OIL ai.other n,,
democrat, who is high type or citi-
zen" ,-, 49,, Won
rnsan. in their letter declining to re-
sign which was sent to Mayor Smltn
in answer to his first demand for their
resirnations, held that resignation would
he n confession of neglect or incom-
petence. 49,. ,,,t,,. .
COMMITTEES of Ave to investigate the work
na,formed by the commission during the
iost four wears The committee. they
suggested, should be composed OF two
newspaper men. the president or the
Union League, the president of the Cham
her of Commerce and the president or the
Manufacturers Club, or of five citizens
of equal standing.
The letter Oh lHe -
formed the Mayor that were 1t simply
a matter Of gratifying his desire that they
resign, they would willingly comply, but
that they considered it impossible for
them to do so wi t obscuring vital
public issue in whie their offices were
involved. TheySreclted briefly the achieve
ments Of the commission during the last
four years, and i..formed the Mayor the
responsibility would rest upon him II he
dismissed them without assigning Just
cause" as called for in the act of 1905.
The commission also pointed out that
It has given full publicity to its business,
that careful secrecy has attended eXami-
nations, that the character of applicants
has been carefully investigated and that
its work has been highly commended by
experts especially Charles w. Eliot, prest-
dent emeritus of Harvard University.
In conclusion, the. commission declared
It had made civil service in Philadelphia
an open door to all citizens, that 1t had
dispelled mystery and misconception and
that, by reason of the work done, its
members dare not stultify ourselves by
apparently acquiescing in the implied
censure OF enforced designations"