New-York tribune., 1922-02-14
Miller Attacked
Ry Wickersha1n
0vcrEnnployees
Governors Charge Of Propa-
ganda Resented in ContrO-
versy Regarding Alleged
Cut inMen ON onStatePayroll
lTpholds n. Y. Association
Former Taft Aid Insists
Official Figures Show
an Increase Of 1000
r-o~, d Star Correspondent

ALBANY. Feb 1a-Georgc W.
v;ekcrsham, United States Attorney
General under President Taft, to-day
ontercd INTO tho controversy which
has arisen between Governor Miller
and the New York State Association
ever statement issued by the latter
examination TO the effect that instead
Of a decrease there has been an actual
increase or approximately 1000 en-
ulovecs in state service
Mr.. Nickcrsham, who is vice prcsi-
dent Of the New York State Associa-
ton insists that the figures published
BY his organization are authentic and
we're furnished by the State Civil Scrv-
ice Commits ssion. He takes especial
execution 20 q remark made by Cover
no. Miller who. in commenting on the
ra'cment issued by the association.
mid
Lac most Of all the statements
made by taat association. it is untrue,
and is piece OF the propaganda that
this association is scattering over the
state
n touching on this aspect of the
controversy. Mr. Wckersham declares
thai they are very serious accusations
coming from the chief executive of the
state
The New York State Association
he SAYS. "is not engaged in the ire
sponsible scattering of propaganda
thro0ehou. The state. 1t is engaged
in the effort 70 disseminate accurate
information regarding the state gov
ernmert in a WAY which is in line
with the recommendation frequently
made by the Republican organ zation
in the state. by independent organiza-
tons. as well as by the constitutional
convention of 1915. and by this asso-
cation from the time of its organiza-
ton.
Official Source Cited
Eve perfectly understand that YOU
are not at present u accord with this
program and while we fully recognize
your per ect right 10 oppose il, we
very vigorously object to Your charac-
te-lzinr IS false figures which are
carefully compiled from the official
sources of Information Of the state
government"
After making the ASSERT n that tn
association has taken the greatest care
10 ser lhaV ltS HSurcs aye accurate and
hat this is the first time in it's history
mat its s.atemeH IS Of facts have been
challenged, MIR Wickersham saws the
CURES dispu.ca by tho Governor We're
uraished The association by the State
Civil Sawice Commission.
You are quoted as saying,' con-
nues TIE otter. chat the figures of
re Civil Service Commission give. not
.7s sc'cal mum Der of employees, but
me number of positions. On the con-
.fary as ne rocords of the Civil Serv-
&c Commission show. these figures
I'VE the actual number Of persons on
he pay rolls certified by the Civil
Service Commission It the c'ose of the
7saF We were Informed by the COM
MISSION that it would lake more than
week to prepare the data we requested
oeeause 4 vas necessary to check pay
rel cards
at hes repeatedly been intima*ea
.om Official sources that there has
oeen q reduction Of $500 in the sta-e
personnel. However, your newspaper
statement now indicates that after
araiyzire She figures printed by US. You
have found the estimates Of reduction
Of . SOC 10 ne 'fctitious' You then 90
On 10 INDICATE that there was a de
crease IL the number % EMPLOYEES in
state departments and an increase in
the number Of employees in state in
stitutions."
Graves Issues Statement
~. Wckershaln's letter was made
public only few hours after a state
ment had been issued by Mari; Graves
research diiecto. Of .he St3tc b02rd
Ct Estimate and Control. in which Mr..
0raves said that j is not wild state
n,slt men pvt Tact that the Legis lature in
lS1l eeleted from state service more
lnan 1000 Jobs"
the New York State Association as
serted SAID Mr.. Graves that there
we're 2l,5SS employees in the state
servee on December 81 1920, and
z10n IN December. 1921. and concluded
,aere had been an Increase during
Governor Miller's term of 9S3.
The conclusion is erroneous. be-
cause the association figured from a
sa'se premise. The report OF the Civil
service onmission does not show
snow either the number Of positions
zs'norzed by appropriation, the num-
vef Of employees On the state pay roll,
" Ire number of positions in the state
ssa'ce When IN 1920 it reported 21.-
0No positions in the classified and un-
''aSS ned service. it included Ais
r., I1 lions IN county and village service.
"Aen in rs 1925 report it asserted and
s-amed jurisdiction over 22.5U posi-
s. uons. It included 4S33 N county and
'illege service. Il IS clear. then. that
:. 'ae vs. claimed by the association TO
" ,ae increase in the state pay roll, 7i5
a est were additions to county and
village service
I'll tie analysis is continued. it is
.o1Nd the comm ssion includes in the
sse service the Bronx Parkway com
v'ss;on and tie transit CONN, ssion
-'pioyees Of thcsc agencies are not
va me state pay roll. These two com
~Ssiohs are reported by the con- mis-
S-V.s to have increased their positions
lsc and tie New York State Asso-
<<--'oh includes ths figure IN its 9e3