People ex rel. Tregaskis v. Palmer — 9 A.D. 252

Majority

p. 252

The People of the State of New York ex rel. John Tregaskis, Appellant, v. George W. Palmer, as Comptroller of the City of Brooklyn, Respondent.

Headnote

Mandamus— right of a veteran to compel an officer to report vacancies in his depart ment— question as to illegal appointments, not determined by mandamus.

Upon an application for a peremptory writ of mandamus directing the comptroller of the city of Brooklyn to notify the civil service commission of certain vacancies in his department, and requiring said comptroller to request from said commission a certification of names from among those graded highest, as a result of open competitive examinations, from which to fill said vacancies, the relator alleged that he was an honorably discharged Union soldier, and that 'he had successfully passed competitive examinations held to test the fitness of • applicants for clerical positions in the civil service of the city of Brooklyn; that there had been twenty-five vacancies in the defendant’s department on or since the 1st of January, 1895, and that if he had notified the civil service commission thereof, the relator would have been one of the first four to be certified by such commission to the comptroller for appointment.

Thé relator also alleged that the defendant had, in violation of law, filled said ■positions, 'and that the incumbents of such positions were holding them in violation of law.

Held, that the mandamus was properly refused;

That the defendant had authority to determine the number of clerks and subordinates which he required in his department;' that, if a vacancy occurred, it was discretionary with him to determine whether he should fill it or leave it vacant, and that the court had no power to interfere with the exercise of such discretion;

That the act creating a preference in the relator’s favor gave him no right or title to any office or position;

That the question whether any vacancies had been rightfully or wrongfully filled could not be determined in this proceeding.

. Appeal by the relator, John Tregaskis, from an order of the Supreme Court, made at the Kings County Special Term and entered in the office of the clerk of the county of Kings on the 13th day .of May, 1896, denying his motion for a peremptory writ of mandamus directing George W. Palmer, as comptroller of the city of Brooklyn, to notify the civil service commission of certain vacancies in his department, and to require said Palmer to request from said commission- a certification of names from among those graded

p. 253

highest, as a result of open competitive examinations, from which, to fill said vacancies.

Sylvester J. Tormey, for the appellant.

Joseph A. Burr, for the respondent.

The petition of the relator shows him to be an honorably discharged soldier, who served in the United States army during the late civil war. Hé has heretofore entered, and successfully passed, five different competitive examinations held to test the fitness' and capability of applicants for clerical positions in the civil service of the city of Brooklyn. And he alleges that the defendant has not, pursuant to the laws of the State, and in obedience to the regulations of the civil service commission of the city of Brooklyn, notified said commission that there were clerical positions in his department where a vacancy existed; that twenty-five positions in said department became vacant on or since the 1st day of January, 1895; that if defendant had notified said commission of these vacancies, the relator would have been one of the first four to be certified, as a. result of his examination, in accordance with the Constitution of the-State, its statutes and the civil service regulations. The petition also alleges that defendant has, in violation of law, filled the aforesaid vacancies, and that the persons are holding said positions in' violation of law. Upon the allegations of the petition we think that this appeal must fail. The defendant is the head of the department of finance of the city, and has authority to determine the number-of subordinates and clerks he requires in his department, and if a vacancy exists therein it is for him to determine whether he will fill the same or leave it vacant. (Charter of Brooklyn, Laws of 1888,' chap. 583, tit. 3, § 2, tit. 22, § 9.) Courts have no power by man-damns to compel an officer vested with discretionary power to exercise it in a particular manner. . (People ex rel. Wooster v. Maher, 141 N. Y. 330 .) And with the exercise of it no one can interfere. (People ex rel. Drake v. Sutton, 88 Hun, 175 .)

The act creating a preference in relator’s favor (Laws of 1884, chap. 312, as amended by Laws of 1894, chap. 716) confers no right to the issuance of the writ. This act gives preference in

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appointment and damages where the relator suffers for an act wrongfully done, and also a remedy by the existing right of mandamus. But no right to a writ of mandamus existed or at present exists to interfere with the exercise of discretionary power. The preference which is given to the relator creates in him no„ title to any office or position. Title is only acquired by appointment, and the relator has never been appointed. Nor is there any vacancy, for the positions now existing are filled by other persons. Whether rightfully or wrongfully cannot be inquired into in this proceeding. It is sufficient now to say that there is no vacancy to fill. In this aspect the proceeding is brought squarely within the decision in People ex rel. Hoffman v. Rupp ( 90 Hun, 145 ).

It is clear, therefore, that whatever rights the relator may possess, his remedy is not by mandamus to enforce them.

■ The order appealed from should, therefore, be affirmed, with ten dollars costs and disbursements.

All concurred.

Order, affirmed, with ten dollars costs and disbursements.

Cases cited

People ex rel. Wooster v. Maher 141 N. Y. 330 N.Y. 1894-02-27 p. 253

Statutes and regulations cited

Civil Service Law p. 253