The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-10-18
STUDENTS OF connLEsroNE.
Young Men Questioned About the Moral OBJ
legations of Inspectors of Paving.

Young Men Questioned About the Moral OBJ
legations of Inspectors of Paving.
New York Sun.
Four young men sat with their feet coiled up
under benches in the City College yesterday af-
ternoon, and waited for the beginning of the
civil service examination Of applicants for two
vacant inspectorships Of %pavements in the de-
%partment of public works, The board of exam
liners turned on the test questions at precisely
2:46 o'clock. Professor Arthur Ii. Dondon pre-
sided. Deacon Dan b.. Smith held a big bunch
Of written questions as he said that only prac-
tcal questions would be asked.
First the four applicants wrote sentences to
show that they knew how to write. To prove
that they knew something about figures they
jotted down answers to these:
l. Write $40. 053. % correctly.
ado $lO3:27 S96 1863 II and sos, 791.2l-
3. Subtract 956. 1872 from 1000 Dol.
Divide I,0O0,0 600 by 999, 959.
Multiply Al, 1873 by 33l,lI4.
Gotham pavements and sewers observed
Chairman Dondon, in an explanatory way,
cost more and last about 100 years less than
those of ancient Rome. The remedy is TO build
them better. To build them better the inspect
ors must have technical knowledge of their du-
ties. Examiner Moir will ascertain what the
applicants know about cobblestones and other
pavements.H
Examiner Moir had just extracted a fine cigar
from his waistcoat, put it between his teeth, and
was lighting it.
Chairman Dondon gazed at him in astonish-
ment.
Mr.. Moir," he exclaimed in mild rebuke.
'~forgets that the civil service rules prohibit
smoking
Correct" returned the hammer. as he ruth
lessly crushed the ignited end of the cigar on
the chairman's writing-pad. For the moment
L had forgotten. | beg the pardon of the chair
man and of the applicants. The young gentle
men Will please write down for me an answer to
this: What are the duties of an inspector Of
pavementsP"
The young men were asked all about cobble-
stones; how they are selected, what they ought to
be made of, how you ought to lay them when
you get them, and what you ought to pay for
them when you buy them. When the shades
of night were beginning to fall, Deacon Smith
startled the four anxious young men by asking
them this poser:
What moral obligations rest on an inspector
of pavements."
They buried their heads in their hands, raked
up their "reminiscences of the cateohism. and
wrote them down, while Chairman Dondon
wrote his conception of the moral obligations Of
the cobblestone inspector for the benefit of the
Sun reporter, as follows;
He should possess an unyielding integrity,
which would prevent his being bribed or i'm
properly influenced by dishonest contractors.
An inspector should be a man of great moral
courage, who could not be frightened or in
Inundated in the performance of
his duty by bulldozing contractors
or their hirelings.s Inspectors should
not forget that O large proportion of contractors
are dishonest, and will seek to swerve or improp-
erly influence him in the discharge of his duty.
They will tell him what great political power they
WELD, and how they could use it to secure his re-
moval, or prevent him from getting on another
job. But if the inspector understands his work,
is honest and intelligent, and has good moral
courage. he can hold any contractor up to a
proper performance of his contract The in
spector has it in his power. at all times, when
work is being improperly done, to stop all opera
tions until the matter can be adjudicated 10y
some one in authority
1t will be a week before the four anxious
young men will know which two of their number
stand a chance Of being recommended for in
spectorshlps. When they will get the appoint
ment after being recommended is one of those
things that no applicant can find out.