The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-02-24

residence, citizenship age, education and previ-
Gus occupation. A certificate by practicing
physician of his physical ability is appended.
Where physical strength is of prime importance,
as in prison guards, a rigid examination by a
State physician is required Not less than three
nor more than five certificates from reputable
citizens must be furnished as to moral character,
temperate and industrious habits. The citizens
certifying must not be kinsmen, and shall con-
sent that their certificates shall be published, in
case the applicants unftness is afterwards dis
covered.
The provision as to cities was at first optional
in the New York law, but afterwards by an
amendment, was made mandatory. Brooklyn
adopted civil service in December, 1888. and the
departments of health, police and fire being
among those exempted by the act advised the
mayor of their intention to apply the regulation
to their departments. New York city fol-
lowed Jan. /, 1884, and civil serv-
vice regulations are now in force
in nearly every city in the State. The necessity
of civil-service examinations in the schools In the
State was shown by a report from DR.. Agnew,
from which it appears that malignant contagious
diseases, easily prevented, were permitted to
spread by the ignorance of teachers and of those
in charge of schools. By the State rules, the
appointments were made from the three highest
on the list; in the United States, from the four
highest, and in New York from the five highest.
Removals are still arbitrary, it being considered
that the superior will not remove except for
cause. when he cannot determine who the sue
cessor will be. The regulations provide that the
weight given to each separate subject of examina-
ton shall be determined beforehand, and the
weight given to the answer to each question shall
also be determined. The grade is established by
each examiner separately and afterwards aver
aged II the standing of the competitor on any
subject falls below 90, he is dropped. If the
average is not above 65, he is dropped.
In the report of 1885 opportunities had been
given to test the system and the regulations
were applicable to 5000 persons in the service of
fho Sfo+a ;,,N I,o,4. on. ID
lyn and l, 700 in other cities. Numerous employees
believed to be in local service were found to be
In the service Of the State and subjected to the
rules. Assistance by examiners was rendered
IN nearly every case without compensation. The
commissioners say that in the second year of
the civil service there have been developed some
rather novel methods admirably adapted to COM
petitve examinations to determine actual fitness
the attalnments requisite to the treatment of
the insane, the practical experience required by
the foreman of the street-repairng gangs sue
cessfully tested at Brooklyn, and new tests of
strength, capacity, agility and endurance re-
quired for policemen. They say it is rapidly be-
coming clear that competitive examinations are
easily applicable to almost every subordinate
post however high, in each branch of the public
service, State or municipal Of those examined
In New York, and in the cities of New York and
Brooklyn, the proportion educated in common
schools has been ~ per cent in the national serv-
Ice 90 per cent; at the average age of thirty two
years. The commission reports that addi-
tional legislation is needed, the New York act
being the same as the present one
In regard to its application to cities the re-
port from the Civiservice Commission at
Brooklyn contains the following
"These commissioners have been brought to
the conclusion that an open, free competition is
the essential condition in the reform of the civil
service, and that such competition can be adj
vantageousy used for nearly all classes of the
municipal servants"
have made some inquiries as to the civil
service of Indiana, and find that the number of
persons in the State to whom the law would
properly be applicable is somewhere near 900.
The number of officers in the cities would proba-
bly, be nearly twice that The number of teach
ers in the State is 1892. TO portion of these
competitive examinations should be applied
The force of the State could probably be re-
duced 25 per cent after the improvements made
by this system have been introduced, at great
saving TO the tax payers.
Thus we have developed the subject of civil |
service reform both upon principle and by
reference to actual examples under conditions
similar to our own. Civil-service reform is past
its embryonic condition. 1t is only que n
of few years until it is introduced into
State and Territory. The times are now
for this reform. The thinking people of tax
Nation demand it. ] can other great meas
ures looming up in the more distant future
great problems IN regard to tho distribution of
wealth-the land question the labor question
For some of these the world is not yet ready
They must be wrought out in public thought
before they can receive definite form in egisla-
ton, but this matter has already been deve- |
oped in a practical shape. 1t is not question |
of the future, but of the present l do not
know what may be the fate of the present bill in
this General Assembly, but know that SINH |
lar measure WILL before many years, be passed |
by the Legislature of this State. as surely as |
there is law of development and growth in |
human society.