New-York tribune., 1896-12-26
GREAT CHANGES NEEDED.
A CIVIL SERVICE SYSTEM WHICH WORKS
INJURY.
ELMER z. JOHNSON OUTLINES BILL TO BE
vlDING FOR SWEEPING ALTERATIONS
IN THE EXISTING SYSTEM.

number OF influential RepuoncanS,
in Civil Service Reform and desrous of seeing the
splrit OF Civil Service Reform more fully carried
out than it is at present in Brooklyn and New
York have urged Elmer L. Johnson. formerly as
sistant secretary of the Brooklyn CIVIL service
Commission to prepare bill for introduc''on a'
the coming session of the Legislature. rms ne Is
doing and because of Mr.. Johnsons famiiiafny
with the subject his ideas VIII DC rciu Win ~
usual attention.
N- Johnson was seen yesterday, and consented
n outline briefly the salient features of the Dill ne
is preparing saying that it would not be easy 10
crowd into a brief newspaper article al inc
features of the measure or all his reasons io' se'
:ing them forth
81 believe" said Mr. johnson. that the true
s,d correct principles OF Civil Service Reform
have come TO stay, but should have II IN It's
reality The classification of positions ana APP
nontments should not be made at the pieas"'e
and convenience Of the Democrats and n'isoaiieo
reformers, as at present, in the city OF b'ooAS"'
at least .,..
Il would recommend" said he that the entire
C;yu Service system of the State and cities be re-
orranized: that there be created n State boaru oi
Civil Service Examiners, TO CONSIST oi ''e' 20
acknowledged ability. men whose tiHc can oo
wholly devoted this work; and that eA""i'i'a-
,,ons be held throughout the State every three
-oor.bs such examinations TO be on cinerent suo-
tects. each TO represent two points INC o'a'o
poard Of Civil Service Examiners shouid Issue
Graded Civil Service certificates TO each success
fll applicant and these certihca'es shouio oe
recognized as proving that the person hui"eu
therein was competent to perform the work OF the
place corresponding In salary 10 the sTaoe oi '"e
certificate The appointing power In state county,
ci.v or town should have tho right TO appoint 10
any place any person who has a State civil Ser
vice certificate the place 10 correspond IN saiaty
TO the grade of the certificate. Removals shouiu
be made only upon charges and trials All cierica'
places excepting those known as conndental'
should he classified as follows: Grade A. $500 TO
500: b. 500 TO 1900: {. 1900 TO SlZ"' ~ "i'-'o 10
$500: Z. $3.50 to 5000; F, over s2o~
The examination for a Grade A certificate 10
rerresent 10 points and to be In penmanship. 2;
spelling. @ arithmetic. .; New-York State geog-
raphy 2; New-York State history. . Grade q, "a
points adding 10 the above United States geog-
raphy 2: United States history, = Grade e 10
points. adding TO the above composition. 2 Grade
n % noints adding TO the above civics. .: econom
les @ Grade F. "a points. adding 10 the above
advanced arithmetic .; general geography. =
Grade F. 80 points adding to the above algebra 2;
advanced English. .; general history. 2
There should Is questions in each subject.
10 10 be answered each correct answer TO receive
10 credits: required minimum. 10 per cent Tech
nical positions should include these, and in addition
an examination in - questions OF technical
and practical character. with the same scheme or
marking. Positions on the uniformed 'orces shouh
include In addition a Grade or c certificate a
rhyscal and athletic examination. Positions in the
trades to be of a practical character. should lie
conducted under the supervision OF the State En-
aminers. but by representatives OF the various
trade organizations. Rules and regulations are
matters Of detail only.
PECULIAR RESULT.
lone OF the peculiar results of our examinations
in general at present" continued Mr.. Johnson lis
that men who equal in every way 10 those who
htr ic
especially true in regard applicants for techni-
cal or mechanical positions.
The poor people, the clerks. mechanics men with
political influence. want the right as citizens 10
secure public positions without sacrihcing their
party affiliations and should demand system OF
examinations which would give them reasonable
opportunity 10 pass. and thus become eligible for
appointment AS now conducted. the majority or
examinations are generally not held for the pur-
pose of learning what man knows, but TO learn
what he does not know.
"Although we had in Brooklyn strong Civil
Service Commission from 1886 to 1899. an examins-
ton of the civil list in 1894 containing the names CT
ahout 400 city employees, failed disclose the
name Of a Republican In nearly every department
we had Civil Service reformers. From 1856 10 1873
81 is a question whether any city was more oad'y
governed The people were robbed Of millions OF
dollars the most barefaced frauds were committed
and no department more demoralized than
the Fire Department every member being civil
Service man. Then the department was disgrace
70 the city Now 1t is second to none In the cou l.
;ry Did the principles OF Civil Service or business
ideas bring about the change? 1t is a fact that
those who brought about the change never passed
q Civil Service examination. and 1t is doubtful
whether they could now conducted.
"Within the last three yeers the Police Commis-
s!oner OF Brooklyn has dismissed upon charges ana
after a public trial ninety-four patrolmen. every
man having passed most severe Civii service
examination.
THE greatest robberies we're in connection with
the contracts relating to steets. sewers and ser
voirs We had inspectors for each branch OF the
work and every man had been appointed as re-
suit of a Civil Service examination.
''It is well known in what condition the Depart
rnent OF City Works when Alfred 7. White
took control. 1t is a matter OF record that ap-
nyinc business principles and selecting for the i'm
nortant positions who had never passed a
Civil Service examination he left the department
IN a better condition than ever before.
"soon after Charles a. Schieren became Mayor OF
Brooklyn the new heads OF departments found 1t
absolutely necessary to remove a large number Of
ennloves. almost every man being a Civil Service
anpontee These men. regardless Of the fact that
they had passed Civil Service examination. were
found to be untrustworthy. incompetent and negli-
gent.
1T does not follow that. because department
is NOT under the rules and regulations OF the Civil
Service Commission. the work Of the office IS not
properly performed Although there is only one
rlerk in the Auditors office OF Brooklyn who has
passed Civil Service examination. the work OF
fhaf department has never been so thorough.
s0J'hc bills against the city OF Brooklyn were
never so closely scrutinized In the Controllers
office as at present. yet not man In that depart
nent Is under Civil Service. .
''The present Board OF Elections OF Brooklyn
anpontees of Charles A. Scheren. conducted the
late Presidential election for $1,000 less than Tho
election cost two years ago. There s not a man
in that department who has passed Civi Scr
vice examination. yet this department sayed the
people OF brooklyn nearly 100000 in one year"
PRESENT SYSTEM FARCE.
'.Mr. Johnson" said the reporter. "are you able
TO cite any particular examination which would
offer a fair illustration showing that the methods
OF the Brooklyn Civil Service Commissioners are
not laid down on common-sense nes?"
We'll" said the ex-secretary. smilingly per