New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-20
THE NEWS OF BROOKLYN.
IMPORTANT PLACE TO BE FILLED.
NO APPOINTMENT OF PARK SUPERlNTEND-
ENT YET MADE-HOW CIVIL SER
VICE RULES WORK.

There Is a vacancy in an important ONCE IN one
OF the city departments and considerable doubt ex-
lists as TO when II will be filed The office is that OF
Superintendent in the Park Department, although
the last incumbent. John A Pettigrew. was officially
known as landscape architect Before he came into
the department. in February Of last year. the ONCE
Of Superintendent had been included in the COM
petitve list. and avoid complications and the ap-
po'ntment OF so important an official as tho result
of competitive examination. 1t was decided 10 Gre
ate Office. The Interpretation OF the civil Ser
vice provision of the Constitution had not then be-
come burning question. but If Mr.. Petlgrew had
not been lured away from Brooklyn by the park au-
thorities Of Boston he would doubtless now be one
OF the held up officials. who can get no salary
warrants from the Controllers Office pending the de-
cison of the Court of Appeals in the action brought
by the Civil Service reformers.
The principal reason why the vacant place Is not
filled is apparently because, under the rulings re-
Gently made by the courts Civil Service examina-
tion is a necessary prelimnary-or competitive
written examination according to the meaning gen.
orally attached TO the term employed.
the right sort and with the proper q%alcaens
be secured in that way. The combination of quail
ent or LANDSCAPE architect must possess the full
oil ms sup Inc esree d
and the best men are already filling Responsible
est themselves V to eompettiSe exSmnation and
the case of man already in office II is practically
uatOn by appearing as candidate for another one.
when the chances might be that he would not sue
coed in getting IL. AS official put it the other
day:
1T would be easy 10 get men we would not have
under any circumstances TO enter competitive ex.
animation. but men Of established reputation would
not think OF such a thing. and IL Is a man or this
sort that Is wanted believe In Civil Service prn-
ciples but there is great defect in the way they
carried 1t Is all right 10 select clerks ana
people Of that class by scholastic examinations but
IL is differen. thing when it comes TO places re-
curing special skill and training. In such case
the Civil Service Commissioners call In experts. ior
Il Is obvious that they themselves cannot have sum,
Client knowledge TO conduct examinations on all
varieties Of subjects. The experts prepare the ex-
animation papers and aferward mark them But
how does any determine that the experts are
competent TO do that work? They do not undergo
competitive examinations 10 prove their htness but
why shouldn't they? That is a weak point In the
system And another Is that experience. judgment:
the ability to get along we'll with employees and
things of that kind cannot be determined by any
questions on paper Nor Is II possible. In my 1udg
n1ent,. lay down hard and fast rules as to what
situations are confidential and what are nor. IN
cases 1t s obvious that a clerk or stenos i
nher has confidential nlace. In spite Of ts merits
there many things about our Civil Service meth
DDS that not satisfactory: 1850, ,
From present appearances 1T seems pronanls maj
Park Commissioner Dettmer may allow the once OF
Superintendent: 10 remain vacant. II ne Is unable 10
I'll II with the right kind OF man. At any rate, no
decision is at all likely TO he made until after the
Court Of Appeals Is heard frn. and the scope or the
Civil Service provision Is definitely settled