New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-03-03
BLACK LAW CONDEMNED
OPERATION OF THE "sTARCHLEss' c1v,,
SERVICE ACT.
'TrTNEssv EXAMINATIONS CAUSE HARDSHIP 49,
ARE FAILING INTO DIsUsE-"NERrr,
TESTS SATISFACTORY

TESTS sATISFACTORY.
Albany. March 2-Thc state Civil Service CO.,
mission in It's report TO Governor Roosevelt u.
the year 1898 says:
Their. seems to be an opiron quite prevalent th.,
passage OF the act OF 1881 mas been lowered s as
that the tests for merit are only - per cent -
great as before the passage OF ne act There has
been no lowering Of the standard on the contra,v'
In er gigdy nforaed tsn now bur ssyese a
a view TO their practicability
The requirements Of the Civil Service Ian
enacted by the Legislature OF lM have in h.
stances wrought severe hardships. IN that ,hs~
have subjected those entering tae competitive ex
aminations for fitness by heads u departments to
money In coming to and returning from the can
tai. Much OF mis- might be avoided were II prsc.
ticsbe 70 hold the merit and fitness examlna;ion,
at the same time and place
At the Date OF the last report by the commissIo,
OF May IS. 1881, had thea been in operation ;cs
brief period to enable a definite decision as IA
its results II Is now conceded by all that the e.
pertinent or duplex examinations provided FOR n
that iaw has not been generally satisfactory. To-
theory OF that law is that a greater Latitude Of a.
lection should De granted 70 appointing oficea
but practically its provisions, I carried out scrupc
lousy and impersonally.. confne the Appointing,
TO person, instead Of giving the liberty u ~
lection from three persons, as under The preylcu,
is no Discretionary power 10 be feared. IVY
The division OF the examinations 80 as 70 give a.
pointing officers the exclusive ascertainment OF oos
half the clements in making up the relative stand
tie Its ctimbrous methods have deferred hos. ~
the merit list from attending the subsequent ansss
examinations. and 80 have destroyed that fair AM
equitable competition contemplated by the eyamtna
ron Withont any further expression resarann a.
experiment that has not been useless In It's demon.
STATIONS the Commissioners believe hat better "a
suits in all respects are attainable By giving then
sole Jurisdiction OF al! examinations and conegrlrs
on appointing officers the right 10 select from ,hs
highest three names on he proper eligible list Viz
subsequent prooAiohdry IRA! Oh the selected pe'
During the year 1854 separate examinations has.
in Class IT, the competitive merit class is 30-2 III.
number in Class III. the non-competitiye c.ass
The transfers By the Commission during the va,
OF places in Class III TO places in Class II haY,
in all resulted satisfactorily. That the mer,
ments OF the heads OF departments is shown IN h
fact that the tendency OF the heads OF departments
appointing officers to select those standing he
head OF the merit lists has greatly increased and
indicates that the merit examinations OF the Com
mission are becoming better and better adapted 70
the requirements Of the service. thus rendering any
further examination unnecessary.
The duties OF the Civil Service Commission s.
mand additional labor and responsibilities from yar
fIly operative there were o appointments r1as
from the eligible lists In 1886 there were $50 psr.
1oin, menis made from the resulting eligible ,s,s
In 1891 1857 persons were examined In the compel.
tive merit classes and In 1898 BOZ
From careful Inquiries made We are Jed TO believe
ments and State Institutions was never 50 hlsh or
in every way so satisfactory as now. II ncompe-
tent or unworthy persons are employed by tne
heads OF departments the fault does not rest with
this Board but with the heads OF departments
themselves as they have the remedies in their Own
hands
The Commission has approved local resuatlz,
for nearly every city In the state. Commgn icaters
stating that the required regulations would be ~
pared and Forwarded 70 the Commission for az
proval were received from the cities OF Album.
Little Falls. Niagara Falls. Ogiensburg Clean AM
Oswego but no regulations have been receiys.
Regulations for the cities of Corning and WateVtoxr
were received and returned with suggested amend.
ments but were not returned to the Commissoc
No response has been had from M.ddletown.