The Washington times., 1902-05-05
ANXIOUS to Have All Dis
trict Positions Put I'm
der Civil Service.
WOULD MEAN BETTER WORK
Major Sylvester Intinates That Presi-
dent Favors Such a Plan TO Govern
7 Municipal Appointments-Police Sys-
tenn Has Proven Simple and Effective.

fAmong the matters under consideration
by the Senate District Committee for the
well-being OF the municipal government
is proposition to place appointments
TO ONCE by the Commissioners under civil
service regulations. II is well known that
the Commissioners desire legislation
tolong this line, and that they have indi-
Gated as much to the committees in Con-
gress.
1 Moreover. the matter has been made
the subject of a communication by the
Commissioners to the Senate Committee.
and the local authorities hope the Con-
gress may act in accordance with their
wishes during the present session.
II Guarantees Better Service.
The impression ameng those best in
formed upon the subject is that an ar
rangement by which appointments should
be made from an eligible list of candi-
dates prepared by the Civil Service Com
mission would give relief to the Com
missioners and result in a much better
class of employees.
As matters now stand, great part CT
the time of the Commissioners is taken
UP talking with office-seekers. Fer every
Office In the gift of the board there is
usually more than hundred applicants.
These and their friends have to be seen.
and the stress of these interviews, the
majority OF which must end in nothing.
make serious inroads urcn the time OF
the Commissioners. There is no doubt
in the world that the municipal business
Is hindered perceptibly in this way.
While the Commissioners are agreed
upon the subject, it has long been mat
ter OF conviction in the mind of Commits
sicner Ross that Congress should take
action placing the municipal appointments
under the civil service.
influential Men May Aid.
Some moths ago Mr.. Ross stated In
public gathering that the time and atten-
tion which the several members OF the
board were Obliged to give to place hunt
ers had become a serious menace to their
usefulness as executive officers. In this
same address Mr.. Ross called upon all
influential men in the District who really
desired to aid the Commissioners. to exert
themselves 10 induce Congress to act and
give the relief desired.
The minds of the Commissioners have
been led to believe in the wisdom of such
q arrangement by the satisfactory work
ng OF the system already in operation in
appointing members of the police force.
Ien are selected for policemen under
.orm of civil service examination which
has had excellent results
Major Sylvester recently told a Times
reporter how the plan started and how it
had been gradually worked out to its
present efficiency. He said that the thing
had its inception in long conversation
he had with President Roosevelt when he
was a member Of the Civil Service Com
mission.
f, President Favo1s Plans.
Major Sylvester said that he met Mr..
Roosevelt one day in the Courthouse.
and that the latter began Immediately TO
talk about the benefits of the civil service
and the possibility Of adapting IT to mu-
nicipal appointments. Major Sylvester said
that the talk which lasted an hour made
such an impression On his mind that ne
determined to move in the matter.
A plan was evolved by which the appli-
CdutS lot appointments 10 LLe ponce force
were subjected to a careful physical ex-
animation by the Board of Police and
Fire Surgeons.
The next step was the preparation of 4
series Of questions which at first were put
TO the applicants by Major Sylvester him
self, or by some one directed to do the
work by him. These questions covered
writing the reading Of writing, spelling.
simple principles Of arithmetic and local
geography.
Questions About Washington.
Then followed special list Of questions
about the city Of Washington. especially
the location Of streets. Of public buildings,
and the larger pirate buildings Appli-
cants were also questioned at length upon
the manual and other matters pertaining
TO their duties as policemen. Those who
could pass this examination were placed
upon the eligible list, and from that list
the appointments were made as vacancies
occurred on the force.
Major Sylvester explained that while
this arrangement was a great advance
over the old methods IL was not wholly
satisfactory, and that after consultation
with the Civil Service Commissioners
about two years ago the examination OF
force was turned over to them
The system now in operation. Major
Sylvester said. is very simple and effect
Eve. He stated that the applicants as they
appear. either in person or through the
recommend dation Of CpnS-essmen and
others ere se~t -o De rgeons, where
fiEr as TO their
s.ars.la lccessful ones
hsE rgeons and re-
SORTED la-
rclz Hr are.
-. ...sn are unen instructed TO pre-
pare for the civil service examination,
which takes place once in about sixty
days or whenever there is a class Of ap-
plicants sufficiently large to warrant
81. Usually about SIXTY men are
examined at one time. They go to the
Civil Service building and take their ex-
uninatlons in the same manner as ap-
poiptees to the Government service.
Many fail to pass, hut the successful
ones those passing above 20 on basis
OF 100. arc certified 10 the District Com
.nissioneIs and placed on the eligible
list. from which appointments are now
inyariably made. Major Sylvester re-
serves the right TO make inquiry rela-
tive to the good character OF any OF the
eiigibles before recommending their ap-
polntment.
The Commissioners, having had experi-
once with this plan IN one important de-
partment OF the municipal service, are
s.rongly convinced that IL would work
well in all, and that II would practically
end the enormous and growing demands
upon their time by the place-hunters.
To Plead Cause of Beers.