New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-28
CIVIL SERVICE RERATING.

The Municipal Civil Service Commission took
decided step to improve the operation Of the
merit system when Friday last 1t unanl-
mously voted TO abolish reratings and the grant
ing Of special examinations. The commission
is entitled to credit for thus cutting on great
and growing abuse which was tending TO IN
dermine the integrity Of the merit system, and
for doing 1t in spite of the opposition OF TAM
many spoiIsmen. The new rules are now in
the hands Of the Mayor for his approval, and If
he is as anxious for an honest Civil Service ad-
ninistration as his commissioners, he will hardly
fail in giving them his support in this action.
i The original purpose Of rerating was TO remedy
any injustice due to error or mistake. Owing
10 loossness in the rule, appeals have been per-
mitted in so many cases and on such slight
grounds as seriously to impair the competitive
character Of examinations and open the door to
fraud Mr. Coler stated the other day that after
fourteen hundred patrolmen had been examined
for promotion 10 roundsman eleven hundred of
them appealed for reratings. Ninety per cent Of
the appeals considered are based not on as
sertion Of any Ea!pable error, but on the mere
general claim OF a candidate that he is marked
too low" OF course candidate who look
ing over his paper finds that definite error,
clerical OF otherwise, has been made is entitled
to correction, and ample provision for justice
to him is made in the new rules, but appeals
founded en- a mere difference of opinion be-
tween the candidate and the examiner which
have become common. should have no standing.
In the first place, such reratngs give the can
didste the unfair advantage OF an individual ex-
animation. The examiner with a bunch of
papers marks them all according TO a common
scale. He rates them comparatively, and there
can be no absolute standard of Judgment on the
merits of an examination paper. If subsequently
be goes over q single DaDer apart from tho rast
trying TO see If he can think a little better of
il. be can easily do so. and he could do the same
by others The result is that the appellants
are almost sure &c profit at the expense of those
who make no complaint. though these, too,
might get better mark by asking for 1t. Then
on an appeal the candidates identity becomes
known The original markings are impersonal.
when the examiner rerates a paper, face 10
face with the candidate, sympathy and good
ns sre are likely 10 have weight even when he
is honest and. besides, the door is opened 10
personal and political pressure which strongly
tenpts integrity. Moreover, the opportunity TO
gain advantage by appeals induces wholesale
recourse TO that method and overwhelms the
commission with frivolous applications for re-
rating as statistics Of the last few years clearly
show.
The present rules prohibit second or snec,al
examinations except when the responsibility
fer failure to appear or complete an exarniua-
uon lies with the commission. This ruIe how
ever, mas been held not &c apply TO preliminary
pnysicsi tests such as those for the fire and
police services. Thus new tests come n ha
sought for causes that might have been ovor
come ID advance. influence is exerted To sacura
4 favorable view Of minor defects. resulting IN
appointments Of men inferior to those whom 4ho
~aiS needs and BY ITS regular examination would