New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-11-23
THE MAKING OF FIREMEN.

1t Is not often that we agree with the presl-
dent Of the Municipal Civil Service Commission
on public questions. but his opinion OF the eA-
animation paper prepared to test the mental fit
ness of men who want to be firemen is sound,
and the commission has done well to cancer
that paper While the physical and moral qual-
tiles on which the efficiency of a fireman direct
" depends should be the chief concern of the
examiners. something more is unquestionably
desirable as we'll as legally necessary; but the
trial of an applicants mental qualifications
ought invariably to be conducted with mtelll-
gence and judgment. We believe that MI. Coier
is safe IN saying that not even an aDle lawyer
could fairly get a mark Of 100 per cent on the
iremens examination paper now withdrawn
without consulting q law library. To one of the
questions objection cannot reasonably be made.
Most of the candidates have voted on consutu-
tionaI amendments and ought TO know that
proposed change in the organic law has to be
submitted TO popular vote. Perhaps also II 10
not too much to demand that prospective fire
man should know that it belongs 10 The Court
of Appeals TO determine finally whether or not
g law is constitutional and what is meant by the
veto power of the Governor; but it would be
astonishing if he were able to tell what, II any,
restrictions the Mayor is subject to in appoint
ing heads Of departments and whether or not
the Governor has any authority in respect to
such appointments.
The foregoing questions. however, are plain
and easy in comparison with this requirement:
Explain briefly the different duties of the
executive legislative and judicial powers Of
1.-THE city of New-York" What an absurdity!
We doubt if the Mayor himself has yet fully
ascertained the extent Of all his different duties,
and II is certain that there is still much discus
sion to the scope and limitations Of alder
manic authority, while the powers Of the judici-
Il
have 10 make a labOrious study Of the charter
in order TO avoid the risk of serious mistakes in
attempting TO satisfy that demand. If it is said
that only general and imperfect knowledge of
the subject was required, then the test was OBJ
viously Ill adapted 10 the purpose, being sure,
for one thing, to confuse and mislead the candi-
date
1t is a great fault of such examinations as this
that they strengthen the otherwise untenable
position OF those who contend that the regula-
tons governing appointments to the Civil Ser
vice are foolish and harmful. Most OF the OPP
ponents Of the law object 1t in the interest Of
machine politics, but they know enough to make
use Of the advantage which every injudicious
application Of it gives them. President Coler
said yesterday:
It has not been the custom of the previous
commission to see or to any extent to interfere
with the preparations of question PAPERS but
this commission thinks differently about the
matter. We intend to exert our best endeaVors
to place all examinations a common sense
basis.
Mr. Coler's announcement may possibly be
suspected Of concealing purpose hostile to the
spirit of the law, though we see no need of as
Stunning that il does, and the commission might
easily carry an honest intention too far; but the
discarded test for fremen was obviously
blunder. and If that Is a fair sample there is
need Of revising the whole scheme Of examina-
tons for mental fitness