The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-08-25
6@B vi @nOH6
Old Employees of State Institu-
lions Need Not Worry.
Will Not Have to Take Civil
Service Examinations.
AN END OF POLITICS.
Hereafter All Must Measure Up
to Standard.
superintendent Must Enforce
the Regulations.
AN END OF POLITICS.

State employees who obtained their
positions in the charitable institutions
of the state prior to March 8, 1905, and
who are giving satisfaction in their re-
spective positions, will not be required
to take the civil service examination
which is provided for under the law
passed by the last legislature. This an
nouncement, made today by E. B.
Schermerhorn. chairman of the state
board of control, will set at rest good
deal of speculation which had been cur
rent at the various charitable 1nstltu-
tions 1t has been rumored that all
those who now hold positions at the state
institutions would be required to quarry
under civil service rules.
within a few days." said Chairman
Schermerhorn, the board will begin the
preparation of the civil service rules
which will govern the charitable institu-
lions of the state. We have been walt
ing to hear from the superintendent of
the institutions, and get their views on
the subject. With so many different
institutions it will of course be neces-
sary to make our rules broad enough to
cover widely different conditions.
1T has been my experience that
large amount of book learning does not
necessarily qualify a person for job.
A man who has a lot of good, hard,
common sense can very often give bet
ter service than one who has more book
learning and less common sense. Con-
sequently, the book learning part of the
civil service test will not be all there is
to it.
"All of the old employees of the institu
tons will be allowed to retain their
present positions without examination,
provided they are giving satisfaction.
They will not be required to pass an ex-
animation. New applicants will be re-
Quired to take the examination, ana
also all employees who have been given
positions at the various institutions
since the civil service law went into eff
feet. We instructed the superintendent
some time ago to carry out the pro-
visions of the new law to the best of
tEeir ability, and they have been doing
so, but in order to comply with the law.
all employees who have received their
appointments since the law went into
effect will have to be again examined
The civil service law went into opera
ton on it's publication in the official
state paper on March 8, 1905. Employees
who commenced work since that time
will therefore have to prepare to prove
their qualifications under civil service
rules.
The now law provides that it is the
duty of the board of control to "formu-
late rules and regulations prescribing,
so far as can be done, the qualifica tons
necessary to secure employment in the
respective institutions, together with
provision for ascertaining whether or
not applicants for positions in such in
situations are qualified to fill the same,
with further provisions for the selection
of those most capable among such APP
plicants. After such rules and regula-
tons have been determined upon, they
shall thereafter be followed and obeyed
by the governing or appointing officers
OF each of said institutions"
The responsibility for the enforcement
.afxr
the superintendent of each institution.
All assistants and employees are appoint
ed by the chief executive officer of the
institution, and may be removed by the
same officer for cause. But in case an
empioye is removed, the officer must
file with the state board a written state
ment giving the cause for the removal
Political actions or political affilia-
tionS are not considered sufficient cause
for removal and the law says: IF any
superintendent or chief executive Off
Ger of any institution shall remove any
person for political reasons, then said
superintendent or chief executive officer
shall forfeit his Office and be subject to
removal by the power appointing him. -
The members of the board of control
assert that the board will adopt the
same attitude toward the superintend-
ents that the superintendent are re-
quired to adopt toward their subordin-
ateS They will not remove any of the
superintendent except for cause. So
far they have made only one change in
the old list of superintendent, and this
change was for cause. The board seems
to be inclined to stand by Superintend-
ent Charles until the evidence is pro-
duced to prove him guilty on some of
the counts against him.
Superintendent and all others might
as well understand this" said one of
the members of the board. I'VE are not
going to require that formal written
charges be filed against any superin-
tendent in order to start an investiga-
ton. The board will reserve the right
to investigate any report that comes to
its attention. We will try to get at the
real condition of every institution in
the state"
This is a complete reversal of the de-
termination of the board as first an
nounced by one Of the members, in the
case of superintendent Charles. When
DR.. Eva Harding made her verbal COM
plant against Charles, she was inform
ed that the complaint must be out in
writing, and when she had done this
there was still some objections because
the charges were not sworn to. 1t seems
that the board has decided not to he
so rigorous in the future, and will in
vestigate anything that seems to need
investigation, whether the charges are
formal or informal.