The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-10-22

pie then voted upon the ratification OF
the act of the freeholders. It
failed however to carry and the civil
service section went with the remainder
of the sections. This civil service sec
ton interested me greatly and though
it contains some features which would
not care to embody, still there are some
very admirable things about 1t which
I viii probably incorporate in the Or
dinance which I am getting up.
Points to Fire Department.
ST don't want it to be construed as if
/ were trying to work against the head
of the various city departments and try
ing to limit and handicap their power and
authority. There is nothing in 1t of that
kind at all We have tried to embOdy q.
species of civil service in our fire depart
ment and today it more nearly resembles
a thing of that kind and is further re-
moved from politics than any other de-
partment. AS the result of this we have
a thoroughly trained and experienced man
at the head and this adds greatly to it's
efficiency. This is where the city loses;
every time change IS made IN the heads
Of departments and the employees. the city
bears a loss from ine1perience, from in
4 don't know as I would include the
heads of departments in the civil service,
that probably should be left open as ap-
p0intive. The employees which are below
them, however. should be under civil ser
vice regulation. Even where the head OF
a department is appointed, if the force
which is employed in the department are
under civil service they have become so
trained and acquainted with their duties
that the work OF the department IS car
ried On with scarcely a perceptible hitch
and the head of the department soon
falls into the routine and is initiated into
the duties. Under the present scheme.
however. where sbeth head and office help
are subject to political caprice, there ex-
lists none of these advantages
INCENTIVE to Employees.
''Then, too, there should be some incen-
tive held out to the city employees to pre-
pare themselves for advancement in the
line of their employnents By offering this
incentive the city improves the personnel
of its employers It really holds out some
thing worth while.
The board OF comn1issi Oners would
have the sole power to fix the rules and
regulations governing the civil service
examinations. They would prepare the
examination sheets and the list of ques-
tions Political or religious affiliations or
leaningS would of course not enter in
the slightest in any form in the sheets
The city council would have the final rat
ifications of these acts of the board OF
commissioners Just as they do in the acts
and decisions of the board of WaterWOrks
commissioners. The board itself it must
be understood, must be selected for their
fitness and ability and their continuance
IN oiflce could be nXed great deal like
we have arranged Tor the WaterWorkS
board; that is, a majority of the members
Of the board are always men who have al
ready served one year and are not new
to their duties.
This civil service ruling would take in
the 1aborers in the various city depart
ments as well. Age, previous experience,
physical condition, aptitude for the work
under question and residence in the city
would determine their rating and fitness
for service. A list of eligibles would be
continually kept on file and when any va
cancy occurred in the department all that
would be necessary to fill those positions
would be a reference to that list. Prior
ity in standing on that list should weigh
IN determining the selection.
Il certainly believe that we will have
to come to this. It is the only thing which
will insure efficient service