New-York tribune., 1909-07-11
PRACTICAL CIVIL SERVICE TESTS.

The old joke about examining candidates for
Civil Service clerkships On tine genealogy Of the
Roman Emperors will probably never entirely
disappear from the mouths Of spoisrnen. How
ever, the letter Of Highway Commissioner
Hooker 10 the State Civil Service Commission.
which we published the other day, shows
clearly that that sort of gbe has no applica-
ton TO the progressive methods prevailing in
this state for the selection Of public employees.
When the new highway system was established
the Civil Service Commission rudely interfered
with the plans Of the several boards Of super
visors 70 distribute patronage amounting 70
$4,000 year IN the appointment OF county
euperintendents. This was hard blow TO rural
politicians. II also awakened doubts On the
part Of persons sincerely interested in good
roads for fear young graduates of engineering
schools would answer academic questions and
bowl out men of practical experience. Chair
man Hooker confesses that be was inclined TO
that view. He writes:
had at first some hesitation about indorsng
the view taken by your commission that this
was properly Civil Service position AS
member Of the legislative committee which
drafted the highway law. or purpose was 70 OBJ
tain road builders rather than theoretical men
and confess TO having had some apprehension
20 whether the men we desired to have in
these positions would be the men who attained
the highest places upon your lists.
Now, however after the examinations and
after appointments have been made in nearly
every county. Mr.. Hooker pays the highest
tribute TO the success OF the competition, be-
cause the superintendeuTs not only show the
required knowledge but also the hard common
sense and good judgment" which competitive
examinations are generally thought incapable of
testing He has come cordially to inderse the
position taken by the Civil Service Commission,
and says
carefully studied the questions which you
submitted. and feel that you should be con-
graduated upon them also. None OF them was
out the good sense OF the applicant The
animation in It's result has done much to remove
from my mind the fear OF competitive eXaulina-
ton when given by IS intelligent q commission
as yeurs
The notion that competitive examinations
&C mot be made TO test fitness for places requir-
ing judgment and ability as well as routine pre-
1ciency has no longer-if, indeed, it ever had
any foundation in fact The experience of Mr..
Hooker is that Of many other officials, who find
on actual trial Of the merit system that it is
most efficient instrument for furnishing to them
better men than they could find for themselves
In this state examinations are not academic or
even directed merely TO technical proficiency
but are made tests Of real ability, common
sense, practical experience and, even where it
is an important element, personal character and
qualities. An all around view OF the require
ments Of a situation is taken and so far as
possible IN the application Of any general sys-
TEN under law. tests are directed to ascertain
the same elements Of particular fitness for any
work which an intelligent private employer