Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-11-01
New Appointment Plan for
District Engineering Service.
JUOSON CREATES A BOARD
Will Pass on Applicants for Ap-
pointments and Promotions.
POLITICS NEVER DOMINANT
Purpose, However, Is to Make Merit
System Even More Effective
Than in the Past.

Practically absolute assurance was
given today that the merit system alone
will obtain in the future in connection
with appointments and promotions in the
engineering department of the District
government when Engineer Commissioner
Judson announced the creation OF a BOARD
on predictions and appointments. Politi-
cal influence never has been a strongly
dominating factor in securing positions
under the local government nor in secur-
ing advancement for clerks or other om-
cials, but the creation Of this board, ac-
cording to Commissioner Judson, means
that the Commissioners will now have
the machinery for the regular develop
ment of the merit system.
The two assistants to the Engineer
Commissioner, Capt. Z. NJ. Markham and
Capt. Mark Brooke, and the chief clerk
of the engineer department, Daniel e.
Garges will constitute the newly created
board.
Instructions to Board.
The text of the instructions to the new
board. which explain practically all de-
tails of the system, are as follows:
"The duty Of this board shall be to
the persons most fit to fill. by promotion
or appointment, each vacancy that may
arise in the engineer department.
when a. vacancy occurs in any Office OF
department in the engineer department, II
shall be the duty Of the head of such ONCE
or department to make recommeneauo,n
to said board as to the filling OF said
vacancy by promotion or appointment.
and 1t shall be the duty of the board 20
forward such rec0nmendation TO tne
Engineer COMMISSIONER, with its approval
or disapproval, giving the reasons tnere'
for.
Before making such recommendation
the head of the Offlce or department con.
cerned shall examine, and give caieIul
consideration to all apphcations nIeo ~
the office OF the Commissioners during the
six months previous for employment OF
the nature required in the vacant posi-
ton and to communicate with OF "nen
practicable personally to interview Ine
-ter.nine. their relative fitness for appoint
ment to such vacancy.
Claims to Promotion.
I'm the case of PROMOTIONS in the serv-
ice the heads of offices or departments
shall consider not only the claims to pro-
motion Of employees Immediately in their
offices or departments. but Of all employees
under the jurisdiction of the Engineer
Commissioner.
In making recommendations for hiilne
positions relative merit and fitness alone
Shall be considered. but weight may DE
given to length and faithfulness Oh en-
nIoyment in the District service. The
hope of promotion. when deserved, tenos
to increase efficiency throughout the
service.
"It shall be the duty OF the board Oh
PROMOTIONS and appointments carefully to
consider all such recommendation ano
the reasons therefor. and in doing so II
shall have authority to call before II any
head of Office or department to give
| further information regarding such rec
concentrations. 1t will often be advis-
able for the board personally to inter
view candidates.
To Follow Recommendations.
"While no intricate procedure is i'm.
posed upon the board it is expected that
II will adopt such methods as will In
sure q fair consideration Of all applicants
and the selection for each vacancy OF
the person available who in the position
to be filled can render the most valuable
service to the District Of Columbia.
These instructions Will be carefully
observed by all heads Of offices and de-
partments under the supervision of the
Engineer Commissioner.
1T is the purpose Of the Engineer Com
missioner, in so far as discretion Is vest
ed in him by law. to follow the recon-
mendations of the board herein consti-
tuted."