The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-12-31
WAR ON OLD MEN
City Civil Service Commissioner
Doubts Their Abilities.
G. E. Barnaby Will Change City
Employment Customs.
MUST HAVE SIREN 9Th.
No More Political ssPulls'' Will
Get a Man Position.
Only One Of Sixty Applicants
Fails to Pass.
HAVE STRENGTH.

War has been declared on the aged
men in the employ of the city, by G. E.
Barnaby, secretary of the Topeka civil
service commission. Claiming it is time
that such labor on the part Of the city
should be abolished and that unless a
man is physically able to perform all
the duties of the office, he will not be
passed by the commission, Mr.. Barnaby
has made New Years resolutions for
1911.
At this time there are in the employ
of the city government many old men
men who have been given their offices
both on account of efficiency and on
account of the sentiment and laws re-
garding the positions given to old sol
diers. If the determination of Secre-
tary Barnaby of the civil service COM
mission holds out. there will be very
few places for the old soldiers next year
under new administration.
Mr.. Barnaby has just completed the
annual report of the civil service COM
mission to the mayor and commission
erS.
II have tried to carry out the duties
of the offices to such an extent that To-
peka will have payroll of strong COM
petent employees" said Mr.. Barnaby,
land in the future I will say that the
ever.
II have every reverence for an old
mani am getting along in years my
self. I will never antagonize an old
man, if 1t is possible to help it. But
as civil service commissioner of the
city of Topeka I am doing my best to
give the city the best class of labor
possible-no more political labor.
Next year all of the clerks and city
officials with the exception of the cleo
will come under the civil service ex-
animation. This means that a man
must be sound in every Way-especial-
ly physically. 1 don't see how we are
going to allow SO many old men In the
employ of the city as formerly and We
will carry out the laws
The fact that practically every la
borer and clerk in the city's employ
must take the civil service examination
before they are given position next
year has aroused the employees
at the city hall. At the next meeting
of the civil service commission the APP
plications for positions will be filed by
the score.
Here is the law on the subject:
THE provisions of this section shall
apply to all appointive officers and en-
ployees of said city, except city at
torney, the members of the fire de-
partment where they have already
adopted the civil service plan, city
clerk, city treasurer, city auditor, city
engineer, superintendent of streets,
superintendent of waterworks, chief OF
police, city physician, judge of police
court, superintendent of public parks,
city assessor, commissioners of any
kind Oaborers whose occupation re-
ouires no special skill or fitness), cleo
ton officials, and mayors secretary
and assistant attorney. where such Of
ficers are appointed
Since last April the civil service
commission has examined 60 appli-
cants for city positions and only one
was rejected. The positions asked for
were as follows For police. "a; for
sanitary work. 9; for engineers Office,
8; miscellaneous, 8.
The commissioners have recon-
mended that there be six meetings a
year instead of four and that the city
physician be paid a fee of $50.