Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-11-11
H|GHSTANDARDKEPT
Policy in Appointments to Dis
trict Engineers.
MEN HERE CALLED AWAY
O. B. Magruder Promoted to Vacancy
Caused by L. D. Shoots
Resignation.

In appointing -. b. Magru0er OF the
engineer department of the District to the
position of assistant engineer, in the place
of l.. d. Smoot resigned, Engineer Com
missioner Judson today announced the
policy that is to be followed in the filling
of vacancies that occur from time to time
within the department.
Men only whose character. preliminary
education and general merit indicate that
with experience they may become fit ma
terial for the head of division will be
appointed. Maj. Judson stated.
The Engineer Commissioner is confront
ed with the task of making a large num-
Der of appointments in the department, as
the result of the designations of four Off
Gals who have accepted positions with
the city of Jacksonville, Fla. Seven pro-
motions were announced today, the va
cane les being caused by the resignation of
Mr. Smoot The officials who will fill the
vacancies caused by the designations OF
the other three members of the depart
ment will be announced later.
Promotions Announced.
All Of the promotions announced today
carry with them increased compensation
In addition to the promotion of Mr. Ma
gruder. whose salary is advanced from
LEGO to $l.s00 per annum, the other pro-
motions include:
q. V. Rector. assistant engineer. at
81, so, advanced to $l,60o, vice MaSruder.
S. J. Gass. assistant engineer, at $l.35u
| advanced to S1.oG0, vice Rector.
A. S. Fernald. transitman, at Sl,oGO
advanced to assistant engineer, at $780,
vice Gass.
G. l.. Quinn, transitman, at S1.O5O ad-
vanced to tranSmitman, at S1,.U, vice
Fernald.
c. E. Wager, rodman. at $500, adj
vanced to transitman. at SlHoo vice
w. r. Johnson. transitman. at So a
day, advanced to rodman, at $3.50, vice
Wager.
The other three local officials, who have
accepted positions at Jacksonville. and
whose designations will lead to a large
number of appointments being made in
the department. are J. +. Ballingsr of the
surveyors office and j. y. Whelpiey and
Rankin y. Middleton of the sewer divi-
sion.
Capt. T.. NJ. Markham, assistant to the
Engineer Commissioner, has been retain
ed by the southern city as consulting en-
gineer. but this will necessitate his MAX
ing only occasional visits to Jackson
Vile
High Standard Maintained.
Commissioner Judson today, i'm speaking
OF the effect that the recent resigna-
tons have had on the department, gave
out the following statement:
Il am asked whether it is not detri-
mental to the interests of the District of
Columbia that so frequently employees are
taken from our organization to enter 9TH
er employment. generally that of other
| cities. at increased compensation.
I'm reply I would say that this works
both ways.
Very recently we have lost three or
four of the best employees of our engineer
department. who have accepted employ
ment with the city of Jacksonville, Fla,
to assist them there in the proper eXpen-
diture of several millions of dollars which
has recently been raised by a bond issue
for the execution of important engineering
works.
"Our bridge enoineer recently was en-
ployed in New York at three times the
salary he receives here. Our sewer engi-
netr, few years "a o. went To havana
with his raw increa ed several fold our
plumbing inspector was taken to the Phil
ippines to install the sewer system in Ma
| Mia, and not very long ago one of the
employees of our surface division went to
Detroit at largely increased pay. TO
operate there the municipal asphalt plant
with which all their asphalt work is done.
Naturally those WAC are attracted
elsewhere leave vacancies which cannot
be Immediately filled to the greatest ad-
vantage. We are thus somewhat set back
! when such vacancies occur.
Advantage to the Service.
Nevertheless the fact that We have
| such an organization in Washington and
such men in that organization as appeal
to other cities when. in emergencies, they
desire to improve their standards of efii-
cheney in public works makes our service
very much more desirable, through the
hope it extends to each and every one Of
| a broad recognition of merit, and We can
therefore the more readily secure men OF
the highest type and more easily keep our
| organization on the highest possible plane
1T Is my policy, in connection with the
filling of original vacancies within the
! engineer department. TO take men only