Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-12-27
TO TIGHTEN RULES
Of CIVIL SERVICE
Commission Fayors More Strin-
gent Investigation of Appli-
cants' Characters.
ALSO PROPOSES PLAN TO
RETIRE AGED EMPL OYEES
Employment of Same Election
Officers from Year to Year
Is Also Recommended.


Especial to the Newark Star.1
TRENTON, Dec. 27.-The Civil Ser
vice Commission in its annual report
today directs the attention of Acting
Governor Taylor to the remarkable
progress which has been made in the
application of the civil service law to
the municipalities of the State by
popular vote. The whole tenor of the
report bears upon the advances of the
merit system of public appointment,
and qualification is felt by the COM
mission because the essential features
of the law have been upheld by the
highest court in the State.
Recommendation to strengthen the
system, however, are contained In the
report to the governor. The need of
more rigid investigation of the char
acter and record of applicants for
public employment; better method of
recording the efficiency of working
public employees and a plan for the
retirement of employees by reason of.
disability or old age are among the
suggestions offered in the report for
consideration by the Legislature.
Needs 5000 More.
The commission needs an additional
appropriation of $1,000 to carry on its
present work which is ever increas-
ing. IL the recommendations of the
commission are realized an additional
allowance of $1,000 will be necessary.
Other recommendations of the COM
mission are:
An amendment making the law APP
plieable to all appointments to posi-
tions in the competitive class date
from the time of the adoption of the
act by the municipality instead of
forty-five days afterward Make the
voting on the laws adoption similar
to that employed in voting for every
other subject of referendum. The abo-
lition of all fixed terms for positions
which would otherwise come under
civil service. Recognition of seniority
and efficiency in promotion or dis
nlssal cases for reasons of economy
when positions are to be abolished.
When examinations for positions of
a specially technical character are to
be held the commission desires to
have the power to open the examina-
tions to residents of any State in the
Union. The commission, however,
prefers to give consideration in the
matter of appointment i'm such cases
TO residents of the State. who may
succeed in passing the examination
over nonresident eligibles.
Another amendment to the law de-
the municipal clerk, after the presen-
tation of the properly signed petit
ton, for a referendum to make the
necessary advertisement in the news
papers, and for the county clerk to
properly print the referendum upon
the official ballots.
Continuous Election Oficers.
Speaking Of the workings of the Sc
lection of election officers under the
Geian election law, the report says:
TT would seem that If a method
could be devised by the addition of
some other form of employment, so
that election officers could be more
continuously employed, and the posi-
ton made more desirable, the situa-
tion might be greatly improved. So
far satisfactory<plan has not pre-
scented itself.
"The situation might, in particular,
be relieved by a provision which
should remove the restriction requir-
ing a residence In the district on the
part of the election officer. While
in many districts, there are no
eligibles. or insufficient eligibles to
provide for a full board, there are,
on the other hand many districts in
which considerably more than the
necessary number of eligibles for APP
passed the examination. tt appears
to the commission that in view of the
very stringent provisions of the law
relating to false registration the ac-
ouaintance of the election officer with
the particular district in which he Is
to serve which was doubtless the
basis for the restriction referred to, is
not necessary, and that all eligibles
in a given municipality might be GER
~ +. s..f
pality. This would undoubtedly
greatly relieve the present situation.
Further Improvement would un-
doubtedly be effected by a general
codification of all the election laws
In their present form there are num-
erous provisions in the old and new
laws in apparent conflict 1t is fire.
onently difficult to determine the
exact procedure contemplated by the
laws as they stand. Legal authori-
ties differ in their Interpretation of
many questions at issue and appeals
to the court are frequent 1T is not
surprising then that many should
hesitate to assume the responsibility
of serving as election officers or that
those who do serve occasionally err
In the performance of their duties.
at may be questioned whether
after all the present method OF APP
pointment of elections oifleerS de-
serves the criticism that IL has re-
eeived in some quarters and whether
1t is not the best that can be devised
under existing conditions. 1t should
be remembered, too, that there are in
all about 5000 such officers serving
in the State and that those whose
honesty or ability has been officially
questioned would probably represent
less than per cent of this number
and those proven guilty very much
smaller percentage. On the other
hand many judges and public Of
ficials have frequently taken occa-
sion since the new system was in
augurated to comment on the gen.
orally improved character of election
Officers Examination of the papers
of candidates has each successive
year disclosed an increase in intelli-
eence and general knowledge of the
law. demonstrating the educational
value of the examination. Compare
son with the results attained under
the old method of free appointment
should be made. and i'm so doing the
added responsibilities imposed by the
Geran law should be kept in mind.