The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1914-05-05
TO ENLARGE POWER
|0F OYERNOR IS PL AN
Efficiency Commission Says That Care
Must be Taken to Prevent Possible
Abuses Under New Management
TO CHOOSE DEPARTMENT. HEADS
To Aid Chief Executive in Carrying
On Administration, But Should Go
When Term Expires

r y
When Term Expires
st. Paul, May ESPECIAL to The
Pioneer. Civil service in Mime.
sofa, "glory De-" has never been sub.
ject to the sinful and scandalous
abuses which have prevailed in many
states. With very few exceptions
responsible heads have been well
chosen and the subordinates are hold
ing down their jobs as long as their
work gives satisfaction. That's the
rule. ..- '...'" ~. 5~=
Even so at time when it is pro-
posed to enlarge very much the gov
ernor's power over the state govern
ment, make him general manager in
fact where heretofore the laws have
told him to keep his hands off, it
seems highly desirable to prevent
the possibility of abuses. For that
reason the civil service methods pro
posed by the efficiency commission
seem to meet a universal demand in
the departments and among the pub
lie generally. With very few ex-
ceptions there is vigorous opinion
in favor of the merit system In
fact, the exceptions are only where
men believe the merit system can be
more effective without the mechanics
of the civil service commission.
Civil service nowadays means some
thing very different from what it did
twenty years ago. Tests are more
practical. Two kinds of tests are in
use. If there is position open for
clerk or stenographer,- for any
routine job, the appointment is made
from the head of the eligible list
based largely on. a written examina-
ton. Usually the man who makes
the appointment has his pick of
three. But when a position with
more responsibility, or with more
technical Knowledge, is to be filled,
there is usually a non-competitive ex-
animation. Suppose it happens to
be someone like the states4forester.
The head of the department. will re-
commend man for that place. The
candidate will be required to satisfy
the civil service commission that he
has the qualifications. That test can
be made either by examination, writ
ten or oral, or by presenting mis-
credentials, according to the nature
Of the case.
The idea is this-the heads of de-
partments, general managers under
the governor, should be chosen with
out any restrictions except that they
may be confirmed by the senate. 1t
should be understood that they are
helping the governor to carry on his
administration. And naturally they
would go out with the governor. The
heads of such departments as bank
ing, insurance, forestery, labor,
health, and the superintendent of
the institutions should be as far as
possible permanent. Those men
should hold their job as long as they
are doing good work. ave.
The head of the department can
pick man for these positions just as
we'll as any civil service board, but
to run these appointments past the
civil service board will protect the
department from political or personal
appointments in the positions which
require experts, and will tend to re-
tain useful men as long as they
should be kept. On the other hand
every superior officer should have q
rather free hand in the discharge OF
subordinates; otherwise, your depart.
ments become honeycombed with
men who feel perfectly secure be.
cause they can't be fired.
At present the governor is required
to make more than three hundred ap
pointments, not counting number
of examining boards and ornaments
positions. Under the proposed system
he would make fewer than fifty ap
pointments, Including advisor!
boards-hardly half a dozen in tn
executive positions.
| A Philadelphia bowler has invent
ed machine for weighing and find
ing the balance of bowling balls.
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