New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-10-17
DELAY FEATURES
CIVIL SERVICE
Secretary of State Com
mission Reports Munich
pal Body Encourages 1t.
FINDS PROVISIONAL
JOBS TOO PLENTIFUL
Probers Hear Geniuses Aren't
Taking Examinations Tor
Places To Be Filled.

John c. Birdseye. secretary oil tne
State Civil Service Commission, yestSr-
day was the most important witness III
the investigation of the muhicltai
commission. He testified that no en-
gible lists had been established ior
thirty-one groups Of civil service en-
ployes in which provisional appOln,-
ments had been made, many OF which
had far exceeded the statutory linita-
tons of two months. Thus exempt ap-
pointees have been permitted 10 Oh,
tain an experience rating not intenueu
under the law, which would prefer
them over other candidates.
From the records of the munlclpal
commission Mr.. Birdseye said 1t .Ap-
pears that 26l provisional appoint
ments were made in forty-one groups
up to October /. 1914. 1--WE find lhat
such provisional appointments at the
present time average 81 days nc
added. at is reported by the munich
pal commission. under date OF sep
TENDER IS. that no lists have been es-
tablishcd for thir;y-one Of the groups
for which provisional appointments
have been made"
The secretary explained that an OK
animation showed that about five
months was required for the present
commission to prepare for competitive
examinations. In the certificatlon oil
provisional appointees the following
special certificate is attached to pay
rolls:
/ hereby certify that this payroll has been
examined. and in 50 far as II applies 70
- for services rendered as
from ------ to ---- Is for a period Subse
Quent TO such time as the Municipal Ciyil
Service Commission could attach its regular
certificate. that under the Law and rules made
period mentioned could he made; that the
services Of the person named were imme
distely necessary. that al tho time these scr
vices were rendered no eligible list FOR the
position in question could he OF was cciti-
fed by the Municipal civil Service Commits
ton to the appointing office 10 MI such posi-
ton and pending the establishment Of an
eligible list for temporary or permanent ap-
pointment 'he payroll Of the person above
mentioned for services rendered is owing
10 tn" peculiar and unusual circumstances
certified 10y the Municipal civil Service Com
mission. upon the grounds that the decisions
~ tho courts require payment Of employees OF
The city who have performed work FOR II and
when no cCrtinCation Of an eligible list could
uc made TO fill the position
Nj NlClPAL CIVIL SERVICE CONMlS-
SION, bV ............-.. .-........,..
This certificate" said Mr.. Birdseye,
was adopted in order to permit the
payment OF persons who had been APP
pointed under the circumstances men
toned therein for services which they
had actually rendered to the city. II
v Guild seem that the adoption and use
of this special certificate encouraged
delay in holding examinations, espe-
cially in cases where provisional APP
pointments had been made.
particular attention is invited to
the examinations for Yiddish and ltal-
ian interpreter, which were ordered un-
der the previous commission on Octo-
Der %, 1918, but under date of Septem
Der II il was reported by the present
Municipal Commission that the exam
nations were not yet completed If
the lists have not yet been promulgated
eleven months have elapsed since the
examinations were ordered
Mr. Birdseye pointed to the provis-
iCnal appointment of W. A. Whiting
as superintendent of the Municipal
Lodging House at S2,400. This appoint
ment. he said. was good only for fifteen
days, On July %, the witness added,
the chief examiner of the Municipal
Civil Service Commission was ordered
TO hold a nOn-competitive examination
Of Whiting, but no such examination
had been held up TO September 10, al
though the appOintee was still drawing
his salary under a special certiiication.
Michael J. Cannon. junior clerk in
the Tenement House Department. testi-
fed that he had taken two examinations
for second grade clerk, and had been
twice rejected because Of a detormlty
which prevented him from lifting a
fcrty-pound dumbbell with both hands.
Frederick G.. Ireland, chief examiner
Of the Municipal Civil Service Commits
sion. denied that he had instructed DR..
Henry p de Forest and J. II. Taylor,
examiners in the finger print eNamina-
ton Of July, TO mark the papers on the
basis Of So per cent for education and
fifteen for experience. The witness
stated he would have allowed 50 per
cent for education and so for expert
ence. The witness admitted the cards
used in the examination were brought
from Washington by Mr.. Taylor. who
tutored Miss Sulender. the successful
candidate. Miss Sullender had worked
as private nurse for DR.. de Forest.
DR.. Henry Moskowitz, president of
the Municipal Civil Service Commits
sion, got into the proceedings by vol
uuteering the information that under
the new regime all candidates for
civil service-even alienists had to
conform to a certain standard Of phys
zeal fitness.
"Then I suppose that if genius,
with rheumatic legs twisted into the
shape of the figure 8. applied for eX-
animation he would not be acceptable
because of his inability TO lift q dumb
bell" qucried Mr.. Moss.
"Ah. but geniuses aren't taking civil
oor,fico " I)r MoekO-
Wits reply.