New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-11-14
Engineer Asserts He Lost
Place Because lie Con-
demned Bad Blocks.
DUMBBELL TEST
IN CIVIL SERVICE
Two Witnesses Testify to AL
legged Illegal Appointing emf in
Brooklyn Park Place.

John j. Kletchka, formerlY an as
sistant engineer in the employ of the
city, asserted yesterday at the
hearing before the State Civil Service
Commission, which is Investigating
the local board, that he had been
dropped from the Highways Blu
reau three months after he had con
demned 10000 granite pavitg blocks
offered by William J. Fitzgerald, a con
tractor Kletchka VS. dropped, he
said, despite the fact that he had been
twenty years in the service OF the city
lie said there were three exempt engi-
neers holding places in tn, Depart
ment of Public Works who had been
but short time in the service.
Kletchka testified that o remon-
STRANGE had been made to hin by Fitz-
gerald, the contractor, but so ID he had
insisted upon condemning tie paving
blocks because they did not comply
with the specifications. Thee Fitzger
aid threatened him, he ALE ged. He
was later taken i'll and was away from
work for a week. When he returned
to the Job he was met by fitzgerald,
who. according to the witness, said to
him: "Are you here yet? Deputy
Commissioner Patterson doesn't know
about IT,"
After he was dropped. on the ground
that there was not sufiicien. work in
the department, Kletchka vent on a
preferred list for reappointn ent in the
Borough of Manhattan. He lost his
standing on this list by be ng subse-
quently assigned to temporary employ
ment in The Bronx, he testified.
Frederic Coudert, counsel for the
Municipal Commission, remarked that
il had not been shown thai Kletchka
had lost his position because of his
action in condemning tie paving
blocks.
DR.. Henry b. De Forrest, medical
examiner for the Municipal Commits.
sion. defended the dumbbell test and
other forms of physical examination
used in examinations for allenists,
stenographers and clerical positions.
In connection with his testimony DR..
Henry Moskowitz, president OF the Mu-
nicipal Commission. was asked by Mr..
Moss to raise the forty-pound dumb
bell over his head. and easily complied.
Miles S. Nickery. thirty-seven years
old. of 522 West l58th ST., hunch-
back. was put on the stand, and testi-
fed that he had been a stenographor
for eighteen years. -Four years ago ne
passed an examination of the Municipal
Commission for the place of court
stenographer, but that list h sine
been eliminated. Three years ago he
passed both the physical anG practical
speed tests of the United States Civil
Service.
When he applied for examination tor
court stenographer before tie present
Municipal Commission three weeks ago
he was rejected, he asserted, because
he was unable to lift a dumDbell over
his head. Vickery a. feet inches IN
height and weigs only ninety pounds.
The State Commission neHt took up
the case of Ward Brennan, VINO, II was
alleged. was appointed Supervisor OF
Fairgrounds in Brooklyn under Park
Commissioner Raymond B. ingcrsoll
without any civil servic- examination.
He was named upon :he recommenda-
ton of Mr. Ingersoll.
Rudolph Friedman and Herman tels
testified that they had visited President
Moskowitz of the Municipal Commission
and laid before him information tending
to show that Brennan was not an expert
under the definition. He was retained,
nevertheless, until two weeks ago, when
the present inquiry was well der
way. Then the Municipal Civil Service
Commission rescinded its approval
hi appointment, but al the SAME meet
ing, it was said, cancelled the existing
eligible list over which Brennan had
been appointed and arranged for the
holding of a new examination III which
he will be permitted to participate.
President Moskowiti surprised the
State Commission by announcing that
applicants foc examination for various
positions who had been rejected be
cause of failure 10 pass the present
physical examinations have since the
institution of the present inquiry been
granted a e-examination-in most in
stances without any request on their
part.