Evening star., 1914-10-08

sion is here to see that that intent
Is carried out. Let US therefore nave
full cooperation between the appoint
ing officers and the commission.
The civil service commission, eaL1
Mr.. Galloway, will assume its fun
share of responsibility for the person,
mel of the service. but 1 want to call
your attention to the fact that the ap-
pointing officer is also responsible in
no small degree for the kind of en-
ployes he selects and the kind he keeps
in the service. In the first place. ne
should encourage those who he thinks
would be good public servants to take
the examinations. Next, when he mas
vacancy to fill he is given the papers
of the three persons who have salts
fed the civil service commission
through its tests, that they are the
three who are first entitled to be given
consideration for a trial in the posi-
ton. The civil service examination IS
not the final test. The appointing ofh-
Ger should make careful inquiry about
the three persons certified to him and
make up his mind as to which one of
the three probably will make the best
public servant.
This can be ascertained by a talk
with the men and by inquiries of their
employers and others competent to tes-
tify. The appointing officer should select
the one he believes. after such invests
cation, to be the most capable, but TINS
selection is not final for all time. 1t is
selection for a trial. Every person ap-
pointed under the civil service law must
first serve on probation. If the ap-
pointee fails to do good work it is the
duty of the appointing officer to drop
him from the service. If at any time
within the period of probation the pro-
bationer proves to be unsatisfactory in
conduct or capacity his trial should end
and another person, who, according to
the method prescribed by law is en-
titled to be given next trial, should be
put in his place.
Duty Not Then Ended.
Finally, after an employe has passed
his period of probation and has been
appointment the appointing officer still
has duty to perform in connection
with that employe, to see that he is
not kept in the service If he fails to
do his work properly. or if for any
other reason he is an UNIT man for the
service, equally as much as to see that
he is kept SO long as he is competent
and fit.
please do not misunderstood me. l
am not limiting that the postal service
is filled with incompetent men, or that
any great number of incompetent or
inefficient employees are retained who
ought to be dismissed. On the con-
trary. 1 think l am only voicing the
opinion of the public generally when
say that the postal service is a mar
velouSly efficient organization.
What 1 wish to emphasize is the fact
that the civil service law and the civil
service commission should not be
charged entirely with the responsibility
when incompetent men or inefficient
men are appointed and still less when
such men are retained in the service.
Il mentioned the desirability of CO.
operation. The commission wants to
help you to give the public the best
possible service. OF course, it is not
practicable for the commissioners to
get around and talk over these mat
ters with all the appointing officers, but
the commission has established offices
the country, in charge of
district secretaries" -
Discusses Political Activity.
Discussing political activity among