New Britain herald., 1915-12-31
REPORT OF CIVIL SERVICE BOARD
Review of Years Work Submitted . to Governor HOlComb

1 The reV1ew or the year 8 WOrk IS Dy
 Crarles G. Morris. the president. He
 gives his attention to the remodeling
 of the law by the recent general as-
 semb1y. He points out that the
 changes brought about developed a
 new situation and threw the commis-
 sion into the "greatest confusion
 The years work in consequence of
 changes in the law, MT. Morris points
 out has been less and of a less in- ] teresting nature as compared with | what was done under the 1913 statute.
 Operating Under Two Years. l MT. Morris says in his review:
 During the past year the commits
 sion has been operating under two plans so widely different in theory
 and effect that it seems desirable to 1 outline their main differences. ''The Civil Service law of 1918 was l planned to include as large 8 portion as possible of the subordinating em- 1 ployes of the state under the merit 1 system. Officers directly charged l with the duty of establishing the poli- cy of the state or of any of its de- partments or nstitutions-whether elected by popular vote or appointed by a higher authority-were spec1- fically unclassified and so not subject to competitive tests. Their higher subordinates who might in some cases be so charged with individual initia- tive and responsibility as to be really policy-making officers might also be exempted from test by the Civil Ser vice commission. The commission was required to make public inquiry into the facts concerning their duties, and if they appeared to be policy-making officers, or if exemption would tend to the selection of more fit employees than could be obtained by any form of competitive test, it ; might be granted.
 'In February, 1915, the legislature passed an amendment to the Civil Ser vice law of 1913 which went into eff feet on March 1, 1915.
 To Facilitate Exemption.
 '"The statute of 1915 was, appar- ently, planned to facilitate exemption from test in any instance where the head of a department or institution might desire exemption. No burden of inquiry was placed upon him to ascertain whether or not this commits sion could assist him.
 "Immediately after the statute of 1915 was passed the comptroller and secretary took advantage of the au- thority which it gives to elective off, cers, and declared their departments outside of the competitive service. Later, the employees of the state hos pitals at Middletown and Norwich, the state library, the boys school at Meri- den, and the reformatory at Cheshire, as we'll as the state treasurer, were removed from competitive service, through one or another of the several open doors left conveniently to hand.
 Greatest Confusion.
 "One result of this new situation was to throw the work of the con;- mission into the greatest confusion. For instance, when advertising to ob- tain candidates for an eligible list, it was impossible to assure them that there was any certainty that the po- sition would be filled from the eligi- ble list, after they had been to the trouble and expense of attending test. Even after a group of desir able candidates had proved, so far as they were able, their relative fit ness for the employment, the success full candidate might be chosen from outside the group upon the whim of the appointing officer, regardless of merit.
 "In addition there were many ob- scure places in the amended statute which were far from easy to construe and which have required consider able discussion before any interpre- tation was possible.
 AS the result of these two main factors, with others less conspicuous the work of the commission has been vexing rather than arduous, and far less constructive work has been ac- complished than was possible under the former statute.
 During the portion of the year 1 when we were operating under the l statute of 1913, twenty-four competi- l tive tests were held; 534 candidates | appeared; 390 eligibles were obtained | for the competitive service; and 231 l candidates were tested non-competi- 1 lively.
 During the latter period, and while | to the 1913 statute were under consideration, practically no new work was done.
 During the portion of the year we 1 were operating under the statute of 1915, 10 competitive tests were held; 166 candidates appeared; 119 eligibles were obtained for the competitive ser vice and 136 candidates were tested non comparatively.
 Most Conspicuous Position.
 "The most conspicuous position for which a competitive test was held 1 during the year was that of the en- gineer of the Public utilities commis- sion held on June 23. This is posi- tion which pays $4,000 a year and requires not only engineering ability, but high degree of versatility The subjects of this test were Engineer ing experience ability and reputa-