Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1915-03-03
Supervision OF
NATIONAL ROADS
INSPECTORS WIN 30 Required to
Know Their Subject.
/ CONCERTED MOVEMENT.

UUNuEnlIU mUvEmINls
!, Active Campaign Will Probably De
w.asd In Every State For the Elimi-
nation Of the SpoiIs System and the
substitution Of the Merit System In
lts Place.
concerted movement for skilled
supervision Of road work throughout
me United States has been launched
nv the American Highway association
md the National Civil Service Reform
league. These two great organizations
co-operated in the holding Of session
A. the recent American road congress
IN Atlanta devoted to a consideration
A. the merit system In road manage
meut The United States civil service
commission was represented by Chief
Examiner George R. Wales, who point
ID out the manifest advantages Of
competitive qualification tests as
requisite for appointment to Office. To
combat the rather general impression
that competitive examinations In all
cases mean the answering Of stereo-
typed technical questions Mr.. Wales
said:
"For these high grade positions,
where men Of experience and attain
ments are needed. an examination Is
dven which does not require the COM
petitors to assemble ut amy place or TO
answer technical questions. They are
called upon to furnish under oath a
detailed statement OF their education
and experience, including nil the work
they have done since graduation They
may also be asked to submit an orig
nal thesis or report or published works.
end they are required TO give the
names OF persons able and competent
to testify as to their experience and
personal fitness. Confidential inquiry
Is made by the commission from vari-
GUS sources as well as Of all persons
referred to by the applicant. Crafty
ingly accurate and discriminating testi
mony is obtained by this means OF con-
fldential communication. Such test-
mony approximates. IL not equals, the
testimony adduced upon cross examina-
ton In judicial proceedings
"a demonstration Of the ability Of
the competitive system to obtain high
class men for technical positions has
been made within the past year. in con-
nection with the employment Of men
to appraisc the value OF the property
OF common carriers In the United
States. For this work the interstate
commerce commission required men
with qualifications ranging all the way
from rodman and cbsinman to senior
positions In civil. mechanical. struc-
tnraL electrical aud architectural en-
cheering. as we'll rs motive power
men and expert accountants. There
have been approximately $4,000 ap-
plleants for these positions. and the
task Of sitting the wheat from the
chat and Of grading the wheat after
the sitting was one OF considerable
magnitude. but II was done. and 1t
was done so well that the |. Z. G.
expressed Its qualification TO find that
It could secure force SO well equipped
to perform The gigantic task Of obtain
Ing an accurate appraisal OF the value
Of common carrier property. A system
which can successfully secure COM
petent force OF high grade engineers
Tor this valuation work could surely
provide the proper kind OF men to
have charge Of the construction and
maintenance Of public highways"
1t Is expected that steps viii be
taken to wage an active campaign In
every state for the elimination OF the
spells system and to substitute for 1t
the merit system.
Cement Roads.