The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1915-01-04
skilled snDe,x ion.

|. n r. = concerted movement Tor skilled
SUD vision OF road work through
out the tinted States has beer,
sigi nched by the American fiifhway
Assocfati Ion and ! the fional Civil
SERVICES Reform League: These two
great examinations cooperat ted In. the
holding Of q session az the recetf
American Road Congress in Atlanta,
devoted to q cousi deratiofi Of the
merit system In road n mana sement.
The United states & fSil Service Con.
mission was represented by Chief
examiner George Il. Wales. who
pointed out the manifest advantages
Of competitive qualification tests al
9 requisite for appointment to Of
ice. no combat the rather general
Itmpre ssion that competitive exami4
nations In all cases mean the. an.
swering OF stereotyped technical
questions, Mr. Wales said.
For these high grade positions
where men OF experience and attain.
ments are needed, an examination Il
given which does not REQUIRE fine
comp etttors to emble at any place
or 70 answer technical questions.
They are called upon to furnish I'm.
der oath q detailed statement 81
their education and experience. In.
Guiding all the work they have. done
since gradual ton They may aIs0
abe asked TO submit IN original tie
sis or report or published works.
and they are required to give the
names OF persons able and CONNIE
tent to testify as to their experience
and personal fitness. ConfidenfiaI
inquiry is made by the Commission
from various sources as we'll as of
aii persons referred TO by the appli!
cant. Gratifyingly accurate and dis:
eliminating testimony Is obtained by
this means of confidential commuri.
cation. Such testimony approxi-
mates II not equals. the testimony
ladduced upon cross examination ii,
judicial proceedings. "A demonstra-
ton OF the ability Of the competitive
,systems to obtain high class men for
technical pqsitfons has been made
within the past year, In connection
with the employment of men to an.
praise the value of the property OF
common carriers On the United
States: For this work the Interstate
commerce Commission required mef,
with dualiicat lions ranging all the
way from rodman and chairman ia
senior positions in civil, mechanical,
structural, electrical and architectu.
gal engineering, as well as motive
power men and expert accountants
There have been approximately 1 s..
200 applicants FOR these positions
and the task Of sitting the wheai
from the char and Of grading the
wheat after the sitting was one oil
Considerable magnitude; but 1t wa.
done, and It was done so well thai
the Interstate Commerce Commits,
sion expressed its qualification IL
find that 1t could secure q
force so we'll equipped to perform
the gigantic task OF obtaining an &C
curate appraisal of the value OF com.
mon carrier property. "A system
which can successfully secure d. com
:petent force Of high grade engineer.
for this valuation work could surals
provide the proper kind Of men e
have charge Of the construction antS
main enauce of public highways..
It Is anticipated that steps Will bs
taken to wage an active cafnpaignsff
every state for the elimination ol
the spoils system and to substitute
for 1t the merit system,