The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1915-04-29
PLACE SEEKERS
MULTIPLYING
New City Commissioners Find
Time To Review Matter Of
Appointments.
CIVIL SERVICE IN OPERATION

The tide OF applicants for city posi-
lions has been turned from the com
missiOners recently elected to the civil
service board, aud examinations will
he held from time to time. II Is "a
pected that there will be Il larger
waiting list thun ever before. for the
result Of the election developed thai
many are willing to take positions Ia
the different departments.
As commissioner Of public affairs
the mayor does not have many places
70 I'LL. Notwithstanding the general
belief that he would have the author
lty TO make many appointments. The
civu service law adopted with the
present charter places the entire po
lice department, with the exception
" the chief, under civil service,
There may have been applicants for
places on the police and detective
forces, Gamewell operators, turukeys
and other places In that department
The mayor does not I'LL these places,
from his own selections, for the reG
son that the appointments are made
from the waiting list provided by the
civil service board, The mayor has
the appointment Of the city counselor,
assistant city counselor, police judge
and private secretary, and all these
places have been filled with the eN.
ceptiOn Of secretary.
Now Charter Changes Things.
Under the old system OF city gov
eminent a commissioner could put on
the police force any friend he saw nj,
but under the new charter the civil
service rules take II out Of his hands
He can vote for them In the appoint.
ment or may I'll a vacancy temper.
arily. but the old system is no longer
IN force.
Commissioner Donnelly OF the de.
partment Of accounting and finance
has still less patronage t. distribute
than the mayor. He fills the office
of city treasurer, city auditor and
city clerk, not under civil service. but
there his appointments end. Commits
sioner Street has the appointment Of Il
superintendent Of the water depart.
ment and a few minor places, but
aside from them he must depend upon
the civil service board to I'll the
places In his department
Ever since the recent city election
the city hall has been visited by many
applicants for places. II was gener.
ally believed that the entire police
force would be changed Other posi-.
tions were sought under the Demo
cratic commissioners and men ~ all
political beliefs became applicants
At first II was not generally under
stood that the civil service law Of IN,
charter ruled, but since this has beer
explained the tide has turned IN that
direction.
There will be places 10 I'LL in al
the city departments from time e
time, however, aud the applicants
should not be without hope. II Is tn,
aim " the city commissioners TO max,
all the departments efficient. II h
not likely that charges will be pre-
ferred against many " those nov
holding positions under civil servic,
regulations, but they will drop out o.
casiOnally. When II becomes neces
sary 10 discharge a city employe IN
a specific cause, the employe afte.
being discharged may demand a tria
before the entire board u commission
ers and II must be- granted II N,
charges are sustained the discharg,
stands otherwise the employe re
tains his place,
Applicants Wonder.
The new city commissioners hav.
been compelled TO make explanation
to the numerous applicants and II
some Instances they have not beel
satisfactory. The demand for place
has been strong upon them ever sine
they went into office Some Of IN
applicants have been under the belle
that the civil service law ~ the cit
could be set aside, but no effort vii
be made to take such action.
The fire department, Of course. 1
not affected by the recent changes a
the city hall, as Commissioner Hlghle
was not elected at that time. The FIR,
men are under civil service an
changes In that department are unde
the same regulations that govern 1
all the others.
One noticeable change il the diffe.
ence in the enforcement Of the city
ordinances, and this Is believed to !
not altogether the case OF a me-
broom sweeping clean. The police d
partment is expected to meet the e
f~lnlancn rnnnlramnnIn nf TO hnnh ON