The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1916-02-03
SUPERVISION OF
NATIONAL ROADS
inspectors viii Be Required to
Know Their Subject.
A CONCERTED MOVEMENT.

An Active Campaign Will Probably Be
Waaed In Every State For the EIini-
nation of the Spols System and the
Substitution of the Merit System In
Its Place.
A concerted movement for skilled
supervision of road work throughout
the United States has been launched
by the American Highway association
and the National Civil Service Reform
league These two great organizations
co-operated in the holding of session
at the recent American road congress
in Atlanta devoted to consideration
of the merit system in road manage
ment The United States civil service
commission was represented by Chief
Examiner George II. Wales. who point
ed 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
given which does not require the COM
petitors to assemble ut any place or to
answer technical questions. They are
called upon to furnish under oath
detailed statement of their education
and experience, including all the work
they have done since graduation They
may also be asked to submit an orig
nal thesis or report or published works.
and 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
ingiy accurate and discriminating testi-
mony is obtained by this means OF con-
fidential communication. Such tcsti-
mony approximates. if 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 appraise 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
positions In civil. mechanical. struc.
tural. electrical and architectural en-
gineering. rs well as motive power
men and expert accountants. There
have been approximately $4,000 ap
plicants for these positions. and the
task of sitting the wheat from the
chaff and of grading the wheat after
the sitting was one of considerable
magnitude. but it was done. and il
was done so we'll that the |. {. G.
| expressed its. qualification to find that
! 1t could secure Il force so we'll equipped
to perform the gigantic task Of obtain
ing an accurate appraisal of the value
Of common carrier property. \ system
which can successfully secure a com
petent force of high grade engineer:
for this valuation work could surely
| provide the proper kind of men t
| have charge of the construction anf
maintenance of public highways"
1t is expected that steps will b'
taken TO wage an active campaign IL
every state for the elimination of tn,
spols system and to substitute for i
the merit system.