New Britain herald., 1916-06-17
T0un Topics


 policemen seems to have. proved a farce It has not put an end to favoritism or pull" The only good it has done has been to insist that the candidates at least be able to pass stated physical and mental test, but under the old system the commits sloners having appointing power cer- tainly had sufficient intelligence to select man the equal of any who could pass the present civil service examinations. But the old influence and "pulp' are as salient as ever in making the appointments At least one man secured his recent appoint ment principally through official 1n- fuence. One of the safety board ln- formed the others that certain semi official person suggested a par tlcular man as desirable policeman and said he would like to see him named. To make sure that the right man was named this member of the board had the clerk call the semi official person on the telephone and inquire again The clerk was then instructed to check off the name on the list in order that it might not be mentioned aloud and the members of the press learn who it was who was getting named through influence. The mans identity is known however. The obedient clerk checked off the name and the man was Summarlly appointed. All talk that the civil ser vice will do away with influence is bosh and at the very first meeting this was proved.
 The manner in which the other ap pointments were made is also being severely criticised. Fifteen men were eligible for eleven appointments. Commissioner Howard M. Steele de- clared that he did not know who the candidates were and in voting he would have to vote merely for name and a set of figures. He sug- gested that the candidates be brought before the board so the members could size them up and vote for whenever they wanted. His sug- gestion was not entertained and all though he protested, he had to pro- ceed to ballot for a name only. The method adopted is likewise open to censure. The chairman of the board, taking the list, read off any name he chose and the members of the board were instructed to cast a ballot for him if they wished him appointed, or vote no IL they OUJSCISu AS Commissioner Steele said, it was only a name to him and naturally every one suggested by the chairman was unanimously accepted. Then, after ten men had been named and there remained five more from among whom one had to be named, the chairman suggested that, in order to be fair, the commissioners take the quintet and select the man they wished Even then there was more pussyfoot work. A whispered con- ference was held and at the con- clusion one man was unanim ously ramed. Where the board is being censured is in that they did not pro- ceed to ballot on any man any in dividua1 chose to name, rather than let the chairman make the recom- 1nendations. If it was more fair to select the eleventh man from one of five candidates, why was it not just as fair to name each one of the others from the entire class of fifteen, letting each commissioner express his preference by ballot rather than having the chairman name the man and ask the board to accept or reject him? There is no doubt that Chairman Babcock was fair and honest in the way he con- ducted the meeting, but it certainly would have looked better and made better feelings all around if he had not taken it upon himself to suggest the names. There is at present feeling of uncertainty among the candidates and a feeling of dissat tis- fa ction on the part of those not chosen who feel that if the chairman had only suggested their names they too might have been among the lucky ones.
 It would seem that MT. Steele's suggestion to look the candidates over was a sensible one. The other members of the board thought it would be reflection on the civil service commission to ask to examine the men they had passed, but that would not have been so. If any one of the commissioners was to hire a, man to work for him he would not take a list of applications and say, "I'll take this name." Certainly he would not, even if his employment agency had recommended all of them. He would say, Let me look at them all and I will select one" That is the sensible way to do it and it is to be hoped that when any future appointments are made the commissioners will not be asked to vote for a name and figure, but to vote for a man they have seen and judged for themselves, even though he has previously passed the civil service board.
 Although theatrical performances of a risque nature have been pro- hibited here by the authorities, it was not until the present week that mo- ton picture was stopped because of | it's alleged immoral character. On | TueSdaN a. Dictura WAS show and |