The Duluth rip-saw. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1917-19??, 1923-09-01

There Is a strong feeling In this
city Of Duluth that civil service is
very much Of a joke around the
city han.
Civil service Is an important
provision in the present city charter
and it was seriously considered
when the commission form Of gov
eminent went into effect in 1914.
There are several reasons why
civil service is looked upon as a
joke. Que is due to the fact that
the position OF commissioner is
honorary and that the secretary
does not serve full time. As a
result, undesirable delays in the
transaction OF business often hap
pen.
Probably the chief reason why
civil service is considered joke
is due to the apparent fact that
some of the city commissioners are
not always in full sympathy with
the system.
A secondary reason is based ON
the fact that the personnel of the
city council changes from time to
time and that new commissioners
know nothing about civil service
ordinances, rules and regulations.
1t is human nature for victor
in political combat to desire to
appoint his friends and supporters
to public positions rather than some
stranger who has passed a formal
examination and whose appointment
is regulated more or less by civil
service rules and civil service COM
missioners.
Civil service was established to
meet a popular and progressive
demand, making ability and fitness
a requirement in securing and hold
ing city hall job, rather than the
favor or wilkins of a member of
the city council.
Civil service can be rendered in
operative though laxness and ia
efficiency of the civil service board
or the opposition or the members of
the city council, or q combination
Of both causes.
The civil service board, as con-
stituted at the present time, feels
that neither the board nor the
system is funrtioning as fully and
perfectly as should be the case. The
admit that they are
not supermen and their private
duties conflict somewhat with their
public duties. They also feel that
hack of sympathy, ignorance of
ordinances and the rules and regu-
lations, as prescribed by the board
and approved by the city council,
are other causes that prevent an
ideal functioning of the civil service
system.
Chapter v Of the city charter
says:
Section IS. There fs hereby
established civil service board,
which shall consist of three mem
bers, who shall be appointed by the
council and shall serve without
compensation and whose term of
office shall be for six years. eK-
cept as herein provided. The coun-
Gil first elected under this charter,
as soon as practicable after its
election, shall appoint one member
Of the board to serve for two
years, and one members to serve
for four years, and one member to
serve for six years. Any vacancies
in the board shall be filled by the
council for the unexpired term.
Section 36. The board, with the
approval of the council, shall make
rules and regulations for the proper
conduct of business and shall pro-
vide for the classification OF all
employees, except day laborers and
bhe Officers appointed by the council
Mentioned in Sec. II of this charter,
the managers and heads Of depart
raents and subdivisions created by
the council, and officers of elestion
boards, special policemen, special
and other temporary
employees; for open competitive and
free examination as to fitness: for
IN eligibility lit from which vacan-l
lies shall be tIlled lei ! period OF
probation before emp1Dyment is
made permanent; and for promotion
,n the basis Of merit, experience
Ind record. Employees within the
scope Of this chapter, who are in
office at the time Of the adoption
If this chapter. shall retain their
positions, unless removed for cause.
rhe council may. by ordinance. con-
'er upon the commission such fur
her rights and duties as may be
leemed necessary to enforce and
larry out the principles Of this
Where there is q vacancy In q 4
It is. the duty OF the
read OF that department to cali
ipon the civil service board to GER
ify the names of as many eligibles
Is there are places to fill, plus two
more, il there are enough names on
he eligible list, and selections shall
Carlos Avery recently retired
rom the position. of state game
md fish commissioner, but Sherm.