poration counsel of the city of New York, to the effect that the Board of Electrical Control did not come under the civil service rules of the State. This opinion was referred by us to the Attorney-General, who disagreed with it, and we have requested him to bring such action as shall show their proper status.

Requests have also been sent by us to the mayors of the several cities of the State, requiring a report of the operation of the Civil Service Law in their cities, and we are glad to be able to report that nearly every city in the State of New York, has made such report to the Commission. These reports will be found in the appendices.

Written complaints have been made to us of the action of the examining boards in the cities of Rochester and Elmira. In the former city the chief examiner investigated the complaint very carefully and made an elaborate report, from which it appeared to this Commission that the matters complained of were in reality due to a misunderstanding of the rules of that city by the board, and certain suggestions were made by us, which have been cheerfully adopted. In the city of Elmira no positive action could be taken by us, because of the fact that the term of office of the appointee occasioning the complaint had expired. Attention, however, was called to the illegal manner in which examinations had been held, and we believe that there will be no further cause for complaint. More specific information in regard to these complaints will be found in the report of the chief examiner.

The Civil Service Law of the State subjects the civil service regulations of cities to the approval of the Commission, and in almost every instance, especially in the smaller cities, the regulations adopted by the mayors and approved by the Civil Service Commission, have been such as have been suggested by the Commission. But the carrying out of these regulations is vested in the commissions appointed by the mayors of cities, and over their appointment this board has no control. From

observations made by us and from unofficial complaints, we are of the opinion that the civil service of cities would be greatly improved if appointments of the local commissioners were made subject to our approval, and would respectfully suggest that this matter be taken into consideration in any amendments made to the law during the present session of the Legislature.

This Commission has given careful attention to the business before it, striving to correct evils that have grown up and to put the administration of the law on a sound basis. The mandate of the Governor has been "enforce the law," and this the Commission has endeavored to do to the best of its ability. Its position has been a difficult one, between the opponents of civil service reform on one hand, many of whom were such because not rightly understanding its scope and purpose, and the advocates of civil service reform on the other, who have not all comprehended the difficulties before the Commission, and have not thought it moved rapidly enough toward the full accomplishment of the idea. The Commission is happy to report that, as a result of its labors, there is a much better understanding between it and both these elements than before existed, and there has been established a greater harmony of action and co-operation in the work of enforcing the law.

To sum up, the Commission in reviewing its work of the past year, reports progress. It has held an unusual number of examinations, has corrected all violations coming directly within. its power to correct, has secured more appointments from its eligible lists than any of its predecessors, and more than all has arrived at a basis on which it believes that the full idea of the law is in a way of speedy accomplishment.

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Respectfully.

E. PRENTISS BAILEY,
W. D. McKINSTRY,

DEF. VAN VLEET,

Commissioners.

APPENDICES.

APPENDIX A.

CHIEF EXAMINER'S ANNUAL REPORT.

APPENDIX B.

1. STATISTICAL TABLES OF EXAMINATIONS.

2. CHANGES IN CLASSIFICATION.

APPENDIX C.

1. ORGANIZATION OF COMMISSION, EXAMINING BOARDS, ETC.

2. LISTS OF APPOINTMENTS.

3. LIST OF DEATHS AND PROMOTIONS IN, AND REMOVALS AND RESIGNATIONS FROM, THE PUBLIC SERVICE, REPORTED SINCE THE LAST ANNUAL REPORT.

APPENDIX D.

1. AMENDMENTS TO CITY REGULATIONS.

2. REPORTS FROM MAYORS OF CITIES.

3. CITY REGULATIONS APPROVED 1893.

APPENDIX E.

1. CIVIL SERVICE STATUTES, RULES, REGULATIONS, ETC.

2. SAMPLES OF EXAMINATION QUESTIONS.

APPENDIX F.

ROSTER OF STATE EMPLOYES.