L a extent to which considerations other than those of fitness have entered into the mind of the appointing officer." No. 12. "I think there can be no doubt that the effect of the law has been to diminish the extent to which political assessments are imposed upon persons in the employ of the city government. I am not aware of any violations of sections 11 or 14 of the Civil Service Act." While inviting any suggestions that I may think proper to submit for the amendment of the law, or the regulations in regard to cities, the commission particularly ask my assistance in the performance of the duties imposed upon them by the fifteenth section of the act. The present law requires persons in the employ of the city to act as examiners, without additional compensation. This has been a hardship to those whose duties were sufficiently arduous before their appointment as examiners, and whose performance of the additional duties thus imposed upon them has been without compensation. I should recommend that the law in this respect be amended, so that suitable additional compensation can be made in such cases. Many complaints have been made as to the effect of the law giving absolute preference to veterans for appointment to public office. It seems to me that the law in this respect should be amended so that the appointing power should not be required to appoint a soldier to office in preference to those apparently more fit for the place to be filled, unless in the judgment of the appointing power, he possesses the qualifications necessary for the proper discharge of his duties." Mayor Odell, of Newburgh, says: No. 10. "Generally good, especially the physical examination of applicants for police department." No. 11. "Good, relieving them from political pressure to a great degree." No. 12. "Know of no violation of the law in this respect, our city has been generally free from this evil." Mayor Elsworth, of Poughkeepsie, says: No. 10. “With the exception of appointments upon the police and fire department, I do not think that the Civil Service Law has had any appreciable effect upon the service of the city, so far as the character and efficiency of the persons appointed are concerned." No. 11. "In both of these departments, I think that the law has a beneficial effect upon the various appointments. The examination insures applications from a better class of men. No. 12. "In this respect the law is strictly observed in Poughkeepsie. I know of no violation of the sections named." APPENDIX F. SAMPLES OF EXAMINATION QUESTIONS. EXAMPLE No. 1. GENERAL COMPETITIVE EXAMINATION - CLERKSHIPS OF FIRST AND SECOND GRADES. N. B.-Listen attentively and write down correctly the matter that is about to be read to you. Ample time for writing will be given between the phrases, so do not be flurried. Do not stop long to ponder about the spelling of a word, but put it down off-hand. Leave no gaps to be filled afterwards. Do not repeat any word or phrase. The selection for dictation will cover about one page of foolscap. After notice, one of the examiners will begin to read the matter to be dictated slowly, and one phrase at a time, so it may be fairly copied, and to avoid, if possible, a repetition which is apt to confuse the writers. Great care should be taken to read deliberately, with distinct utterance, until the whole has been read. Then, for review and proper punctuation, the whole should be again read with ordinary rapidity. Copying of Manuscript. N. B. The rough draft of a letter, which accompanies this paper, is to be correctly and neatly copied for signature; all abbreviations are to be written out in full; the corrected or added parts are to be inserted in their proper places; and the matter is to be paragraphed and punctuated properly. The candidate is given a lithographed copy of manuscript letter, containing erasures, interlineations, etc., which he is to copy in accordance with above directions. The handwriting and spelling of the candidates are judged from the foregoing papers. ARITHMETIC. 1.-Express the following numbers in figures: Two million and sixty thousand four hundred and thirty-five. Express in words the following numbers: 3 2 8 0 0 0 5.14 CXLVII 2. The following table shows the receipts of flour, etc., at New York, during the first six months of the year 1885: The following table shows the same during the second six months of the year 1885: Give the totals of each of the above, making the additions both ways. N. B.-It is not allowable to draw off the amounts for addition, but they must be added on the table above. In solving the arithmetical problems which follow this, the whole process must be shown on the examination paper, for which purpose sufficient space is provided after each question. A simple answer, without the calculations on which it is based being shown, will not receive a maximum mark, even if such answer is correct. 3. How many yards of cloth will be required to make a suit of clothes, if 23 yards are used for the coat, 13 yards for the pants, and of a yard for the vest? 4. Add together 31, 211, 5%, and 5. If of a farm costs $5663, what will of it cost? 6. How many weeks, days, hours and minutes are there in three million seconds? 7. In 56 bus., 3 pks., 6 qts., 1 pt., how many pints? 8. How many bushels of wheat can be contained in a bin having a capacity of 29 gross tons, allowing a weight of 60 lbs. to the bushel? GEOGRAPHY. 1. Name three of the principal rivers which pass through the State, and the leading cities or towns upon them. 2. What important islands are embraced within the jurisdiction of the State of New York? 3. Through what waters is freight transported from Oswego to New York city? 4. Which are the five most populous cities in the State, and in what counties are they respectively situated? 5. Name the States on the Gulf of Mexico. 6. Name the five principal tributaries of the Mississippi river. The exercise in dictation and copying is the same as for clerkships of first and second grade, and handwriting and spelling are judged from these papers. ARITHMETIC. 1. Receipts at New York by railroad during the year 1885, of certain articles: in bushels. Add the above so as to give the totals for each month, and for all the months, and for each railroad, and the grand total for all the roads for the whole period, placing the several amounts in the proper spaces in the form. - N. B. It is not allowable to draw off the amounts for addition, but they must be added on the table above. In solving the arithmetical problems which follow this, the whole process must in each case be shown on the examination paper, or if there be not sufficient space thereon, the calculations may be made on a separate paper to be attached. A simple answer without the calculations on which it is based being shown, will not receive a maximum mark, even if such answer be correct. 2. Of the time allowed for an examination were given to Dictation, to Arithmetic, to Geography, and to History. How much was left for Constitution? 3. If A draws from the bank of the amount on deposit there, and spends of the amount drawn for flour, and then finds that he has left in his hands $430 in cash; what was his total balance in the bank before his check was drawn? 4. A man earning $21 per week expended $163 per week; in what time could he save enough to pay a debt of $353.40? 5. What will it cost to plaster a room 23 feet long, 18 feet wide, 9 feet high, at 15 cents a square yard? 6. Subtract .0135 of 2 bushels from .75 of a gallon, and give the answer in pints and the decimal of a pint. 7. If 14 men dig 200 yards of trench in 32 days, in how many days will 21 men dig 150 yards of similar work? 8. A pile of wood 12 feet long, 5 feet wide, 3 feet high, being worth $12, what is the value of a pile of wood 10 feet long, 3 feet wide, and 6 feet high? 9. The total valuations of certain towns are as follows: If a tax of $75000 is to be levied on them, what amount would have to be collected on these several valuations? 10. What is the legal interest in this State on $790 for 4 years, 5 months and 22 days? 11. The simple interest on a certain sum of money at 7 per cent amounts in 2 years and 11 months to $95; what is the principal sum? 12. Find the tax on $8975.50 at the rate of $0.018. 13. Find the proceeds of the following note, discounted February 26, 1886, at 51% : $2669.50 NEW YORK, January 2, 1886. Ninety days after date I promise to pay to James Ivison, or order, two thousand six hundred sixty-nine dollars and fifty cents, for value received. GEOGRAPHY, JOHN DOE. 1. Name as many of the cities of the State of New York as you can remember. 2. What important islands are embraced within the jurisdiction of the State of New York? 3. Give the names of the seven largest lakes in or on the border of the State, and tell how their waters respectively reach the sea. |