REPORT. OFFICE OF THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION, ALBANY, January 8, 1887. To His Excellency the Governor of the State of New York: SIR. The New York Civil Service Commission, in pursuance of the provisions of the act, has the honor to submit its fourth annual report. During the past year the number of persons in the service of the State subject to civil service regulations, made or approved by the Commission, has been increased from 15,179 to 15,895; the number being distributed as follows: The number of persons in the service of the State (exclusive of cities) subject to civil service rules approved by the Governor, is 4,819. The number of persons in the service of cities, subject to civil service regulations made by mayors and approved by the Commission, is as follows: PERSONS EXAMINED. Number of persons examined in State service.. 778 1,633 1,084 93 15 9 143 Number of persons examined in Long Island City.. 17 Number of persons examined in Ogdensburgh.. 10 Number of persons examined in Rochester.. 142 Number of persons examined in Syracuse.. 48 Number of persons examined in Troy.. 35 Number to classified positions in Binghamton. Number to classified positions in Long Island City. ... Total... 4,007 544 1,138 209 43 5 5 13 15 38 5 20 2,035 EXAMINATIONS IN THE STATE SERVICE. The report of the Chief-Examiner (Appendix A) shows that COMPETITIVE EXAMINATIONS have been held during the year: FOR ASSISTANT ENGINEERS, LEVELERS, RODMEN AND INSPECTORS OF MASONRY, under the State Engineer and the Superintendent of Public Works, at Albany, on May twentieth, and again on November eleventh. The papers were prepared, the examinations conducted, and the markings certified by the Board of Examiners designated by the Commission for the purpose, consisting of John Bogart, Esq., the present Deputy State Engineer and Secretary of the American Society of Engineers; Professor David M. Green, Director of the Troy Polytechnic Institute; and associated in the earlier competition, Professor Cady Staley of Union College. Professor Staley's subsequent removal from the State necessitated his resignation, and Horace Andrews, Esq., the city engineer of Albany, was appointed in his stead, and served as a member of the Board at the November examination. At these competitions thirty-eight applicants appeared, of whom thirty-three passed. FOR GUARDS AT ELMIRA REFORMATORY two competitive examinations were held, on May twentieth and November eleventh, respectively; thirty-one candidates, twenty-two passe 1. FOR COURT INTERPRETERS AT NEW YORK CITY, May twentieth and November thirteenth; twelve candidates, eight passed. FOR JANITORS OF COURTS AT NEW YORK CITY, May twentieth ; ; three candidates, two passed. The Regents of the University finding it necessary to employ assistant examiners of the papers returned from the regents' classes in the academies and academical departments of union free schools subject to their visitation, and the services of these examiners being required at once, a competitive examination was held at the office of the Commission on November tenth, to fill the places temporarily. The candidates, in addition to the usual clerical tests, were examined in the several subjects in which they would be required to act as examiners. From the circumstances of the case the competition was necessarily limited. Six candidates presented themselves; three were found eligible. Two were immediately chosen, and within a few days the third was appointed. To these three provisional certificates of qualification were issued, enabling them to serve until an open competitive examination could be provided for. This will be held at the Albany High School, January fifteenth. The general competitive examination for positions of first, second and third grade clerks, stenographers, and office messengers were held, November eleventh, at New York, Albany, Syracuse, Buffalo, Elmira and Watertown. As in previous years the Commission was favored by the assistance, as its representatives in arranging for and supervising the examinations at these places, of gentlemen most of whom had already served most acceptably in the same capacity. Their kindly assistance has been formally recognized by the Commission. At the close of the examination the papers of the candidates were at once forwarded to Albany, where the work of marking and grading was performed by the general Board of Examiners. There appeared at these examinations eighty-nine candidates, of whom seventy passed. FOR LAW CLERKS IN THE STATE SERVICE, five candidates were examined at Albany at the general competitive examination, November eleventh, all of whom passed. The scheme of this examination, prepared by a special board designated by the Commission and consisting of Hon. Matthew Hale, Hon. William B. Ruggles and Hon. Edwin Countryman of Albany, embraced, in addition to the usual clerical tests, questions in general law, practice, the law of contracts, real estate and equity. To meet the reasonable requirements of the State prison authorities, the Commission modified the rule respecting the qualifications of prison-keepers and guards, so as to provide for the appointment of a keeper either by promotion from the position of guard or from an eligible list of persons especially examined for the grade of keeper. The rule was further modified by requiring, as one test for appointment as keeper, experience in directing or governing men. The Commission designated a special board of examiners for prison officers, consisting of Hon. Louis D. Pillsbury, formerly Superintendent of State prisons and at present Warden of the New York penitentiary; the Hon. James W. Wadsworth, formerly State Comptroller; and Charles H. Kitchell, Esq., a prominent member of the New York Prision Association. The competitive examination for these positions was held at Sing Sing, November eighteenth; twenty-four candidates were examined, of whom twentyone passed. The average age of those examined at the several competitive examinations was thirty-one years. |