solidation, 246 persons were appointed to places subject to competitive examination. In cases where requisitions were made to fill positions for which no eligible lists existed, certificates, in accordance with Regulation 34, were issued, authorizing temporary appointments pending the preparation of eligible lists. The fact that the old lists were available only for those parts of the present city for which they were originally prepared, and that no lists existed for the boroughs of Richmond and Queens, made it necessary to issue many more certificates for temporary appointment than would otherwise have been required. This fact also necessitated the holding of examinations for the majority of places classified as subject to competition, and accounts for the large number of such temporary appointments. During the year the number of temporary appointments was reduced by 635. A most important function of this Commission is the certification as to compliance with the Civil Service regulations, of the pay-rolls of all employees of the city, whose places are subject to such regulations, and without which certification the Comptroller of the city is prohibited from making payment of salaries. An idea of the magnitude of this part of the work may be had from the statement that the civil list of city employees, whose pay-rolls must be examined and certified, numbers over 31,000, and that during the year just ended. 12,308 names were examined and certified to on the weekly rolls, 170 on the semi-monthly rolls and 19,111 on the monthly rolls, making a total for the year of 873,428. For the convenience of applicants residing in the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens, a branch office of the Commission has been maintained in the Borough Hall in the Borough of Brooklyn, and applications for positions subject to competitive examination filed there are forwarded daily to the main office in the Borough of Manhattan. The Commission has retained in its service all the employees of the former Commissions of New York, Brooklyn and Long Island City, with the exception of two, whose places were made unnecessary by the Charter. Four examiners were appointed during the year, and a small addition was made to the clerical force of the office. By reference to table number 6, appended hereto, it will be observed that the business of the Labor Bureau during the year 1898 has formed an important part of the work of this Commission. 22,959 applications were received and filed and 12,239 persons were examined. For the convenience of applicants, it was determined that those residing in the boroughs of Manhattan, The Bronx, and Richmond should be registered at the main office in the Borough of Manhattan, and those residing in the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens, at the branch office in the Borough of Brooklyn; and that requisitions for laborers should be filled by the certification of eligibles residing in the borough where the services were required. The technical examinations have been conducted at the New York Trade School in the Borough of Manhattan and at the Pratt Institute in the Borough of Brooklyn with very satisfactory results. These examinations have been essentially practical in their nature. The system continues to meet with the approval of mechanics seeking appointment in the service of the city, and undoubtedly enables the several departments to procure the services of artisans of ability in their respective lines of duty. While the administration of the civil service laws and regulations during the year 1898 has been attended by many difficulties and complications incident to the changed conditions and enlarged jurisdiction created by the consolidation, the Commission is of the opinion that the results have been, in the main, satisfactory. Table No. 1. CLASSIFIED SERVICE. Number of positions exempt from examination Number of positions subject to competitive examina- 81 357 92 Of the 92 positions classified in Schedule G, 20 are subject to trade examination. The following positions are exempt from examination: Pupil Nurses compensated at the rate of $180 or less, and Head Nurses compensated at the rate of $360 or less per annum, in the Training School, Department of Public Charities. Employees of the Nautical Training School, Department of Education. All persons compensated at the rate of $150 or less per annum employed in the Department of Public Charities and the Department of Correction. All persons employed in minor positions in the Contagious Diseases Hospital, Department of Health. |