Amendments to the rules and schedules and statistics of examination.... 48 Additions to and transfers in the schedules and classification, from January 1, 1885.. Amendments to rules nineteen, thirty-four and thirty-five List of appointments, Schedule B. Statistical summary of persons appointed to competitive examinations.. APPENDIX C. 48 48 Letter to Willard H. Olmsted, secretary, relative to the compensation of city examiners.. Letter to J. F. A. Cullinan, relative to reappointments without examination Letter to John Underwood, superintendent, etc., relative to appointments of policemen. Letter to John Sanderson, relative to appointment of health officer Letter to Hon. David Murray, Secretary Board of Regents, relative to Letter to Dr. Edward Moore, President State Board of Health, relative to examination of health officers. 63 Letter from Nicholas Houghton, President New York board of excise, 64 64 66 Decision of the Commission upon the conformity of the Brooklyn regulations to the State law, in the matter of the preference to honorably discharged soldiers and sailors ... 67 Letter to Joseph W. Kay, treasurer, etc., with reference to the discharge of a gate-keeper from Castle Garden.. 70 Letter to Hon. David Murray, Secretary Board of Regents, relative to proposed appointments in his department.. 71 Letter from J. B. Andrews, Superintendent Buffalo Asylum for the Insane, relative to the workings of the civil service rules in that asylum ...... Letter from I. O. Crissy, Commissioner of police, Buffalo, relative to the workings of the civil service rules in the police department..... Letter from Hon. Robert A. Maxwell, Superintendent Insurance, relative to the transfer of a clerk.... Page. 73 74 74 APPENDIX D. Opinions, etc.. 76 Opinion by Judge Lawrence In re The People, ex rel. Richard W. Ryan, against the Civil Service Supervisory Boards of the City of New York, etc.. 76 Opinion by several justices of the Supreme Court of Massachusetts to the 84 86 The People, ex rel. W. L. D. O'Grady, v. The Civil Service Commission of the City of Brooklyn Opinion by the Attorney-General relative to the classification of positions Extract from Governor Cleveland's message, 1884 86 87 88 89 91 APPENDIX E. Samples of examination questions... 94 General competitive examinations, clerkships, first and second grades ... 94 Clerkships, third grade. Special competitive examination, teachers, Institute for the Blind, Batavia. Special competitive examination, principal, literary department, Institution for the Blind, Batavia... 99 101 Special examination, clerk to general inspector of rifle practice....... Special competitive examination, first assistant physician, Hudson River State Hospital...... Civil service statutes, amended rules, regulations, etc.. 209 APPENDIX A. CHIEF EXAMINER'S REPORT. OFFICE OF CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION, The Honorable JOHN JAY, President New York Civil Service SIRI have the honor to submit the following report in respect to the examinations held under the civil service rules during the past year. COMPETITIVE EXAMINATIONS. During the year 1885 competitive examinations have been held as follows: For Steward, Hudson River State Hospital. The managers of the Hudson River State Hospital, at Ponghkeepsie, in the exercise of their discretion in respect to the methods of examination provided by Rule XXI, in March last, decided to open to general competition the position of steward of that institution, then vacant. A competitive examination was accordingly held at Albany, on March 24, 1885, at which twenty candidates presented themselves. The tests proposed were designed to elicit their knowledge of arithmetic and book-keeping, their judgment relative to the purchase of supplies with reference to quality, price, etc., and their capacity for the practical care and management of buildings and grounds. Nine candidates passed the minimum of 70. For Guards, Elmira Reformatory. A competitive examination for guards in the Elmira Reformatory, was held at that city on March 25, under the supervision of the local board of examiners, and was attended by seven candidates, only one of whom failed to pass the prescribed minimum. For Female Assistant-physician, Willard Asylum. A competitive examination of candidates for the position of female assistant-physician at the Willard Asylum for the Insane, was held at Albany, March 31, 1885. From the nature of the position, the examination was necessarily of a technical character, embracing in addition to tests of general education the subjects of general medicine, nervous diseases, and insanity, gynecology, surgery, hygiene and sanitation. The examining board consisted of the following professional gentle men, together with chief examiner Burt: Dr. James R. Leaming, of New York city; Dr. Darwin E. Hudson, of New York city; Dr. Allan McL. Hamilton, of New York city; Dr. Theodore H. Kellogg, of New York city; Dr. Albert Vanderveer, of Albany; Dr. S. Oakley Vander Poel, of New York city. The relative weights attached to the various subjects were as follows: General education, 4; general medicine, 4; nervous diseases and insanity, 3; gynecology, 5; surgery, 2; hygiene and sanitation, 2; total, 20. Only three candidates for this position presented themselves, and the standing of the successful applicant was 80.27. For Teachers, Institute for the Blind, Batavia. A very interesting competitive examination was held on August 20th at the State Institute for the Blind at Batavia, for three grades of teachers. This was the first examination for positions of that kind held under the direction of the Commission. The positions to be filled were those of principal of the literary department; teacher of the junior grade, and primary teacher. The subjects which the incumbents of these positions were required to be qualified to teach, as certified by the superintendent of the institute, and upon which the candidates were examined, were as follows: Principal of the literary department - Chemistry, physics, general history, algebra, geometry, English literature, elements of political economy, and moral and intellectual philosophy. Teacher of junior grade- Advanced arithmetic, grammar and geography, history of the United States, physiology and civil gov ernment. Primary teacher - Primary arithmetic, grammar, geography and spelling. The highest position, that of principal of the literary department, was offered for competition to persons of both sexes, the two others being restricted to females only. At this examination twenty-one candidates appeared; eight for the position of principal; seven for that of junior, and six for that of primary teacher. It is a matter for regret that the urgency to fill these positions did not leave more time in which to receive applications as it is probable that with greater publicity and opportunity a larger number of competitors would have appeared, and the chances of obtaining the best talent increased. The near opening of the school year, however, necessitated prompt action. The practical result of the examination, as shown by the tested work of those selected by the managers of the institute to fill the several positions, is reported to be entirely satisfactory. The average standing of those appointed to these positions from among the three graded highest in each class was 86.97. Twelve candidates passed the minimum of 70. The examination was held under the supervision of the local board at Batavia, Commissioner Richmond and the Chief Examiner. Representatives of the board of managers of the institute and its superintendent were present, and general satisfaction with the methods and plan of examination was expressed. In view of the wide range of subjects covered by this examination a special board was appointed under the provisions of Rule XXVI to act with the Chief Examiner in the preparation of questions, and the grading and marking of answers, consisting of Hon. David Murray, LL.D., and Professors Cady Staley and Maurice Perkins, of Union College. I desire to express my acknowledgment to these gentlemen for their courtesy and valuable assistance. For Stenographer and Type-writer, Buffalo Asylum for the Insane. Under the immediate personal supervision of Commissioner Richmond a competitive examination of applicants for this position was held at Buffalo November 27. The services of Mr. George II. Thornton, of Buffalo, an expert stenographer, were secured for the examination in stenography and type-writing, and were gratuitously rendered. Six applicants appeared, five of whom successfully passed the required minimum of 70. The average of the three graded · highest was 85.33. The low rate of compensation attached to this position doubtless accounts for the small number of applicants. General Competitive Examination. The most important examination during the year was a general competitive examination held on November 12 for positions of first, second and third grade clerkships, for prison guards and for office messengers. Both for the convenience of applicants throughout the State, and to secure as general a competition as possible, the plan adopted last year by the Commission was followed, and arrangements were made to hold examinations simultaneously at the following places, viz. : New York, Brooklyn, Poughkeepsie, Albany, Utica, Syracuse, Rochester, Buffalo, Elmira, Ithaca, Watertown and Plattsburgh. The Commission was fortunate in securing as its representatives for most of these places the gentlemen who served in the same capacity last year, and whose fairness, impartiality and intelligent discharge of the specific duties devolved upon them on that occasion made it highly desirable that their services should be again brought into requisition. Where former representatives were prevented this year from serving, their places were filled by gentlemen of high standing and character in their respective communities, and their selection has been abundantly justified in the careful execution of the work assigned them. |