an examination. This is sometimes true, but it is also true that there are others who possess both the ability to do the work, and the capacity to tell what they know in an examination, and they are, undoubtedly, more desirable in the position. We have always found enough of the latter kind to fill any demand. The purpose of the Civil Service is not only to get competent men to fill public positions, but to get the most competent of those who apply.

Growth of Competition.

The additions made to the competitive schedule during the last two years have included in it nearly every kind of position in the State service. For years it seems to have been conceded that where a person sustained confidential relations toward his superior officer, or where he occupied a fiduciary position, the position could not be filled by competition. Exemptions were nearly always granted where such facts were made to appear to the Commission, as the letter of the law seemed to command it. But the new amendment to the Constitution establishes an entirely different standard, and provides that a competitive examination shall be had, "wherever practicable." This amendment was dictated by the well established results of competition. The law was passed when the whole idea of Civil Service examinations was new and experimental in this State, and wisely left almost unlimited discretion to the Governor and Commission. The amendment to the Constitution embodies the wisdom of that experience, and makes the question of competition depend not on the discretion of any one, but on the fact of the practibility of the test. And that it is practicable to fill all of the above-mentioned positions by competition is proven by experience. It has been done and successfully done. During the present year examinations for such positions have been held and the results have been entirely satisfactory both to the Commission and to appointing officers.

It is often said that the Commission has no means of ascertaining the integrity necessary to fill a position of trust or confidence. It is a safe assertion that it has much better means of doing so than obtained under the old system of personal selection, and that it proceeds to apply those means quite as intelligently and cautiously as appointing officers would do, had they the power of personal selection. Every applicant must present certificates of character from at least three citizens of his acquaintance. He must give, under oath, preliminary information regarding his training, experience, former occupations, etc. In addition to this, the Commission has the power to

make still further inquiry into these matters by investigation, where it has the power to issue subpœnaes, administer an oath, and to dismiss from the eligible list any person found not to possess good character. These safeguards have thus far protected the service from the intrusion of untrustworthy and immoral persons. Indeed, it is a comparatively safe assertion, that such persons do not seek advancement by open competition. Secrecy and deception are oftener the methods employed, and we would be surer to find them in the train of the patronage hunter, to whom they may be sometimes useful, than in Civil Service examinations where they can hope for no recognition. A person who comes forward and offers to submit himself to a public test, and who is willing to meet all others who may desire to enter that test, and who realizes that if he succeeds it is by his industry and ability alone, and that it is through such qualities that he must hold his place and not by friendship or favoritism, possesses a merit that is out of harmony with indolence and want of integrity

There are many persons now occupying such positions in the State service, selected from the Civil Service lists, and I believe there is yet to be recorded a case of breach of trust or duty. The results thus far reached would warrant a still further extension of this schedule. Most positions that are now in Schedule C could very easily be filled by competition. If it is practicable to measure the capacity of one person by examination, the capacity of a whole class may be measured, and different degrees in which they possess the requisite qualifications may also be ascertained.

There is little or no merit in the non-competitive examination. It is inconsistent with the progressive reform idea. It is a compromise between the Civil Service and the politician. It has all of the so-called shortcomings of the competitive method without any of its merits. The only place to which, it seems to me, it should be extended, is to the subordinate positions usually assigned to Schedule D. Here the pay is so small and the tenure of office is so uncertain, and the character of applicants so unreliable, that it is either a choice between this form of examination or none, and the standard of service is raised to some extent by requiring an elementary examination.

When we stop to consider that now there are filled by competition such positions as superintendent of State hospitals, and their medical assistants, with their vital and manifold responsibilities, where the duties are of an executive as well as fiduciary nature, and bank examiner, with its almost sacred trust and confidence, can it be said that a mere clerk, who now and then writes a confidential letter, or

has the custody of a few dollars, should be exempt? Competition is now the settled policy of the State. It has behind it the force of experience, intelligence and justice. It is supported by the Constitution and the law, and by judicial decisions which are clear and forcible. Much has happened recently to impress this truth upon the public. If the same tendency is kept up, we will ere long have a classification which is just and consistent, and which will be in such a settled and accepted form, that appointing officers, the last to concede its advantages, will be the first to profit by them.

SCHEDULE D EXAMINATIONS.

We have endeavored during the year to raise the standard of examinations in this class by following the policy inaugurated last year, of giving an examination upon the duties of the various positions, in addition to an elementary English examination. The difficulty is constantly confronting us of getting Schedule D Boards of Examiners to report promptly to this office, owing to the miscellaneous nature of the examinations, and the fact that the services of examiners are rendered gratuitously. However, the results of the examinations during the year in this schedule are satisfactory.

Competitive Examinations.

Electricians and Dynamo Tenders.

On January 16th, at Albany, an examination was held for dynamo tenders and house electricians. This is the first examination of the kind held in this State, the position being a new one. For the position of dynamo tender there were 14 applicants, 6 of whom qualified. For that of electrician there were 19 applicants, 8 of whom qualified. The list thus obtained having become exhausted, a second examination for these positions was held on October 29th, and for the purpose of giving better opportunity to applicants in different sections. of the State, it was held at Buffalo, Syracuse and Albany. For the position of electrician there were 8 applicants, and for that of dynamo tender, 10; 3 qualifying among the former and 5 among the latter. In both of these examinations the papers were prepared by an expert familiar with the duties of the position. They were entirely technical and so far as possible practical. The sufficiency and fairness of the papers are indicated by the fact that applicants of experience only were able to pass the examination. In both cases eligibles were

obtained who were found to possess, upon being employed, the requisite ability for the discharge of their duties.

Teachers, House of Refuge for Women at Hudson.

On February 12th an examination was held at the House of Refuge for the position of teacher at that institution. There were 3 applicants, 1 of whom qualified. This also was a new examination.

Teachers, Institution for Feeble-Minded Children, Syracuse.

On March 29th an examination for teachers at the Institution for Feeble-Minded Children, at Syracuse, was held at that institution. There were 3 applicants, 2 of whom qualified.

At both of these institutions the standard followed in these examinations was necessarily low, owing to the fact that the inmates are of feeble intellect, and a teacher must unite the qualities of matron with those of teacher. This also accounts for the small number of applicants who tried the examinations.

Teachers, Industrial School, Rochester.

On April 27th an examination was held at the State Industrial School, Rochester, for the position of teacher at that institution. There were 8 applicants, 3 of whom qualified. Another examination was held, at the same place, for teachers, on July 16th. In this examination there were 11 applicants, 3 of whom qualified.

Teachers, Thomas Orphan Asylum, Versailles.

On September 5th, at the Thomas Orphan Asylum, Versailles, an examination was held for teachers, at which there were 6 applicants, 4 of whom qualified.

On November 1st, an examination for music teacher was held at the above institution. There were 3 applicants, 2 of whom qualified. These also were new examinations, the institution having been brought under the Civil Service rules during the year.

Teachers, State School for the Blind, Batavia.

On September 17th, an examination was held at the State School for the Blind, Batavia, for teachers at that institution. There were 9 applicants, 5 of whom qualified.

Instructor, State Industrial School, Rochester.

On March 23d an examination for band instructor at the State Industrial School, Rochester, was held at that institution, at which I was assisted by Prof. John L. Gartland, of Albany, who prepared a special paper on band instruction and conducted an oral examination and a test in band instruction. There were 4 applicants, 3 of whom were found qualified. This was the first examination of the kind held under the rules of the Commission.

On May 11th an examination for military instructor at the above. institution was held at that place. The examination covered arithmetic, hand-writing and general information, to which was added a paper on military tactics and an oral examination. . In addition to this the applicants were each given command of a company of the inmates and required to put them through a drill.

Members of the board of managers were present at the examination and expressed themselves as highly satisfied with the methods employed and with the ability of the applicants. There were 9 applicants, 4 of whom qualified. At this examination I had the assistance of Captain Abraham Gridley, who prepared a paper in military tactics and conducted the oral examination and the drill. This also was the first examination of the kind held under the Civil Service rules.

In addition to the above examinations a number of examinations were held through the year for instructors in the different industrial branches taught at this institution, such as care and firing of steam boilers, upholstering, dress-making and millinery, the statistics of which will be found in the appendix. This is the second year that examinations for these positions have been held under the rules of the Commission and a great improvement was found in the intelligence of the applicants. Although some doubt was entertained by the managers of the institution when these positions were first placed in the competitive schedule, yet the result of the examinations has given entire satisfaction and they have been voluntarily extended to every instructorship in this branch of the institution. In all of these examinations I have received the valuable advice and assistance of Mr. F. H. Briggs, superintendent of the school.

Collector and Assistant in the State Labratory.

On March 12th an examination for collector of specimens and assistant in the State laboratory was held at Albany. There were 3 applicants, all of whom qualified.