fied, and in the latter 9 applicants, 8 of whom were found qualified. These examinations were also under the supervision of your medical board. Apothecaries. On November 7th and 8th an examination for apothecaries was held at Buffalo, Syracuse and Albany, at which there were 7 applicants, 5 of whom were found qualified. Stenographers. The annual examination for stenographers was held at Buffalo, Syracuse and Albany, instead of at Albany alone as heretofore. At Buffalo the examination was on November 7th; at Syracuse, November 8th; at Albany, November 13th. The test was modified by eliminating long-hand dictation and inserting a time test in transcribing notes in long-hand. This test was strictly applied, owing to the number of applicants. There were 98 applicants, 35 of whom were found qualified. Compiler of Educational Reports, Department of Public Instruction. On November 14th, at the office of the Commission at Albany, a special examination for compiler of educational reports in the Department of Public Instruction was held, at which there were 10 applicants, all of whom were found qualified On November 15th an examination for inspectors of teachers' training classes in the above department was held at Albany, at which there were 10 applicants, all of whom were found qualified. This is the first time that an examination for either of these positions was held under the rules of the Commission. The examinations covered the following subjects for compiler of educational reports: Arithmetic, algebra, geography, grammar, history, bookkeeping, current topics, civil government, composition, spelling and penmanship. For inspector of teachers' training classes: Arithmetic, algebra, geography, grammar, history, bookkeeping, current topics, civil government, composition, spelling, penmanship, drawing, physics, physiology methods, school law and history of education. Clerks. On December 4th the annual examination for clerks was held at New York, Albany, Binghamton, Buffalo, Syracuse and Watertown, at which there were 126 applicants, 93 of whom were found qualified. The scheme of this examination was modified by eliminating the test of copying manuscript letter and inserting in its stead current topics. Assistant Engineers and Levelers, Department of State Engineer. On December 6th, at the city of Albany, an examination was held for the position of assistant engineer and leveler in the Department of the State Engineer. For assistant engineers there were 31 applicants, 19 of whom were found qualified. For levelers there were 62 applicants, 38 of whom were found qualified. On December 7th, at the same place, an examination for rodmen and chainmen in this department was held. For the former there were 79 applicants, 55 of whom were found qualified. For the latter there were 117 applicants, 95 of whom were found qualified The papers in this examination were prepared and marked by your examining board, consisting of Prof. T. M. Wright, of Union College, Prof. E. A. Fuertes, of Cornell University, and Mr. C. L. Johnson, of Utica. The immense amount of work entailed by these examinations also emphasizes the necessity of giving reasonable compensation to examiners. The members of this board are compelled to perform their labors more through a sense of patriotism and devotion to the cause of Civil Service than to the insignificant compensation which they are permitted to receive. Director of the Pathological Institute. On December 20th an examination was held at Albany for the position of director of the pathological institute to be established by the State Commission in Lunacy for the State hospitals, at which there were 2 applicants, 1 of whom was found qualified. The questions for this examination were prepared by Professors T. H. Pruden, Herman Biggs and M. A. Starr, and covered the subjects of pathological anatomy of the nervous system, technique and methods of neural investigation, the architecture of the nervous system and the lines of research to be applied to study of pathology of insanity. The fact that so important a position was freely submitted to the competitive test indicates the confidence which that department has in this form of examination, the result, no doubt, of the pronounced success in the past of filling the very responsible positions under its supervision in this way. On December 26th, at the office of the Commission at Albany, an examination was held for the positions of draughtsmen and map makers in the Department of the State Engineer The examination covered the general principles of drawing and map-making, together with topographical drawing and map projecting. There were 16 applicants, 7 of whom were found qualifled. Questions for this examination were prepared by Prof. E. A. Fuertes, of Cornell University. Examining Boards. I have heretofore had occasion to speak of the necessity of a revision of the law governing the pay of examining boards. This question can not be too emphatically laid before the Legislature, as it constitutes one of the greatest embarrassments in the work of this department. That law seems to have been conceived in the idea that citizens of the State would voluntarily do this work out of a sense of patriotism and love. These sentiments may have been sufficient to meet the demands upon them in the early days of the Commission, but they have long since become exhausted, and the question now presents itself in its practical and business aspect. I have frequently been compelled to call in expert assistants, whose work, if performed elsewhere, would command a suitable recompense, but who have preferred to labor gratuitously rather than take the amount allowed by the State. One conspicuous instance occurred during the past year where it was necessary to employ the services of an expert who is capable of commanding $25 per day in his work, and who, having performed some work as an examiner for this department, refused to take the $5 allowed, preferring to work for nothing. Surely the State can not afford to be put in this ignominious position. It must again be remembered that the examinations in this department, so far as possible, take a practical turn, and persons in the employ of the State who are familiar with the duties of the positions for which examinations are held, are invaluable to this department. But such men usually and justly refuse to perform such labor, in so much as the law denies them compensation. We have been compelled by reason of these drawbacks to cast about in search of competent examiners, as the occasion has required it, wherever they could be found, who were willing to serve for the compensation allowed, or for no compensation, as the case may be. There is no other branch of the State service where men are commanded by law to do such work for nothing, and in this department, where the work is so exacting, complicated and extensive, this anomaly should exist no longer. Not only should the law governing the pay of examiners be amended, but the appropriation for that branch of the State department should be at least doubled. There should also be an increased appropriation for the office expenses of this department, which grow apace with the growth of examinations. The work here runs largely to detail, each examination involving an immense amount of correspondence, statistics, expenses for advertising, etc. All these have been multiplied since the organization of this department, yet the appropriation remains practically the same as in the beginning. An appropriation sufficiently liberal to pay examiners and to meet the office expenses would permit of a more thorough and satisfactory organization of examining boards, and permit the department to give greater publicity to its methods, examinations and other matters pertaining thereto of importance to the public Notwithstanding the embarrassments which surround the work of this department, some of which are pointed out above, and the stubborn conflict which it is constantly waging against the hostile sentiments which have always contested its progress, I am gratified to be able to say, as a result of three years of experience as chief examiner of this department, that its advance is worthy of comment and congratulation. Not only is this manifested by the extension of the classified service, the growth of the competitive schedule and the increase of the number of applicants and their superior character, but a more substantial evidence of its progress is found in the general approval and the growing admiration for its methods on behalf of appointing officers and the general public. From this source it is now conceded that this Commission is engaged in enforcing a practical business idea rather than wasting its energies in devotion to a pedantic and futile theory. And instead of embarrassing public officers in their appointments it renders them incalculable assistance and furnishes for them a haven where they may hide from the ugly turbulence of partisan hunger for spoils. I desire to express my obligation to the Commission for the confidence and assistance which has been extended to me on your part in all my work during the year. I desire also to state in answer to certain strictures which have appeared in the press upon your purposes and methods in selecting my successor, that I have fully approved of your course in filling this position in the way you have. The test applied, I believe, was adequate and just, and I am strongly committed to the policy of filling such a position by the merit test. This, together with all other positions in your office, should be removed as far as possible from the influence and solici ations of personal interests, and should be made to stand upon their own merit and receive the security of tenure which such a course would naturally beget. Few realize how great is the power, for good or evil, which is possessed by the employes of your office. The service may be said, ultimately, to depend upon the fidelity and ability with which they perform the duties assigned to them. No matter how able may be the administration of the Commission, or how adequate the law and rules under which it operates, your work may all be nullified by ignorance or neglect of the official mechanism by which it is made effectual. All examination papers are in the custody of your office. The grading of all persons on the eligible lists is made here. Upon the certificate of your secretary depends the status of every person in the classified service. I need not further enumerate the features of this immense and serious responsibility. They are known to you, if not to the public, and both you and the public know that not a spot has marred the long and splendid record of your secretary and clerk, upon whom this responsi bility chiefly rests. Having occupied for nearly three years the closest relations with them, personally and officially, with an opportunity to take the full measure of their capacity and integrity, I feel it my privilege as well as my duty to publicly record their claims to the gratitude of the Commission and the public, for their intelligent and unswerving devotion to duty. Here are found the best fruits of civil service reform; the personification of those virtues which exist outside the pale of patronage, and are developed by self reliance and continuity of service. I have the honor to remain, very respectfully, THOMAS CARMODY, Chief Examiner. |