In February, 1886, there were submitted to this Commission, for approval, by his Honor, Daniel D. Whitney, mayor of the city of Brooklyn, proposed amendments to the rules and regulations of the Brooklyn Civil Service. In view of the character and effect of some of the changes proposed, and the extent of their departure from the rules and regulations established by the executive authority of the State, the Commission had a conference with officers of Brooklyn, at the Mayor's office in that city, and subsequently heard arguments on the subject in the cities of New York and Albany, and gave to the consideration of the proposed amendments careful attention. Its decisions, with the reasons for disapproving most of the proposed amendments, will be found in the Appendix. It is proper to add that the amendments were submitted with the assurance that they were intended to facilitate and make more practical and effective the intent of the act, and that no change was sought for by the amendments in opposition to the spirit and letter of the act. In a communication to the Commission, dated November 29, 1886, from his honor, Mayor Whitney, of Brooklyn, he says: "The character and efficiency of persons appointed in accordance with the Civil Service Law are far superior to those of their predecessors. 66* * * Since the law has relieved appointing officers from the necessity of listening to personal solicitation of candidates and their fitness, they have been enabled to apply themselves to their legitimate duties with much greater assiduity. In the fire and police departments the appointees are of a much higher grade of intelligence, and as favoritism has been entirely eliminated, those best qualified in both physique and character have been selected.” The Third Annual Report of the Civil Service Commission of the City of Brooklyn, bearing date December 1, 1886, shows that the present Commissioners, at the beginning of their official terms, had the valuable advice and assistance of their predecessors, and that they decided, in view of the experience of the past two years, to do away, as far as possible, with whatever had been found faulty and to maintain and extend what had proved desirable. Purely theoretical knowledge was relegated to a secondary place, and knowledge showing practical training or adaptability was placed at the head, and the report remarks: "The result has been most gratifying. The Civil Service has been lifted to a much higher plane; the public has become more firmly attached to the system of competitive examination; and the work of the various executive departments is much better done." The Brooklyn Board remarks upon the necessity of scrutinizing the endowments of character and fitness of applicants given by men who recklessly affix their signatures to papers of this nature. The mayors of other cities generally express a similar approval of the practical operation of the act. BUFFALO. The number of persons who passed examinations during the year was... The number of removals. The number of promotions. The average age of candidates, thirty-two years. 75 11 4 Mayor Becker, of Buffalo, says: "Its application to the police department has been very successful. It is in this department that the chief test has been made. The general effect has been to stimulate competency, even where the rules were not applied. * * * The commissioners of police approve the system. The fire commissioners have not applied it, but an examination of 600 applicants will be held in January, 1887, the first competitive one thrown open to the public. "The board of health, for the first time, comes under the Civil Service rules, and an examination for district physicians will be held in January, 1887." SYRACUSE. The number of promotions made, five; the average age of candidates, thirty-two years; education: common schools, forty-eight. Mayor Burns, of Syracuse, says he "believes it very good, as it brings with it worth and business principles, which must be of great benefit in the long run. 66 * * * The effect on appointing officers seems beneficial, in that, though obligated in the past, or importuned by interested friends, for some unworthy applicant, or one unfit for a desired position, though urgently pressed by political friends at a cost to the public good, such appointing officials can fearlessly appeal to the Civil Service law, and, by acting with such board in good faith, secure the best material for the public service. It surely gives more freedom to officers to act honestly and for the city's good than before such law was enforced.' "The effect on the appointments in the police and fire departments must necessarily be good, for what gives freedom of choice. to the appointing power, curbed only by the ability, fitness and standing of applicants, must be of especial benefit to these two departments." ROCHESTER. The number of persons who passed examinations during the year was... The number of promotions.. Average age of candidates, thirty-six years. Education : Common schools 108 4 122 17 3 George A. Benton, Secretary of the Rochester Board of Examiners, says that the effect of the application of the Civil Service act to appointment and promotion as to the character and efficiency of the person appointed is "good," and that "the appointing power is relieved, to a considerable extent, from the importunity of office seekers, and better men are secured." LONG ISLAND CITY. The number of persons who passed examinations during the year was The number of removals.. Education: Common schools. Academic Mayor Petry, of Long Island City, says: "The effect of the application of the Civil Service law has proved beneficial, in my opinion. 66 * * * The law has excluded unfit persons from the police force. The city has a very efficient force by reason of it. The fire department is controlled by the fire commissioners, and the force is composed of volunteers." ALBANY. The number of persons who passed examinations during the year was The number of removals. The number of promotions. The average age of candidates, thirty-one years. Education: 69 37 6 the year was The number of promotions. The average age of candidates, thirty-three years. Education: Academic.. Collegiate.. BINGHAMTON. The number of persons who passed examinations during the year was The number of removals Average age of candidates, thirty-four years. Education : Common school.. Collegiate 80 9 4 34 6 40 3 7 9 The seventh section of the act provides that "no person merely employed as a laborer or workman shall be required to be classified thereunder.' In the city of New York the number of laborers appearing by the last report of Supervisory Board (third report of this commission, page 133), appears to be 1,201, and the average number in Brooklyn employed at one time was 551. (Third report of Civil Service Commission in Brooklyn, page 7.) In writing to this commission, Mayor Grace says: "It is a matter deserving most careful consideration whether the system of appointing laborers which has been so useful in Boston might not with advantage be adopted in New York. "I urge upon the Commission the expediency of a very careful investigation of this subject, with reference especially to the experience that has been had in the city of Boston. Persons applying for appointment as laborers in that city, if they are found to be able-bodied and of respectable character, are placed on a list, from which selections are made." In Boston the whole number of laborers, December 1, 1885, on the pay-roll was 2,612, and it has been there deemed advisable, however delicate and difficult the task, to register those bringing satisfactory.certificates. And the success which has attended the experiment seems to justify a consideration of their method and its results, as there is no reason to believe that the laborers in New York are free from the discriminations to which they have been subjected in Boston by political managers, and no good reason why laborers should not be liberated from such interference. On this point the Civil Service Commissioners of Massachusetts say, in their last report: "The commissioners have not considered it expedient to apply rules to the selection of laborers, except in certain departments of the city of Boston, in which a considerable number of persons are |