the present Deputy State Engineer and Secretary of the American Society of Engineers; Professor David M. Green, Director of the Troy Polytechnic Institute; and associated in the earlier competition, Professor Cady Staley of Union College. Professor Staley's subsequent removal from the State necessitated his resignation, and Horace Andrews, Esq., the city engineer of Albany, was appointed in his stead, and served as a member of the Board at the November examination. At these competitions thirty-eight applicants

appeared, of whom thirty-three passed.

FOR GUARDS AT ELMIRA REFORMATORY two competitive examinations were held, on May twentieth and November eleventh, respectively; thirty-one candidates, twenty-two passe l.

FOR COURT INTERPRETERS AT NEW YORK CITY, May twentieth and November thirteenth; twelve candidates, eight passed.

FOR JANITORS OF COURTS AT NEW YORK CITY, May twentieth ; three candidates, two passed.

The Regents of the University finding it necessary to employ assistant examiners of the papers returned from the regents' classes in the academies and academical departments of union free schools subject to their visitation, and the services of these examiners being required at once, a competitive examination was held at the office of the Commission on November tenth, to fill the places temporarily. The candidates, in addition to the usual clerical tests, were examined in the several subjects in which they would be required to act as examiners. From the circumstances of the case the competition was necessarily limited. Six candidates presented themselves; three were found eligible. Two were immediately chosen, and within a few days the third was appointed. To these three provisional certificates of qualification were issued, enabling them to serve until an open competitive examination could be provided for. This will be held at the Albany High School, January fifteenth.

The general competitive examination for positions of first, second and third grade clerks, stenographers, and office messengers were held, November eleventh, at New York, Albany, Syracuse, Buffalo, Elmira and Watertown. As in previous years the Commission was favored by the assistance, as its representatives in arranging for and supervising the examinations at these places, of gentlemen most of whom had already served most acceptably in

the same capacity. Their kindly assistance has been formally recognized by the Commission.

At the close of the examination the papers of the candidates were at once forwarded to Albany, where the work of marking and grading was performed by the general Board of Examiners. There appeared at these examinations eighty-nine candidates, of whom seventy passed.

FOR LAW CLERKS IN THE STATE SERVICE, five candidates were examined at Albany at the general competitive examination, November eleventh, all of whom passed. The scheme of this examination, prepared by a special board designated by the Commission and consisting of Hon. Matthew Hale, Hon. William B. Ruggles and Hon. Edwin Countryman of Albany, embraced, in addition to the usual clerical tests, questions in general law, practice, the law of contracts, real estate and equity.

To meet the reasonable requirements of the State prison authorities, the Commission modified the rule respecting the qualifications of prison-keepers and guards, so as to provide for the appointment of a keeper either by promotion from the position of guard or from an eligible list of persons especially examined for the grade of keeper. The rule was further modified by requiring, as one test for appointment as keeper, experience in directing or governing men. The Commission designated a special board of examiners for prison officers, consisting of Hon. Louis D. Pillsbury, formerly Superintendent of State prisons and at present Warden of the New York penitentiary; the Hon. James W. Wadsworth, formerly State Comptroller; and Charles H. Kitchell, Esq., a prominent member of the New York Prision Association. The competitive examination for these positions was held at Sing Sing, November eighteenth; twenty-four candidates were examined, of whom twentyone passed.

The average age of those examined at the several competitive examinations was thirty-one years.

NON-COMPETITIVE EXAMINATIONS, SCHEDULE C.

Examinations have been held under the direction of the chief examiner for positions in Schedule C, requiring a non-competitive "pass" examination of persons nominated for the following positions:

or

ASSISTANT CLERKS OF COURTS.

ATTENDANTS of Courts.

COURT STENOGRAPHERS.

JANITORS OF COURTS.

COURT INTERPRETERS (temporary).

CORPORATION EXAMINER, Secretary of State's office.
STATIONERY AND DOCUMENT CLERK, Comptroller's office.
ASSISTANT CORPORATION TAX CLERK, Comptroller's office.
PHYSICIANS IN ASYLUMS.

LAW CLERK, Department of Public Instruction.
MATRON of Hudson River State Hospital.
SUPERINTENDENT of House of Refuge for Women.
CORPORATION TAX CLERK, State Treasurer's office.
ASSISTANT CLERKS of prisons.

MESSENGER in Comptroller's office.

STENOGRAPHER to Excise Board of New York (temporary, afterward filled from eligible list of November 11th, 1886).

EXCISE INSPECTORS of New York City.

GATEKEEPER at Castle Garden, Emigration Commissioners.
WATCHMAN at Castle Garden.

GUARDS at Elmira (temporarily appointed to positions, afterward filled from eligible lists after competitive examinations of May and November).

The average age of the persons examined for positions in Schedule C was thirty-eight years and seven months.

Besides these, seventy health officers have been examined, sixty of whom were found qualified.

POSITIONS IN SCHEDULE D.

Three hundred and forty-five positions in the State institutions have been filled as the result of examinations held under Schedule D.

THE PRACTICAL WORKING OF THE ACT IN THE CITIES.

The number of persons in the service of each city, the number of persons examined in each, and of those appointed under the rules to classified positions, has been stated in the table already given; some additional statistics of interest may be properly added in the case of each city, with the brief suggestion from the mayors or advisory boards.

NEW YORK.

The testimony on the practical working of the act in the city of New York carries perhaps more of interest and of weight from the fact that that city has been looked upon as the greatest stronghold of the spoils system; and light has been thrown, by recent criminal. trials, on the extent to which the doctrine that public office is to be used for the enrichment of the incumbents, may affect the aims and methods of municipal legislation.

The Hon. Wm. R. Grace, whose term as mayor expired January 1, 1887, when he was succeeded by the Hon. Abram S. Hewitt, writes to this Commission on the effect of the application of the Civil Service Law to appointments and promotions as to the character and efficiency of the persons appointed: "I think that its effect has been, in all respects, good. No complaints have been received as to the character or conduct of any of the persons who have been appointed under the Civil Service Law in the city of New York, and I am informed that, in many of the departments, the general character of the persons applying for appointment has improved in a marked degree. The character of the examinations held in this

city has been practical, and especially adapted to test the qualifications of candidates for the particular position they seek to enter. This I deem essential to the success of the system.'

66* * * One effect has been to relieve, to a considerable degree, the appointing power from importunity respecting appointments to all places coming within the civil service rules. The fact has come to be generally known that appointments to most places, under the city government, can only be made as a result of a competitive examination, and while undoubtedly those who have passed this examination and been placed upon the eligible list have in many instances done all in their power to secure their selection, yet this is a much less evil than that which existed under the former lack of system, when there were no means provided by law for ascertaining the qualifications of applicants. While those who were highest on the eligible list have not in all instances received appointments, yet the fact that a person stood at or near the head of the list has undoubtedly exercised a very considerable influence in the matter of appointments. This has been true to a very marked degree in the police department. A very large number of persons have competed for appointment as policemen, and an excellent body of men has thus been selected from whom the police commissioners could exercise the choice which the law gives them. The fact that. positions in the fire department are also open to competition has not yet become so generally known; partly, no doubt, owing to the fact that there has been a considerable increase in the number of policemen, while there has not been in the number of firemen. The secretary of the examining boards has been charged with the duty of making the fact that places in the fire department are open to competition better known, and I believe that when this comes. to be known, the effect in that department will be as beneficial as it has been in the police department."

Mayor Grace adds, in reference to political assessments and violations of the act: "I think there can be no doubt that the effect of the law in regard to political assessments has been to greatly diminish the extent to which such assessments were collected.

"I have no knowledge of any violation of sections 11 or 14 of the Civil Service Act, and have no reason to think that any such have been committed."