and energies of the Commission and its staff. The personal attention of the Commissioners to many of the details of the work, and the meagre appropriations granted the department has left little opportunity for extension along new lines, though some progress has been made.

There has been no important legislation affecting the department during the year, although unsuccessful attempts were made to change the legislation of 1913, fixing the terms of the State Civil Service Commissioners, one for two years from February 1st, 1913; one for four year from February 1st, 1913, and one for six years from February 1st, 1913, and upon the expiration of the last of such terms, the appointment of Commissioners for a term of six years from the 1st day of February of the year in which such Commissioner was appointed. This plan gives stability to the Commission, providing as it does for the expiration of the term of one Commisioner every two years, leaving two Commissioners who are familiar with the work of the department, and prevents the confusion and bad effects caused by an entire change of administration. Furthermore, this fixing of the terms of the Commissioners will give to the Commission more stability besides being an incentive to the members to apply themselves more fully to its work, and will insure its independence to a large degree, in that it will be less amenable to the orders or directions of the appointing power than ever before, or than it would be if subject to removal at any time.

The advance step taken by the Commission last year by the inauguration of oral examinations has borne out our opinion that it would result in obtaining for the service a most superior class of candidates for selection from the eligible lists. Many of the State departments have commended the Commission upon the high grade of men they have secured by reason of this forward step. The Commissioners have personally conducted these examinations in many cities throughout the State during the past two years and 1135 candidates have been so examined by them. This has entailed much additional work upon the Commission and the employees of the department, but the results achieved, we believe, have justified the labor and expense.

In the Commission's report for the year 1913, it suggested certain amendments to the Civil Service Law. These suggestions will be found in detail on pages ten to fourteen thereof inclusive. The Commission again suggests the propriety of this legislation for the good of the service.

This Commision has had no litigation during the past year, and the only litigation to which it has been a party during the past two years, was the case of the People ex rel. Murphy v. The Commission, which is referred to on pages fourteen and fifteen of the Commission's report for 1913, and in which the Commission's classification was sustained.

Municipal Civil Service Rules

During the year two new cities were created by legislative act, to wit: Batavia and Norwich, making a total of fifty-four. The organization of these municipal governments did not take effect however during the year, under the terms of the new charters, and no action looking to the adoption of Civil Service rules and regulations has been taken, although this Commission has been advising and consulting with the authorities to that end.

Hearings

Section 6 of the Civil Service Law requires the Commission to make investigation concerning and report upon all matters touching the enforcement and effect of the provisions of the law, rules and regulations. In compliance with this provision, the Commission has held a number of hearings throughout the State during the year, the most important of which were held in the city of Buffalo and in New York City.

In the City of Buffalo, the Commision met in the Supervisor's room at the City Hall at 10 A. M. on May 20th, 1914, for the purpose of instituting an investigation concerning an alleged "leak" in connection with an examination for the position of General Clerk in the Municipal Service, conducted by the Municipal Civil Service Commission on the evening of April 2nd, 1914. This matter had previously been investigated by a Committee of the Board of Aldermen, and its report thereon was received by

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this Commission, together with a copy of the testimony taken. The Municipal Commissioners were Dr. John B. Coakley, John B. McNeill and Gustavus T. Britt, and the Secretary of the Commission was Stephen V. Galvin.

Witnesses were examined by the Commission on each day and evening from May 20th, 1914, to May 27th, 1914, and on May 21st a Special Committee, composed of Commissioner Meyer Wolff and Secretary John C. Birdseye of the State Commission, was appointed to consider the evidence and information presented to the Commission in connection with the investigation, and on the 22d day of May, said special committee presented its report to the State Commission recommending

1st. The cancellation of the examination and the rescinding of all records and proceedings in connection therewith.

2d. That Stephen V. Galvin, secretary of the Municipal Commission, be requested to resign forthwith.

3d. That the three Municipal Commissioners be requested to resign forthwith.

4th. That in case any one of said Commissioners refuse to resign upon request of the State Commission, proceedings be instituted at once to remove them from office in accordance with Section 11 of the Civil Service Law.

5th. That as soon as a vacancy or vacancies occur in said Commission pending this investigation, the State Commission proceed to fill such office of Municipal Commissioner in accordance with said Section 11 of the Civil Service Law.

6th. That copy of said report be forthwith served on each member of said Commission.

This report of the special committee was unanimously adopted and copy of the report and notice of the adoption was served on each Commissioner and on Stephen V. Galvin, the Secretary.

On May 23d, Commissioners Coakley and McNeill informed the State Commission that Secretary Galvin had resigned; that his resignation had been accepted and that they had forwarded their resignations to the Mayor. Commissioner Britt refused to resign, whereupon the State Commission formulated charges

for incompetency, inefficiency, neglect of duty or violations of the provisions of Civil Service Law, Rules and Regulations, concerning the matters set forth in said report and cited said Britt to appear before the State Commission at the Hotel Lafayette in the City of Buffalo, New York, Monday the 25th day of May, 1914, at three o'clock in the afternoon, to show cause why he should not be removed from the office of Municipal Civil Service Commissioner of the City of Buffalo.

On said 25th day of May, 1914, pursuant to said citation, said Gustavus T. Britt appeared before the State Commission and made written answer thereto and to said charges and was given an opportunity to make a personal explanation. He was granted the right to appear by counsel. He and his counsel were heard, and after such hearing and on filing his written answer, the State Commission determined and found that said charges were substantially true, and pursuant to the authority vested in them the State Civil Service Commission did order, subject to the approval of the Governor, "that said Gustavus T. Britt be and he hereby is removed from the office of Municipal Civil Service Commissioner of the City of Buffalo, New York, for incompetency, inefficiency, neglect of duty and violation of the provisions of the Civil Service Law."

This action of the State Commision was subsequently and on the 2d day of June, 1914, approved by the Governor, and on the 3d day of June, 1914, the State Civil Service Commision, pursuant to the provisions of Section 11 of the Civil Service Law, appointed Charles L. Feldman, a Municipal Civil Service Commissioner in place and stead of John B. Coakley, resigned; and appointed Cyrus L. Barber, a Municipal Civil Service Commissioner of the City of Buffalo in place and stead of John B. McNeill, resigned; and appointed William F. Wierling, a Municipal Civil Service Commissioner for the City of Buffalo in place and stead of Gustavus T. Britt, removed.

The orders of removal of said Britt and the appointment of said Feldman, Barber and Wierling were thereafter duly filed in the office of the Clerk of the City of Buffalo.

The new Municipal Civil Service Commision immediately qualified and entered upon its duties, and the State Commission

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is informed that the new Commission is doing excellent and efficient work for the merit systems in the City of Buffalo.

On the eight day of September, 1914, the State Commission started an examination of the records of the Municipal Civil Service Commission of the City of New York. Many complaints of violations and irregularities were received before and during said examination, and after such examination covering a period of ten days, the State Commission concluded that an investigation of the said Municipal Commission, and of the application and enforcement of the Civil Service Law and rules in said city, and the various departments thereof, was deemed necessary. On the 18th day of September, 1914, notice was served upon the Municipal Commission that such investigation would begin on the 28th day of September, 1914; that such investigation would be open to the public; that said Commissioners would be permitted to appear in person and by counsel and given the right to examine and cross-examine witnesses.

Said investigation, however, did not begin until September 29, 1914. All the Commissioners appeared in person and they were represented by Corporation Counsel Frank L. Polk, Assistant Corporation Counsel Stover and Frederick R. Coudert, Esq., and toward the end by Mr. Howard Ganz. The Attorney-General of the State of New York, assigned Hon. Frank Moss as a Special Deputy-Attorney-General to conduct said investigation on behalf of the State of New York.

So wide and far reaching an enquiry has never been undertaken by any State Civil Service Commission, and it is the first time in the history of Civil Service Commissions that an investigation of the law and rules and the administration thereof in New York City has been had.

The State Commission entered upon the investigation with some temerity and has labored diligently and hard; over 7,000 pages of testimony have been thus far taken, and the State Commissioners hope that on the completion of its labors, results greatly beneficial to the service will have been accomplished.

The Commission held other hearings on many matters in various parts of the State.