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adopted by the New Rochelle commission in rating the answers to questions on examination papers. While a review of the ratings given the papers of candidates for the position of inspector of public works does not disclose a disposition to help favorite candidates or hinder others, the marking seems to have been without proper system, the commission being inclined to give full credit or no credit at all to particular answers, and separate answers not being rated individually on a fixed basis. In the rating of the mathematical part of the examination the work was not required to be given in full, and a maximum mark was given to candidates who simply put down the correct answers, while those who performed the entire calculation on their papers, with absolute correctness except a single slight error, were given a zero mark.

The State Commission recommends that the New Rochelle commission thoroughly reform its methods of advertising and holding examinations and marking papers, and that in the rating of future technical examinations it secure expert assistance, if not possessed itself of the knowledge required.

ALBANY, N. Y., September 30, 1909.

Attest: JOHN C. BIRDSEYE,

Secretary.

APPENDIX B

CHIEF EXAMINER'S ANNUAL REPORT

CHIEF EXAMINER'S ANNUAL REPORT

ALBANY, N. Y., December 31, 1909.

To the State Civil Service Commission:

GENTLEMEN.-There is submitted the following report of the work of the examinations division for the calendar year 1909.

Organization of the Division

A number of important changes have taken place in the organization of the division during the year. Mr. Charles S. Fowler, chief examiner, resigned on March 16, 1909, and the position was not filled until June 1, 1909, when the present chief examiner entered upon his duties. Mr. C. Reeve Vanneman, senior examiner, resigned May 16, 1909, and he was succeeded on June 1, 1909, by Mr. Philip H. Parthesius, C.E., of Troy, N. Y., a graduate of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, whose name at that date was number one upon the list of assistant civil engineers. On December 20, 1909, Miss Ruth K. Child, junior clerk, resigned, and her position was filled by assignment from the administration division of this office of Miss Mabel P. Vanderpoel. On December 31, 1909, Mr. Carl O. Ullrich, engineering examiner, resigned, and Mr. Herbert E. Hayes, C.E., a graduate of Cornell University, has been selected to succeed him on January 1, 1910, the appointment being made by selection from the eligible register of rodmen, certification of the highest three eligibles willing to accept the appointment. On December 31, 1909, Mr. Joseph L. M. Harmon, examiner, resigned, and Mr. William L. Chase, A.B., a graduate of Yale University, has been selected to succeed him on January 1, 1910, appointment from the eligible register of examiners in modern languages, Education Department, certification being made

of the highest three eligibles willing to accept. Henry Rickman, page, who was appointed on August 1, 1908, was dismissed on February 15, 1909, and Edmund J. Flynn, who was appointed on the same date, resigned on September 1, 1909, and was followed by Edward Nusbaum, appointed from the page eligible register; he was later assigned to the administration division of this office, and John E. Carpenter was appointed from the eligible register of pages resulting from the examination held October 30, 1909, appointment being made on November 11, 1909.

Frequent changes do not tend to increase the efficiency of the examining division, but it is impossible to keep, on low salaries, men and women of ability and superior education such as are demanded for examining work.

The Work of the Division

The work of the examining division is on the increase, and a considerable part of the work has been done outside the office during the past seven months, special reference being made to the large engineering examinations held last summer. The examining work is increasing from the nature of the examinations, as well as from a natural increase in diversity of the examinations and an increase in the number of competitors. The trend of opinion among those qualified to judge seems to favor greater attention to the personal qualifications of candidates. A rating on personality demands an interview with each candidate and this requires much time and attention from the chief examiner who deems the matter of sufficient importance to demand his personal attention. This form of examination requires the chief examiner to do a considerable traveling about the State, and if the work continues to grow, an additional high grade employee will be needed in the near future in order to care for the work properly.

Statistics of the Year's Work

The work of the examinations division for the year may be summarized as follows:

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