Promotion of Storekeeper to Steward, State Hospital, West Haverstraw

The Secretary presented the matter of the promotion of Mr. Thompson, storekeeper at the State Hospital, West Haverstraw, salary $720 per annum and maintenance, to the position of steward, same institution, salary $1200 per annum and maintenance. On motion the change was approved, it appearing that the position of storekeeper had been abolished and the position of steward created recently by the Salary Classification Commission with the approval of the Governor.

(February 20, 1912.)

Appointment of Patrolmen, Illegal, City Service, Oswego

Communication from William V. Burr, Esq., President Municipal Civil Service Commission, Oswego, under date of February 8th, was read, requesting the opinion of the Commission as to the legality of the appointment of two patrolmen in said city from a list established and in force prior to December, 1911. It was the opinion of the Commission that the life of the eligible list from which the two appointments had been made was terminated by the establishment of the list of December, 1911; that the cancellation of said list of 1911 cannot be construed as reviving the previous list; that the Municipal Civil Service Commission has no authority to certify names from said old list at this time; and that the Board of Police and Fire Commissioners has no right to make appointments from said old list or to recognize it in any way since the date of the establishment of the list of December last. The Commission was further of the opinion that the Municipal Civil Service Commission should notify the Board of Police and Fire Commissioners that the appointments of the patrolmen in question cannot be accepted and that said Municipal Commission should refuse to recognize said appointments or to certify the accounts for services of the persons alleged to have been appointed. (February 20, 1912.)

Employees of State Schools of Agriculture

An opinion of the Attorney-General, under date of February 23d, concerning the status under the civil service rules of em

ployees at the State schools of agriculture, Morrisville, Alfred University, Alfred, N. Y., and St. Lawrence University, Canton, N. Y., was read. It appearing that all the employees at these schools, other than teachers, are in the classified service and subject to the civil service rules, the Secretary was directed to communicate with the directors of the schools at Canton and Alfred, the school at Morrisville being already classified, and request a list of the employees, with names, titles of positions, dates of appointment, and salaries, in order that the matter of classification may be given immediate attention.

(February 27, 1912.)

Temporary Leave of Absence Not to Bar Candidate From Promotion, Department of Highways.

A communication from Mr. P. F. Newell, Buffalo, under date of February 16th, relative to his status for promotion to the position of assistant engineer in view of his separation from the service for a period of about five weeks, was presented. It was the opinion of the Commission that Mr. Newell should not be barred from promotion because of his temporary leave of absence, and it was decided that in case the Department of Highways desired to appoint him from the list it could do so, notwithstanding the fact that his continuous term of service was technically broken as indicated.

(February 27, 1912.)

Lists Not to be Certified by Judicial Districts, Department of Public Works and Department of Highways

Communication from Superintendent of Public Works Peck, February 21st, requesting an amendment to the regulations so as to permit certification by judicial districts from the list recently established for the position of special agent, was submitted. On motion the application was denied, for the reason that compliance with the request would absolutely debar persons residing in certain parts of the State from being admitted to examination for, or being appointed to, the position in question.

The letter of the State Department of Highways, under date of February 20th, requesting an amendment to the regulations so as

to permit certification by judicial districts of names from the eligible lists for the positions of assistant civil engineer, first assistant engineer, and resident engineer, was read. On motion the application was denied, as the Commission considered it impracticable to limit certification as requested.

(February 27, 1912.)

Schedule of Officers' Salaries, State Hospital Service, Accepted

The Secretary presented a communication from the State Commission in Lunacy, under date of February 20th, transmitting copy of proposed schedule of officers' salaries for the information and approval of the Commission. On motion the Secretary was directed to inform the State Commission in Lunacy that the several items in the schedule which touch the jurisdiction of this Commission are accepted. (February 27, 1912.)

Maximum Salary for Assistant Engineers, State Engineer's Department, Increased

A letter from State Engineer Bensel, under date of March 1st, requesting approval of extension of the maximum salary grade of assistant engineers from $6 to $7 per day, was submitted. On motion it was

Resolved, That, for the purpose of appointment or promotion, the maximum salary grade of the position of assistant civil engineer in the Department of the State Engineer and Surveyor be and hereby is increased from $6 to $7 per day.

(March 11, 1912.)

Request for Exception From Examination for District Supervisors, Department of Highways, Denied

The Secretary read a communication from the State Department of Highways, under date of March 6th, requesting suspension of the rule requiring examination in the cases of Merlin J. Platt, Frederick C. Simerson, and Jesse Jacobs, to be employed as district supervisors at salary of $1600 each per annum. On motion the request was denied.

(March 11, 1912.)

Board of Examiners for Medical Positions

Resolved, That the ruling of this Commission of November 17, 1910, providing that the committee to have charge of all medical examinations held for positions under the Lunacy Commission below the grade of superintendent, except in the hospitals for the criminal insane, consist of one superintendent to be selected by the vote of the representatives of the State hospitals with the Commission in Lunacy; the medical inspector, and the director of the psychiatric institute, be amended by adding to the committee the Chief Examiner of the State Civil Service Commission.

Resolved, That the Board of Examiners to have charge of promotion examinations for the positions of hospital superintendent and medical inspector consist of two State hospital superintendents, one to be selected by the vote of the representatives of the State hospitals with the Commission in Lunacy, and the other to be appointed by the State Civil Service Commission; the director of the psychiatric institute; and the Chief Examiner of the State Civil Service Commission.

(March 12, 1912.)

Examination for Odontologist, State Hospital Service

The Secretary presented a communication from the State Commission in Lunacy, under date of February 28th, requesting opinion as to the propriety of classifying in the non-competitive class the position of odontologist, or dental expert, hospital service. On motion the Secretary was directed to inform the State Commission in Lunacy that several examinations for the position of dentist in the State service, at compensation far below that proposed, had been successfully held, and that it believes that competition for the position should be tried.

(March 12, 1912.)

Skilled Laborers, Department of Highways, Onondaga County

A letter from County Superintendent of Highways Bogardus, Syracuse, N. Y., under date of March 7th, relative to the employment of skilled laborers was again presented. It was

Resolved, That the employment of laborers in the Department of Highways, Onondaga county, to lay out and perform the higher order of mechanical work, and to prepare road rollers and handle

road building machinery, compensation ranging from $65 to $90 per month, depending upon the class of work for which each may be required, be and hereby is approved.

(March 12, 1912.)

Employee of Commission to Investigate Conditions in Factories

A communication from Hon. Robert F. Wagner, Chairman, Commission to Investigate Conditions in Factories, under date of March 8th, with reference to the status, under the Civil Service Law, of employees of said Commission, was read. Upon reviewing the provisions of chapter 561, Laws of 1911, and the statute amendatory thereto, the Commission reached the conclusion that as the said Commission is, in a sense at least, a legislative committee, appointed for a specific purpose and to continue for a definite time, the employees of said Commission would not be subject to the provisions of the Civil Service Law and Rules. (March 12, 1912.)

Reinstatement of Assistant Engineer, State Engineer's Office

Communication from State Engineer Bensel, under date of March 8th, with reference to the reinstatement of Charles Kiehm, was received and considered. It appearing that Mr. Kiehm was originally appointed assistant engineer in the office of the State Engineer and Surveyor, July, 1906, and continued therein until September, 1910, when he was transferred to the Barge Canal Terminal Commission for similar service; that he continued with the latter Commission until February, 1911, when he was temporarily advanced to the position of resident engineer, in which position he continued until April, 1911, at which time his services terminated, due to the abolishment of the Barge Canal Terminal Commission; and it further appearing that the duties of Mr. Kiehm while with the Barge Canal Terminal Commission were in a sense related to the Department of the State Engineer, that official being chairman of the Commission; it was on motion,

Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Commission that Mr. Kiehm is eligible for reinstatement to the position of assistant civil engineer in the office of the State Engineer and Surveyor at any time prior to April 1, 1912.

(March 12, 1912.)