to retain in and add to the competitive class all positions for which competitive examination is practicable.

In these endeavors the Commission has had your earnest support.

Examinations

For the past two years the work of the examinations division has been considerably in arrears, because of an insufficient force of examiners and clerks, while during said period the number of persons examined has increased in a larger proportion than the examining force. On December 31, 1915, there remained unrated 2,246 sets of papers, while by reason of lack of sufficient assistants several examinations which should have been held in 1915 were postponed, such as senior clerk, messenger, orderly and watchman. During the year 21,078 persons were examined:

6. Noncompetitive positions rated at Albany... 7. Noncompetitive positions rated at institutions.

403

2,343

Held but not yet reported...

14

2,246

Total....

21,078

The number of examinations for scientific and technical positions has steadily increased, and examinations of this type consume a relatively large share of the time of the examiners. While much valuable assistance in the preparation and rating of high grade examinations has been rendered by experts engaged by the Commission, experience, nevertheless, shows that an examination suited to measure relative ability for almost any kind of work can best be framed under the supervision of examiners with practical experience in the preparation of competitive tests.

The following examinations were held for high-salaried positions during the year: Court stenographer, $3,600; director, Division of Communicable Diseases, State Department of Health, $4,000; director (female), Division of Public Health Nursing, State Department of Health, $2,500; chief and deputy chief, Automobile, Bureau, office of the Secretary of State, $2,700 to $3,200; assistant engineer, Water Power, Storage and Drainage, Conservation Commission, $3,000; assistant for field work, Examinations Division, State Education Department, $3,000; expert appraiser, Bureau of Special Franchises, State Tax Department, $3,000; statistician, State Department of Agriculture, $2,700; deputy commissioner, Bureau of Industrial Code, $3,500; deputy commissioner, Compensation Bureau, State Industrial Commission, $4,000; deputy claim agent, State Department of Public Works, $1,900 to $3,150; special agent, Audit Bureau, Comptroller's office, $3,000; special auditor for Canal Board, Comptroller's office, $12 per day; editor of the official bulletin, State Department of Labor, $2,500; manager of auction markets, Department of Foods and Markets, $3,000; physician, Public Service Commission, First District, $2,500; assistant counsel, Bronx Parkway Commission, $3,500 to $4,000.

Special attention is called to the examination held December 11, 1915, for the position of superintendent of the New York State Training School for Boys, Yorktown Heights. This is one of the most important positions which the Commission has endeavored to fill by competition, the salary being $4,500, which, with maintenance for the superintendent and his family, is equivalent to about $6,000 per annum. There were sixty-one applicants for the place and the papers are now in course of rating.

The use of oral examinations has been continued in special cases to determine personal qualifications and general fitness. In ordinary cases, we believe that oral examinations are inadvisable, as they make favoritism possible, and are apt to give rise to suspicion as to their fairness. There are cases, however, where they seem to be necessary to enable us to judge adequately certain personal characteristics, such as appearance, bearing, manners, tact and ability to express ideas clearly and forcibly, and in such cases we have used them successfully. The oral test

has been given in connection with twenty-eight written examinations. In the following examinations the test was wholly oral: Farm supervisor, with wife as matron, State Agricultural and Industrial School, Industry; instructor, with wife as matron, State Agricultural and Industrial School, Industry; assistant for field work, Examinations Division, Education Department; manager of auction markets, Department of Foods and Markets; inspector of heating, lighting and plumbing, office of Fiscal Supervisor of Charities; assistant counsel, Bronx Parkway Commission.

The number examined in open competitive examinations in 1915 is the largest in the history of the Commission, exceeding by 635 the number examined in 1914, which year showed an increase of more than 7,000 over 1913. Notwithstanding the large number of candidates examined the Commission has been able to rate papers and establish lists with greater promptitude than ever before, owing to the temporary employment of additional examiners, and to aid received by the detail of examiners from various departments, as follows: Department of Highways, 2, with total of 176 days' service; Public Service Commission, First District, 6, with total of 308 days' service; State Engineer and Surveyor, 3, with total of 77 days' service; Department of Public Works, 2, with total of 15 days' service.

A discouraging feature in connection with the work of the Commission in the past is the fact that examinations not infre quently have been requested by the heads of departments, and after the list of eligibles is established no appointment is made, for the reason, we suspect, that the individual whom it is desired to appoint, does not pass sufficiently high to be reached. Such examinations cause loss of time and effort on the part of the Commission and its employees, and also to the competitors. During the last five years there were no less than 150 different examinations held and lists established containing the names of 3,169 eligibles, from which no one was chosen.

The Commission holds examinations at intervals of about five weeks in thirty-four cities and villages throughout the State. Ten of these examination centers were added during the year, viz., Cobleskill, Dunkirk, Glens Falls. Lowville, Norwich, Oswego,

Port Henry, Riverhead, Warsaw and White Plains. The commission plans to increase the number of places for holding examinations from time to time as its appropriations will permit in order to afford the residents of country districts an opportunity of taking examinations at less expense for travel.

The rapid growth in the amount of work devolving upon the Commission is shown by the fact that during the five-year-period, 1906-1910, the 'number of persons examined was 61,543, while the total for the five-year period, 1911-1915, was 94,856, or an increase of 54 per cent. These figures indicate that it will soon be impossible for the Commission to handle its work without a decided increase of force, equipment and floor space.

A review of the register of eligible lists shows that there are a number of lists the term of which has expired owing to the four-year limitation period, and that during the year 1916 the maximum term will be reached for upwards of eighty lists, and that during the year 1917 at least ninety additional lists will likewise expire. Four years is too long a life for eligible lists.

The Commission considers it most desirable to hold more frequent examinations for many positions which are of a general character, but in order to do so it will require more appropriations, additional office room, and a greater number of assistants. We find that when lists have existed more than the year required by law it is frequently necessary to circularize a large number of eligibles to find persons willing to accept, as those whose names would be certified have since the examination married, died, moved away, or already entered the State service elsewhere and have been advanced beyond reach of salary paid in the position for which certification is asked. As a general practice, we believe, lists other than those established for positions of unusual requirements should be renewed at least every two years. The ideal plan would be to have a fresh list whenever an appointment is to be made, so that the best person in sight at the time could be secured. This is, of course, impracticable, but we should endeavor to come as near that as possible.

We trust that the Legislature will provide means for doing this work, and that we shall be able to anticipate to a large extent

at least the additions to the service and to have fresh and up-todate lists for submission to appointing officers. In the meantime the Commission is endeavoring to conserve its resources by avoiding holding a great number of examinations for positions which really differ very slightly, and by combining examinations which are chiefly differentiated by mere difference in title.

In the death of Philip H. Parthesius on February 16, 1915, the Commission lost an unusually competent examiner whose faithful service merits record here. We regret that the Legislature has not continued the appropriation for his position or for examiners to take his place.

Appeals from Ratings

A considerable part of the time of the Commission, the committee on appeals, and examiners, has been occupied with consideration of appeals from ratings given in examinations. At the outset a new policy was adopted in this connection, which requires a special report in each case from the original examiner, the chief examiner, and the committee on appeals, in the order given, and a review of the ratings of eligibles who might be superseded on the list if the appeal was allowed. Since February first appeals were received and considered by the present Commissioners from 296 persons who took competitive examinations. Of this number 248 were denied and 48 were granted. Seventy-one appeals were reviewed by the previous Commission during the month of January, and of said number 45 were denied and 26 granted. While the number of appeals is about the same as in recent years, the number allowed is considerably less owing to the practice of the present Commission not to give a rerating unless there is shown to be a manifest error.

So many of the appeals allowed by our predecessors seemed to us on investigation to have been allowed for insufficient reasons that in February we set aside all reratings on appeal and restored all eligible lists to their original condition, allowing, however, each candidate affected to renew his appeal. This action was attacked in the courts but was sustained by Mr. Justice Rudd in the case of People ex rel. Lowy v. Ordway. Few of the eligibles affected have renewed their appeals.