Circular letter to certain citizens requesting their views as to methods of appointment.... Answer from Hon. Erastus Brooks.. Answer from Hon. F. P. Olcott... Page. 261 262 264 264 264 265 266 267 270 Answer from Hon. C. E. Patterson Answer from Hon. James O. Putnam.. Answer from General H. E. Tremain... REGULATIONS GOVERNING ADMISSION TO THE CIVIL SERVICE OF CITIES, Brooklyn.... New York.. Buffalo.. 273 283 291 I have the honor to transmit herewith the first annual report of the Civil Service Commission. I desire to call attention to the proposed amendments of the existing law, which will be found at the close of the report. They are such as the experience of the Commissioners has led them to suggest, as proper and desirable, to complete and render more effective the system of Civil Service reform to which the State is fully committed. Their importance should lead to their careful consideration at an early day. GROVER CLEVELAND. REPORT. To his Excellency GROVER CLEVELAND, Governor of the State of New York: SIR-The New York Civil Service Commission has the honor to make this, its first report to your Excellency, in obedience to the fifth clause of the second section of the act to regulate and improve the Civil Service of the State, which requires the Commission to make an annual report to the Governor for transmission to the Legislature, showing its own action, the rules and regulations and the exceptions thereto in force, the practical effect thereof, and any suggestion it may approve for the more effectual accomplishment of the purposes of the act. ORGANIZATION AND ACTION OF THE COMMISSION. The Commission met at Albany on the 31st day of May, 1883, and organized by the appointment of John Jay, President; Silas W. Burt, Chief Examiner; James A. Betts, Secretary; Clarence B. Angle, Messenger; and subsequently Duncan C. McMillan, Stenographer to the Commission. The first duty imposed upon the Commission by the act was to aid the Governor as he might request in preparing suitable rules for carrying the act into effect, and his Excellency requested the Commission to prepare the classification of clerks and persons employed or being in the public service, called for by the sixth section, including in one or more of such classes, so far as practicable, all subordinate places, clerks and officers in the public service of the State. THE CLASSIFICATION OF STATE OFFICIALS. The first step toward such a classification was to secure a complete list of the State Civil Service. No such record existed, and some time was consumed in procuring from different quarters the necessary information. The State Comptroller, at the request of the Commis sion, furnished a list of all persons in the public service of the State, who are paid from the State treasury, with a specific statement of their official titles, duties and compensations. Circulars requesting information were also addressed to the State officers, heads of State institutions and boards, and the returns to these inquiries enabled the Commission to compile a summary of the public service, which is more complete and accurate than any heretofore published, and apart from the special purpose for which it was intended, it may be found interesting, as presenting a sketch at once comprehensive and minute of the State service, and useful as facilitating an inquiry how far salaries may with propriety be readjusted, and whether the force can be reduced without detriment to the interests of the State. A discreet reduction of the subordinate force, with a judicious readjustment of salaries, this Commission would regard as an important step toward the more effectual accomplishment of the purposes of the act to regulate and improve the civil service. The work of classification was then undertaken, and the Chief Examiner visited many of the asylums, prisons and other institutions to obtain specific information regarding the service rendered therein. By a fair construction of sections six and seven it was evident that the intention of the law was to include all positions in the service, except elective officers, those confirmed by the Senate, and laborers. The great variety of the public duties transacted by the employees of the State, and the lack of systematic organization in some departments made the work of classification difficult. After consideration of several plans it was decided to advise the division of the service into seven classes, viz.: 1. Clerks and others rendering similar services, including the deputies and assistants of the principal officers; 2. Positions of special or expert requirements, not attached to any of the great administrative departments; 3. Non-expert positions in the courts, offices and public buildings; 4. Positions in the Department of Public Works; 5. Positions in the Onondaga Salt Works; 6 Positions in the prisons and reformatories, and 7. Positions in the asylums, hospitals and under the commissioners of emigration. This classification responds, so far as seemed practicable, to the distinctive divisions of the service recognized in the Constitution and by the statutes. These seven classes were again divided into subdivisions based upon the different kinds of service to be rendered in each class, and the subdivisions, containing different ranks of officials, were again divided into grades so as to provide for a systematic method of promotion. In establishing these grades, difficulty was met in deciding their proper limits, particularly in Class I, subdivision I (clerkships), there |