HEN anybody asks you what Examinership Vacant in Ohio W you think of the success of POSITION as assistant chief a salary of $3,000, is vacant under the Ohio State Civil Service Commission, and a competitive non-assembled test has been ordered. Applications must be in not later than April 1. Competitors must have a college degree in engineering, and not less than five years' responsible experience in the practice of one or more of the specialized branches of en A examiner, at some new enterprise, your first question is, "Who's in it?" The test of the success of anything is the man, not the plan. A good man can be trusted to make an efficient plan; but the best plan in the world is useless without the right man to put it through. We are at war. We need every ounce of our power properly applied. We must have efficient government. We must have the best man in every place, high or low. number I can recall reading. It is a great improvement to keep away from stereotyped departments and methods of treatment. The present number has individuality, and a vigorous assertiveness which entitles it to rank as a real journal. John A. Sleicher, Editor of Leslie's Weekly: I think the new size and form of "Good Government" is a decided improvement. I suggest that the use of red on the cover doesn't add particularly to the title page and must somewhat increase the expense. Good, plain black ink and preferably on good white paper, such as you formerly used, would give the publication more of the appearance of a regular periodical issue, but the change in form is an improvement. Prof. Henry W. Farnam, Yale University: The present form is undoubtedly much more attractive and readable than the old form. The only suggestion which I have to make regarding "Good Government" is that it might just as well be somewhat briefer. I do not think the people who subscribe to such a periodical are keen for quantity. They subscribe because they are interested in the subject, and the less demand upon their time the magazine makes the better pleased they are. If I could get everything boiled down into four pages, I should like that better than sixteen pages. Francis L. Wurzburg, the New York American: I think the new form of "Good Government" is a distinct improvement over the style followed in the December issue. It strikes me that you could make it still more easy to read if you made use of additional sub-heads. Hon. William Dudley Foulke, Richmond, Ind.: The new form, on slightly colored paper with red ink on the first page, reminds me too much of various business and advertising pamphlets I receive, rather than of a serious periodical. I find too many observations which have nothing to do with civil service reform. There is too little definiteness as to facts. Ansley Wilcox, Buffalo, N. Y.: I have read with interest and pleasure the new "Good Government" for January-from first to last page, a thing never done by me before. It is bright and snappy-in some spots verging on the flippant, which does no harm in these days, but the point in every case is well made, and will carry conviction where soberer arguments might fail; at any rate it is not commonplace. I approve of it highly, and shall watch the development of the journal, on these new lines, with keen attention. Robert E. Ramsay, Editor of Postage: The quickest and best answer we can give you to your question is to tell you that for exactly the same reasons you outlined we have reduced "Postage," from the big flat size to a 6x9 size, in which shape the January issue will reach you. Of the two you enclose the newer size is-we think-far superior to the older size. David Lawrence, Washington correspondent of the New York Evening Post: I have just read "Good Government" from cover to cover, and think it is splendid. I think so much of it that I am enclosing a copy to our managing editor with the suggestion that he reprint that article, "The Trouble at Washington." Clinton Rogers Woodruff, Editor of the National Municipal Review: The January number of "Good Government" represents a great improvement over the old form, and I heartily felicitate you upon your achievement. NLY twelve applicants re Osponded to the Chicago Civil Service Commission's call for candidates for librarian of the Chicago public library. The non-assembled test closed January 22. Prominent citizens protested to the Commission before the test that the character of the examining board would not inspire confidence in the fairness of the examination. The board of examiners consisted of Herbert L. Putnam, librarian of the Library of Congress; Samuel Gessler of the Chicago public library board, and Joseph P. Geary of the Civil Service Commission. Only Mr. Putnam was felt to have the necessary experience, Mr. Gessler having been a cigar manufacturer and Mr. Geary an investigator under the state's attorney of Cook County before their recent respective appointments by Mayor Thompson. The Civil Service Commission has given broad powers to the examiners to establish minimum requirements of experience in rating the papers. Sporte UBSTANTIAL progress is reported in Los Angeles. The City Attorney, reversing the decision of his predecessor, has decided that the position of secretary of the Civil Service Commission is in the competitive class. He made a similar decision with regard to the Chief Inspector of Public works, after an exemption of that office had been passed by the Commission. This latter decision effectively prevents what promised to be an extensive raid on the merit principle. A plan was recently proposed by Dr. F. B. Kellogg, Vice-President of the Southern California Civil NIX third-class cities in PENNSYLVANIA have appointed civil service boards, under the law recently passed placing the police, fire, and public-works departments of the twenty-nine cities of that class under the merit system. The six are Allentown, Connellsville, Meadville, New Castle, Reading, and York. All except one have determined to make one board serve for the three functions. Meadville has selected a board which has jurisdiction over the police departrent only, and will appoint two other separate boards. HE annual meeting of the CONNECTICUT Association was held December 17, at New Haven. Prof. Henry W. Farnam, President, and the other officers were re-elected. The president's report dwelt mainly on the work being done by the National League in relation to the war. His report on the Connecticut situation showed that the civil service commission is working bravely under an inadequate law. Thomas Hewes, of Farmington, formerly civil service commissioner and secretary of the State Council of Defense, refused to ask exemption and was drafted into the army. He has been assigned to the Civilian Personnel Division of the Ordnance Department, at the request of Captain Van Dusen. $1.00 PER YEAR 10 CENTS A COPY Good overnment PUBLISHED MONTHLY AT 79 WALL ARTHUR R. KIMBALL HAROLD PHELPS STOKES WILLIAM A. BIRD, IV, Editor Entered at the Postoffice at New York as second-class mail matter. FEBRUARY, 1918 THE HE other day we received 115 subscriptions, almost all at once. As a consequence, this edition of Good Government is the largest in its history. The ball is rolling, and we don't want to lose the advantage of this momentum. Here are some dotted lines. All we ask is that you send us the names of some of your friends, so that we may induce them to become our friends, too. Editor of GOOD GOVERNMENT, 79 Wall Street, New York. I think some of the following people might subscribe to GOOD GOVERNMENT: Name Address Name Address Name Address Name Address Signed.. Address |