Essential Features of an Efficient Civil Service - Address Before the 17th Annual Conference of Mayors and Other Municipal Officials of the State of New York - Schenectady, N.Y., June 16, 17 and 18, 1926

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Rowan

An address by William Drennan, Commissioner of the Municipal Civil Service Commission of the City of New York, arguing for the essential conditions of an efficient civil service. The speech explains how the merit system reshaped American government administration and continues to challenge party government and public institutions. It emphasizes that civil service exams and constitutional provisions structure staffing by merit, while real administration power is shared with associate departments, which account for many practical criticisms and outcomes.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages10

Reading Time25 min

AccessFree to download

Essential features of an efficient civil service

Restrictions on use

Technical microform data

A Civil Service Commission must have the support of associate departments

Constitutional propositions and the role of examinations

Criticisms of civil service commissions and associated departments

97-84123-4Drennan,William Essential features of anefficient civil service..[New York] [1926] # COLUMBIA UNIVERSTY LIBRARIESPRESERVATION DIVISION BIBLIOGRAPHIC MICROFORM TARGET ORIGINAL MATERIAL AS FILMED·EXISTING BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD 308ZDrennan,Wi1lianBox 280Enrential features of an efficient civil serviceconanission,by William Drennnn …Now York,19261·ll p.23 cm. "Address before the 17t.h annua1 Conference of n.ayors and other municipal officials of the st.nteof New York,Schenectady,N.7..June 16,17,and 18,1926.Nuy ∈D ## RESTRICTIONS ON USE: Reproductions may not be made without permission from Columbia University Libraries. # TECHNICAL MICROFORM DATA FILM SIZE: mmREDUCTION RATIO: //:1IMAGE PLACEMENT:IA IA IBIIB DATE FILMED: Ga7INITIALS: m/P TRACKING\#; 24266 FILMED BY PRESERVATION RESOURCES,BETHLEHEM,PA. 121x # 正xsenfíal Heafures nf an王firient iuil eruíreUnmmitn 望 By WILLIAM DRENNAN Commissioner Municipal Civil Service Commissionof the City of New York 308 Z ex 280 Address Before the 17th Annual Conference of Mayorsand Other Munieipal Offtelals of the State of New YorkSchenectady,N.Y.,June 16,17 and 18th,1926. Essential Features of an Efficient Civil ServiceCommission. The death of a President at the hand of a disappointedofice seeker wrote the merit system into the administrative methodsof American government more significantly than a Federal con-stitutional amendment might have done. It initiated a movement of which popular approval wasdestined to enlarge the scope rather than restrict the application. It is the only movement that has challenged party govern-ment with any continuity of success.It is the only movement thathas challenged the American educational system for the affectionsof the people.It has challenged I say—not triumphed.It mightnot be well for representative government if it did obtain a com-plete triumph,but its hold on the people is so strong,yet so silentas to occasion no fear on the part of its most timid champion asto its future. 了une So jealous of it are the people that in the popular mindthere is no presumption of innocence for one who is even chargedwith offending against it. A Civil Service Commission Must Have the Supportof Associate Departments. While the merit system has not found the protection of theFederal Constitutionit is embodied in the organic law of our state. In substance our Constitution sets forth two simple pro·positions.They are that as far as practicable, lst.All positions shall be filled according to merit andfitness ascertained through examinations. 2nd.Such examinations shall be competitive. In the practical application of this mandate it is the exam.ination which is the dominant note,and as the examination hasbeen formally committed to Civil Service Commissions the thought-less impression has gained that Civil Service Commissions havecomplete jurisdiction and are therefore solely responsible for allCivil Service conditions. The performance of the task so created by the Constitutionrested with the Civil Service Commission alone,but a great massof civil service legislation was enacted creating other tasks greaterin number if not in importance,the performance of which wasentrusted to other branches of the government. As a matter of fact the laws enacted to give force to thisconstitutional provision give so little real power to the Civil Ser-vice Commissions that it would not be amiss to say the administration of 70%of Civil Service is under the control of associatedepartments;so that we have the singular situation of departmentsexercising a transcendent influence on the administration of a lawthe responsibility for which is by common consent visited upon anentirely different and comparatively innocent group of publicofficials. Many criticisms,therefore,leveled at Civil Serv

FAQs

Who delivered the address and in what role?

William Drennan delivered the address as Commissioner of the Municipal Civil Service Commission of the City of New York.

What constitutional propositions does the address highlight?

It states that, as far as practicable, positions should be filled by merit and fitness through examinations, and that such examinations should be competitive.

Why does the address say many criticisms of civil service commissions are unjust?

It argues that associate departments largely determine many civil service conditions through laws and practical administration, so responsibility should not fall solely on the commissions.

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Rowan