constantly being improved in the direction of "practice," not of "theory," as the result of experience and of the consultation of the various boards with each other Thus, the New York City board has, since the examination quoted, adopted a much better form of application from those desiring to enter the service. In this way is fulfilled the true spirit of civil-service reform—the 'American principle of being at once practical and progressive. THE BOSTON REGISTRY OF LABORERS. In Boston, the Massachusetts Civil-Service Commission has introduced a "merit system" for the benefit of laborers, on a non-competitive basis, which is as follows: An applicant for work as a common laborer has, first, to produce certificates from two respectable citizens, as shown in the accompanying paper marked "A." Then the clerk asks him the necessary questions to fill out the form No. 1, as shown in the accompanying paper marked "B"; and the statement is sworn to. Subsequently a card is filled out, as shown by “C.” An "M" in red ink indicates military service. A figure in blue ink indicates the number in the applicant's family depending upon him for support. The cards, when filled out in this way, are handed in to police head-quarters and sent out to the divisions indicated. The patrolman on the beat where the applicant lives, or a special officer detailed by the captain, writes on the card "steady and industrious," or words equivalent, if the man is all right; if he is a drunkard, or neglects his family, or sells liquor, or has been convicted of any offence within the past year, the officer so states. Where the report is satisfactory the man is entered on the register as one qualified to be a teamster or driver, but willing to work as a common laborer. Whether he is certified for work as a driver, or as a common laborer, is determined by the kind of service for which the first requisition calls on which he is entitled to be certified. If he is first certified as a common laborer, and does not happen to be selected (double the number called for being certified by the commission), he may be certified on the next requisition as a driver. The commission does not reject any man who applies for work as a common laborer (that is, when the register is open for additions to the list) and who produces the requisite certificates, unless it appears from his own statement, or from the police reports, or from some other responsible source, that he is not physically qualified, or that he sells intoxicating liquor, or is in the habit of using such liquor to excess, or has been convicted of some offence against the laws of the commonwealth during the year last past. If he appears to the registration clerk to be physically incapable he may be required to produce a certificate from a reputable physician. The cards returned by the police are arranged in alphabetical order for easy reference by name. The entries on the register are in the order of numbers. There is also a book in which the numbers are kept under headings showing the kind of work for which the applicant has applied, or for which he alleges capacity. The headings of a page, given with "D," show how it is done. When, for instance, the health department calls for five teamsters, the clerk takes the numbers that appear under the head of teamsters, marking them as they appear in the extreme left-hand column-with "M" or "N," which indicates military or naval experience, if they have had it, -with "X" if they have had previous experience in city work of the kind called for in the requisition, and with the figure denoting the number of dependents. The whole list can be gone through in a few minutes. Then, when he has all the numbers of teamsters before him, with the marks which denote the preferences to be observed, he can readily pick out the ten to be certified. He makes a memorandum of their numbers, and then takes the register and writes out the certification on the form provided. When the men are employed the numbers are checked, and a record made on the register giving date, department, etc. When an applicant wants to be certified for a special kind of work, such as stone-cutting, or gardening, he is required to produce certificates from his former employers as to his capacity to do such work. The regulations provide that when the service calls for men possessing superior physical qualifications the officer making the requisition shall so state, and the selection. will, so far as practicable, be made from those marked at the time of registration as possessing such qualifications. As showing the general intelligence of applicants for the labor service, it is found that about four fifths are able to read and write. Up to November, 1885, about 1,100 laborers had been registered, 800 certified for employment, and 400 employed. Under 100 were rejected on the report of the police as bad, or as having given false addresses. A difficulty arose at the outset from the fact that there were several thousand unemployed laborers in Boston, who would be turned against "civil-service reform " by designing politicians, if most of them were enrolled and only a few hundred got work. Public announcement was therefore made that registration would cease as soon as sufficient were enrolled to supply the probable needs of the departments for the next six months, and tickets for examinations were issued to applicants in the order of their coming. The results are stated as follows by Commissioner Bugbee: "The heads of departments are greatly relieved; and the laborers who formerly spent days and weeks hanging about the city yards and the corridors of the City Hall, soliciting the influence of the bosses and the councilmen, have their applications passed upon without delay, and in accordance with fixed rules which they can all understand. Those who are registered are told that it will not improve their chances of getting city work to bring any more certificates or references, or to bring any influences to bear upon the Commissioners or the heads of departments; that they are not sure of obtaining city work; and that, if employed, they should not stop trying to get work elsewhere." A.-CERTIFICATES FROM CITIZENS: Boston, Nov. 27, 1885. To the Civil Service Commissioners : I hereby certify that I have known Peter Brown, living at 25 Wall St., in Boston, for (state how long you have known him) ten years; that he is able-bodied, and of temperate and industrious habits; and that he is qualified for employment as a teamster in the labor service of the City of Boston. Name, George Smith. Residence, 75 Brighton St. Boston, Nov. 27, 1885 B.-APPLICANT'S STATEMENT: No. 1213. I, Peter Brown, hereby declare that I am 35 years of age; that I am now living at 25 Wall St.; that I am a citizen of the U. S.; that I have depending upon me for support wife and 5 children; that I was in the military service of the United States as a private for three years in time of war, and that I received an honorable discharge |