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About The Oregon daily journal. (Portland, Or.) 1902-1972 | View Entire Issue (April 23, 1913)
li'.iL BE iii PflESEfJTCIIAIlTER liOOif y SCORED Sweeping Indictment of; Sys tem Made by Municipal Ex pert; Plan Kills Ambition, Destroys Incentive. Continued From Pag One.) I:;. 100,000 a year. There are approxl HatBly 1000 employes (exclusive of the, ' tvator department and of all unskilled labor). v., ; Ho Basil for Salary Kates. '".'- "Notwithstanding the large arnount Df money Involved, the Jarga number ot employes, and the importance of the Work they are assigned to perform, no . definite basis haa been adopted for de termlnlng the rates of salaries which ihduld be paid, ' Portland"? civil service reguJutiori has stopped with the exam tnatlon of applicants and supervision . oVer discharges While these two fac tors are fundamental they will not In themselves develop an efficient service. There is no central control over the rates of salaries to be paid employes, no specification of salary limits .with - tn a classification, or a grade of such classification, no definite provision lor . salary increases within a classification, "!.,. and no regulation establishing like com pensation for like service. "r'r7r Tfhat. the city's employes are ridt v paid according to the value of services . rendered is evident. Some are paid tpo much and some "not enough. The fact that, employes, receiving a high salary rate may perform a minimum of work and still continue to receive promotions : from year to year is most discouraging to employes who work" conscientiously and well, but receive no promotions. It soon destroys their incentive to be effi cient, kills their ambition and militates - eKalriBt a good .esprit de corps of the en tire city service.- -i j ,:.. . Bom Are Underpaid. "Any of the city departments may be uned for purpose of illustrating the lack of . adequate civil service control after appointment For example, the water department pays $600 to $1200 a year more for engineering service than the maximum amount paid for comparable V service In the engineering department. "Tliis situation is partly due to re strictions of the present charter con cerning tha higher grades of the engi neering service in the engineering de partment, but a like discrepancy In rates of pay is found In the lower grades unaffected by charter . restriction-. :' ; . .' -' '-' . "In the water department also there are two clerks doing exactly the same kind of work; one is paid SE a month, and the other 1125 per month. Clerks in the office of the auditor and treas urer and various departments doing j, work of the same general character have entirely different rates of pay. In the engineering department book- 5. keeping Js being done by a man em .ployed as a computer. Inspectors, ln- ' strument men and others engaged In survey work are paid not on tha. basis of civil service grades, but on the basis of. how much they can get. Portland l.'ut Itrvrr e.xprrt 1 1 r i ll I ncn I si fffi cifiicy until employr-H lining tho saniH kind ami nmntity of woik receive the suine coitiperimitiou for their services anil havo been examined upon the eama subjects. , No Grade Limits Specified, "This situation lias arisen largely on account of the fact that the civil serv ice commission does not specify the grade limits of the positions for which examinations are held and, consequent ly, can excrnlKO practically no super vision over promotions. '."Even though the grade of chalnman Is conxidered Inferior to thai, of Instru ment '..man, It is now possible for a chalnman to be paid more than an in strument man,' without having to take an examination-to get into. the higher grade. In fact, an Inspector in the en gineering, service may be paid more money than an assistant engineer whose entrance examination requires much more technical knowledge, experience and administrative capacity than : that taken by the Inspector. "Equitable control over promotion and salary increases can never be, ef fected until the , salary limit of each position are clearly specified prior to the holding of examinations. - ' "Chicago, New York and Philadelphia have been and are engaged at the pres ent time In a very exhaustive study of the duties of city employes and their compensation for service. , The results already obtained well warrant' the ex penditure made. Portland should rec ognize the fundamental truth that like services deserve, like pay. , ; ' . "The civil service commission is au thorized and directed to control pro motion as well as appointment of civil sevice employes. Section 3Q& of both the old and new, charter says that the commission shall classify places "'"and employment,. ., ; ??' ', Baslo Points get rortlu ' "Such classification shall be based upon the' respective functions of said offices, ; places , and : employments and the compensation attached thereto, and shall -bo arranged so as to permit the grading of offices, places and employ ments of like character In groups and subdivisions. Section Sit of both char ters specifies that 'the commission shall by its rules provide for promotion in the classified service on the basis of ascertained merit, seniority in service and standing upon examinations, ftc, "Just so long as the present condition exists wherein an employe of an In ferior grade may be paid more than an employ of a higher grade, the way will continue open for promotions by polit ical preferment and not honest effort. "Equitable adjustment of salary rates, commonly known as standardization of salaries, recognizes the following points as basic In promoting efficient personal service: : .'."..' . v "Indefinite claslflcatlon of the service according to the character and respons ibility of duties. . -'- "Definite determination of grades with in each class and allocation to each grade of the duties to be comprehended there in. : . "Adoption of titles which shall be standard throughout the service. "Establishment of a maximum and minimum limitation upon the salary rates of each grade. ,. "Establishment of a definite scale of salary rates within each grade. ' " "Administration of the civil service law in Portland relates only, to the ex amination of an employe and regulation of his discharge. The whole question of developing efficiency In the employes re tained In office has been entirely neg lected. Personality and Character ITegleoted, "There are certain essential factors in Qualifying for city service which cannot be brought out by written examinations. Personality and character are primarily tiiatlcTM df JiiiJr, im 'nt inil personal knowl edge, and t !i o nualii icatlous of any can dliiato upon ttii-su lines can never ue de termined by his ability to answer stated questions. "The almost total lack of supervision over these two essentials for city em ployes Is one of the conspicuous blun ders of the present civil service commis sion. "', "Often the statements of appllcants'as to experience are not Investigated by the examiners; In fact, no regular checking up of statements . on ; the application blanks has been Inaugurated. Any check which may be made Is Initiated either upon complaint or suspicion aroused when the application la submltteo. "Investigation of records, however, is only one factor In determining the char acter of men making application for positions. Too often former employers are willing to recommend to others men that they themselves would not keep. . "Discharge frequently is accompanied by a letter of recommendation. , Thus; even strict Investigation of experience, statements as to accuracy, tte., will not bring out all that Is wanted as to the character of thrcandldate. More atten tion must be given to interviews with candidates applying for positions Involv ing the exercise of administrative Judg ment and delegated power by a board of examiners politically uninterested and nonpartisan. .:.',:. " ''We would suggest for serious con slderation the plan now in operation In Philadelphia,' where the civil service commission, fter -determining in so far a possible, the fitness of candidates by written, examinations, sends those who have qualified to a number of business men to be interviewed . by them. The latter then -report to the commission their Impressions as r to character, personality and general fitness.';,:-- :"! : -;.' "KiV ;..';; .. v Methods MTeed Xsvlsiiig-. "Just what Intangible thing It is which goes to make up personality or character nobody knows; but every busi ness man knows that he would never undertake to appoint 'an exeoutive or semi-executive officer with onlv a writ ten examination as a basis. No more would he hire a night watchman on such a basis. Why is It, then that, although personality and character are prime requisites for the great majority of civil service employes, particularly the police, that so little attention has been given to these factors In Portland? "The office methods of the civil serv ice commission are in need of revision. There are no efficiency records. With out such records no control over promo tion or intelligent supervision over dis charge can' be effected. They are a protection both to the subordinate and the executive, and the only basis for the control of promotion without ex amination. - "This the new charter has recognized in the specifications Imposed in section 20, which provides that; . " 'Each department shall keep time re ports and cost data and efficiency rec ords of Its employes, which shall be made the basis of promotions and in crease of salary.' - "It Is. not done at the present time, and its lack places a very serious obsta cle in the way of civil service effi ciency, ... ,.' . ;. .- . Axt All Charges Bscordsd? "Charges against civil service em ployes are not filed, entered In book of records, or recorded In any other man ner which permits' deflnlte' conlrol over each case. It is true that a great many of the carbon copies of charges trans mitted to the civil service commission have attached thereto a statement of the disposition of the case. "However, there are a great many, the disposition of which are 'not re corded. ' We would suggest that every letter containing charges against a civil si r Iff. employe furwunl.-il to the civil service rommlbKiuu be entered arid re cortJeJ In such a manner that the initia tion ot such charges Hhall open an account against Jho particular employe in question to be cleared only bydis mlssal of the employe or the refutation of tha. charges against him. No regis ter of such cases is kept and there is no way of telling whether or not those charges on file with the civil aervlce commission are all of the cases brought against delinquent employes," ' BROTHERS GO TO LAW IN DISPUTE OVER $100 i i 1 vThe unique spectacle o- two brothers fighting over $100 which one hid loaned the other . was seen lh Justice Jones' court yesterday, when Thomas Donnelly attempted to recover the money from his brother, , James Donnelly, by civil action.''" '.':. V- ., ... Both of these men are of middle age ad apparently well to do. In the com plaint filed by Thomas Donnelly h states that he lent his brother the money-and It should , have been paid back to him soma time ago. In a counti: claim brought by this brother he state that he gave Thomas room, board .and laundry service which was to pay the debt. -i , After hearing the evidence Justice Jones gave them until May 8 to settle the difficulties between them. If they Cannot come to a satisfactory agreement by that time Judge Jones will decide for them. WAR SCARE BRINGS. BIG PROFITS TO FOUNDERS (United Pr aw& Wire.) Berlin, April 23 As a result of good business due to unusual heavy orders attributed to the general fear of war, the German arms and munition fac tories will declare a 12 per cent divi dend at their regular meeting May 7. Last year the "arms concern" as it Is known on the Bourse, paid a 25 per cent dividend. : ,. Be Sure You Are Right! - There is - DANGER! in neglecting learn ing the truth about a title. Our Guar anteed Certificate of Title affords protection. Inves tigate Call for booklet. TITLE & TRUST COMPANY Fourth and Oak - i RfpAsfrt c fr c ioihes of OiotiMirji; THERE'S an optimistic feel ing about Ben Selling men's suits that's infectious you sense it as soon as you slip into one and look out upon things from a -new viewpoint Be optimistic. Come in and get your.Spring Suit now. It's easily and quickly done' here, where there's sq much that's good from which to choose; All the good woolens all desirable weavesplain blues and grays mixtures, . , checks and stripes smooth and roiih finish clothes that are a little different from last year and a little better. For conservative men for young menmen ; who really care $25.00 to $35.00. Have You a Boy? " ' r 'r The boy's strenuous season is at hand. Bet ter get him .into one of. these companionable Suits, with the etra trousers, at $5 and $6: The boy will be satisfied, and so will you. Knicker Suits in all the wearable fabrics in all the -new patterns handsomely tailored $5 to $ 1 5. Second floor. Main Floor. A Brewer $3 Hat accentuates that look of distinction. We h ave the shape for y o ur face and-your figure. BEN SELLING LEADING CLOTHIER Morrison Street at Fourth ll . V. ' - II r . " a i J a- . . "i IJJ-.' '. " '. ... , I. i i '. . id. ' , , ji - , esss' I Mailorders Promptly Shipped LOWEST PRICES GUARANTEED jllifi MM k Grocer and Coffee Roaster TliuFsday audi lFpidlay Sale I Orders Accepted Upon Issue of Paper Stores Open AH Night SUGAR 21 pounds Beet ....... .$1.00 '18 pounds Fruit ...... .$1.00 Beet Sugar, Sack .$4.80 Fruit Sugar, Sack . . . . . . $5.05 No; Stamps on Sugar BUTTER 66c Per Roll CORNELIUS CREAMERY - . Strictly Fresh r Every Roll Guaranteed to Please the Best ROASTED FRESH EVERY DAY Circlc-B-Blcnd, 35c Lb., 3 Lbs. 31. OO This Blend Is Proving a .Great. Success. Every Pound Guaranteed to Please or Money Back - TRY OUR 25c AND 30c COFFEES THEY ARE GOOD! FULL PIECE, LB. 22c BACON BACKS, LB. ; . .21c Sugar Cured and Quality Right IL A M O ' Five lb. f7 Pall... a 3CU KETTLE RENDERED Pure 1 Regular Prices for Every Day 6 lbs. Rolled Oats 25 5 lbs. Macaroni, bulk .25 5 lbs. Vermicelli, bulk .... . . .25 5 lbs. Spaghetti, bulk ..... . . .25J 10 bars Laundry Soap ....... 25 5-lb. pail Best Lard ... ..... .75t? . 3 tins Tomatoes 25c 12 tins 95J 3 tins Corn 25c 12 tins 95? 3 tins String Beans ...25 6 tins Otter Clams .65c 6 tins Otter Cove Oysters . ...G5 6 tins Barataria Shrimp . . . . ..65t 8 tins Pimentoes -. k . . . . . v. . .65 6 tins Best Sol. Pk. Tomatoes 65 3 pkgs. Gloss or, Cornstarch. ,25 3 tins Carnation Milk 25 12 tins Carnation Milk 95 3 lbs. Best Head Rice ....... 25 4 lbs Best Jap. Rice . .25 Ginger Snaps, lb.. . 10 3 bottles Blueing or Ammonia 25 3 bottles Cider Vinegar . . . .25 3 tins Alaska Pink Salmon. ..25 3 lbs. Rhubarb .10 Cabbage, per pound ' , . ..2 3 heads " Hothouse Lettuce ... 10 1 sk. Bellamy's Rose; Flour $1.30 1 sack Sterling Flour $1.50 1 sack Leader , .V. .... .. . .$1.25 Tillamook Cheese 20c lb.-2 lbs. 35c 1 pkg. Quaker Oats 10 3 bottles Horseradish ...... .25 3 pkgs. Raisins . i. , . ... . . . . .25 2 pkgs. Ralston Bran, ....... .25 2 pks. Golden Rod Oats...;.25 1 pkg. Wheat Nuts .......... 25tf 1 lb. pkg. Goldenrod Pancake . .25J B lb. sack Pancake Flour . ...30i. 1 pkg.. Graham Crackers. . . . . .25J One 50c box Best Chocolates 40 3 pkgs. Macaroni ' . . . . . . . .. ., 25 3 pkgs. Spaghetti , v-rm rm-r25(J- 3 pkgs. Vermicelli . ......... 25 3 pkgs. Noodles . ... 25 1 lb. G. P. Tea, 60c grade . ; . .40 1 lb. Eng. B. Tea, 50c grade. .30 30c bottle Maraschino Cherries 25 Peanut Butter. . .10, 20, 35 Underwood Deviled Ham at .......,..15 and 30 1 tin Best Libby -Salmon .....20 1 Crescent Sardines ......... 20 1 tin Wesson's Cooking Oil . . 30 3 tins Avondale Molasses. ... .25 Sweet Pickles, quart ....... ..25 Sweet Pickles; quart . . . , . .... 20 German Dill Pickles, dozen ...20 1 pint Ripe Olives ....... 20 AsterMilklM.nl One 35c tin Mushrooms . .... .30 Two 25c tins Mushrooms. ....45 1 quart can Log Cabin Syrup 38 Two 15c tins Karo Syrup . ...25? 3 glasses H. M. Jelly ...... . .25 3 pkgs. Saratoga Chips. .... . .25 3 pkgs. Jello . . . .... , .... ... .25 3 pkgs. Lipton Jello .... . . . . .25 1 25c bot. Welch's Grape Juice 20 1 pkg. Sun Flower, Salt . . . . . . . .5 1 can Gebhart Chilli Con Car. 15K One 35c jar Ripe Olives . . : . .30 -1 lb...French. Mixed Candy;., -.20. 2 tins Asparagus Tips ...... .25J 1 tin Fancy Asparagus Tips. .25 3 tins Old Bouillon Cubes..,. 25. Fresh Cocoanuts . . . . . . . . ..25 pkgs. Chewing Gum 10 bots. Eddy's Salad Mustard 25 tin 'Swedish Anchovies . ... . 25 qt. jar Apple Butter .. ; . . . .20 bottle Tomato Catsup .....10 tins Underwood's Sardines, .25 3 40c tins Boneless Sardines ...$1 Pearl Oil 5-gallon tin. . ...$1.00 1 gallon Oil Can .... . ..... . 20 1 gallon Oil J 15 5-gallon Can 65 5 gallons Coal Oil .60 3 3 2 1 1 1 2 st ,1s. Snyder's Catsup 1 large bottle Salad Oil...... 35 Postum Cereal ............ .20, Runkle's Cocoa tin ..' .20 Ghirardelli's Cocoa tin 20J Lemon Extract, 25c bottle. . . ,18 Vanilla Extract, 35c bottle ...23 Pepper 10c tins .............. 5 Mustard 10c tins 5 Allspice 10c tins 5 Nutmeg 15c tins ........... 10 Cinnamon 15c tins ..... . . . . 10 Lipton Tea Best. .35 and 70 :2 tins . Table Peaches .... ..... 25 k 2 tins Table Pears . . . ... . . . .25 2 tins Table Apricots .25 2 tins Table Plums G. G. . . . . 25 2 flat tins Pineapple ;r. . . . . . .25 One 2-lb. tin Pineapple . ..... 15h One 40c tin Crab Meat ...... 35 1 lb. Cream Brick Cheese. ...25 1 lb. Imported Swiss Cheese. . 35 2 tins Norway Sardines ...... 25 3 tins Van Camp's Pork-Beans 25 15 lbs. Dry Onions ........ ..25 ; 3 lbs. Raisins .... . . ... ..... .25 Six 5c tins Sardines .25 ': 1 54b, tin Crescent B. Powder $1 1 5-lb. tin Royal B. Powder ,.,$a Lemons per dozen ......... 30tf Gold Dust ISiWZ.. 6 bars Crystal W. Soap 25 3 tins Old Dutch Cleanser.... 25 1 tin Polly. R. Cleanser ........ 5J 2 bars Sapolio .15 Skat or Uneed Hand Paste... 10 1 50c bot Liquid. Veneer ......40 1 25c bot Liquid Veneer ....25 3 tins Lye ...... , ,.25 3 bars Jap Rose Soap 25( 3 bars Steam Refined Soap... 25 One 65c Broom .............55 1 sack Potatoes . . .. . ... .... .55 2 dozen Ranch Eggs 45 1 jar Chipped Beef T7rr: ; rr.;15J 1 gal. tin Tomato Catsup..... 45 6-lb. box Gloss Starch ... ...60J 3 rolls Toilet Paper ....'".'..... 25 lbs. Small Wax Beans. . . ..25 lbs. Bayct Beans ........... 25 lbs. Lima Beans ........... 25 lbs. Lentils . . . ... :. -. 25 lbs. Sago ............. ... .25 lbs. Tapioca ............. .25 lbs. Fresh Roasted Peanuts 25 2 big Florida Grapefruit .....25 ,1 dozen Oranges. ...25o? to 40c 1 lb. English Walnuts, small 15 2 lbs. English Walnuts, large 45 3 lbs. Dry Popcorn ..... ...,25 pa pa STpRE NO. ONE STORE NO. TWO STORE NO. THREE I STORE NO. FOUR- 'lilPPor RaIIhiIIO 40l Hawthorne Ave., Cor. Grand 595 Washington; Cor. 19th Street 142 Second Street, Near Alder St. 405 Hawthorne, Near Grand Ave. tl V V1 V1ItlUv : PHONES E. 867, B-1615 1 A.3M1 Main 322 . -. v MAIN 4169 . B-16iS-Three Rings ' - 1 ; WATCR RrMT fJ n. D ' J U... Reliable, Accommodating Clerks N; BUTtER IS OUR LEADER - RESTAURANT AND BAKERY Swift's Premium .tr?;11 :laiJ,rV , ."ere The Onlv Low-Priced Store in th ve Carfare by Buying This Article Here OKn N0N ' OKn iitZfrZna k?4rlr Look for the Store as You Leave the Car ADC - LUNCIt 60C ffiHE 30 M: SO Green Trading Stamps To every customer who . brings this coupon to one of our 4 stores Thursday or Friday AND. MAKES A PURCHASE OF ONE DOLLAR or MORE l?e Will Give SO Extra Slacks These Stamps are given as an Induce ment for our customer to come to the store will not be honored .by driver. : '. '' -: I" ' Not Applied on Sugar and Butter Sales BELLAMY, THE GROCER 7 PKGS. SEARCHLIGHT 25c I 6 PKGS. DOMINO 2Zz 6 PKGS. BIRDSEYE . . , rr - JLEKGSJDKY.TUR.VYr DELIVERIES FREE TO Irvington, Albina and Rose City Friday and Monday Park Laurelhurst, Mount Tabor and Sunnyside I Richmond, Ladd't Addition and West Side I Outside points may make special Rrrr Thursday Afternoon and Saturday Every Day Except S. Portland and Heights ments with Store No. 1 for c1 'i v