The most striking characteristic of early probation officers was their heterogeneity. Their selection as probation officers was wholly dependent on the legislation within a jurisdiction, and there was great variation among probation officers in educational and vocational preparation. Many were from law enforcement, while significant numbers had social work backgrounds. Some were paid from public funds, others from private sources, and many were volunteers. While to some, probation was a career, others viewed it as an opportunity to serve on a limited basis. Flexner and Baldwin, both leading figures in the early days of probation, noted in 1914 that salaries of probation officers varied widely throughout the Nation. They recommended that the ideal salary range be from $1,000 per year to $1,500 for those employed in larger cities and $800-$1,200 for those in smaller cities and towns. Increments based on longevity were recommended. One of the earliest major conflicts in the development of probation was whether an officer should be subject to competitive civil service examination or hold an exempt position. Most political leaders favored an exempt status as did the judiciary. New York courts were instrumental in placing the option within the Civil Service Commission, which determined that probation officers should submit to competitive civil service examination. A sample 1910 civil service examination is included. A total of 33 footnotes are provided.