The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-02-29
THE TREASURY EXAMINATIONS.

We print the following account of the
treasury examinations as authoritative. 1t
will be read with interest by those expect
ing to be candidates for appointments
So much has been said, and so much
more imagined, concerning the proposed ex-
aminations for admission to the civil SER
vice under the rules lately adopted, that o
simple statement of the actual operations
and results of the similar examinations,
now and for considerable time conducted
at the Treasury department, cannot fail to
be of interest. On the goth of July, 1870,
Mr.. Boutwell, issued his instructions to a
board of examiners, which have since been
substantially followed, and are now in sue
cessful operation. The system has not
been changed since the adoption of the new
rules of the civil service commission. The
method by which positions are sought,
examinations conducted and appoint
ments obtained in the Treasury Department
is as follows: Any person desiring a posi-
ton at the disposal of the Secretary makes
application in writing, either specifying the
particular office which he desires or not, as
the case may be, and all these applications
are filed with the appointment clerk, and
from time to time, whenever a vacancy
may occur, the Secretary designates in
writing some one of the applicants, who,
upon the receipt of the notice, presents
himself for examination. Upon the ques-
ton of designation alone can political infu-
ence, in the present system, be brought to
bear. The Secretary has entire discretion
to designate whom he pleases. After
this step has been taken, all the candi-
dates are upon an equality and are ex-
amined in substantially the same manner.
The person receiving the designation from
the Secretary reports at the Treasury upon
the day appointed, and is at once referred
to the board of examiners, who begin their
work without delay. The board is COM
posed of three persons-Mr. Z. B. Elliott,
chief clerk of the bureau of statistics, Mr..
j. H. Saville, chief clerk of the Treasury
department, who participate m all exami-
nations, and the chief clerk of the bureau
in which the vacancy exists. The APP
plicants have no delay in examination,
as the board is in constant session
and ready to begin their work at any time.
Candidates are generally permitted to APP
point, if within reasonable time, their
own day of examination, and when this
work is once begun they are required to
continue until it is completed. The exam
nation is altogether in writing, and covers
the special duties of the position to which
appointment is sought and the general
branches of ordinary instruction. No bet
ter idea of the examination can be given
than by presenting a copy Of an actual set
of questions for admission to one of the
clerkships in the Treasury Department.
These are as follows
l. Name?
2 Grade for which designatedi
8. In what Office
4. Residence?
5. Place of birth F..
6. Date of birth
MATES, Languages, bookkeeping, Science, Art,
s. What subsequent experience in business or
profession ..a .r-.
o. What clerical experience?
TO- State the nature of the work, and give an
example illustrative of accounts compute
tions in which you have lately had practical ac
quaintance
IL, Write in figures the numbers: Six hundred
thousand and two hundred ninety thousand
and eighty one hundred thousandth; one tell
thousandth; one-tenth. tar
~. Write at length the numbers expressed by
the following figures. 10000; So04ol; 4O5o6070oo
lO0.0l1 jill.
10. Add the following mum bers and ascertain
the per cent of each of their sum;
1867
32l34
567l4 r.-
ga 32196 ~ ~
43lS7
246S5
965l7