New-York tribune., 1873-03-20

Although not rgidY adhered TO- the rue oi , wy ono
has been TO give In this branch OF the examlnaoh o %
question falling under each OF the iouowiMnS M enfage
common fractons ) decimal fractions; IF customs
or discount; (i) interest; (9 calcuiailoh VI and
dutes j purchase sale OF United staDes po into
O of gold into currency OF U Se
gold. Sometimes question in coinage or 'no UNIV
The seventh sheet contains simple exercise ~ m nd, &
statement of an account The rules require
dates shall DO examined upon the ~ Ut few
eanddates either admission or tor PS The OK
much proficiency in accounts ana taS @ nr technical
nnld give 10 those who had had an opportunity those
quire such KNOWLEDGE an unuuo a AZ inteieenco and
nacity Ths branch OF the examination ad Ia, ~ the
been very Slemen1Sys d@Ge account requiring merely
knowledge of its proper form ts % and 10 strike and
rcctly enter the debts ana oroui'o' """ W
carry forward the balance: ., rost,ons In history
The eighth sheet is devoted 10 questlons ILL.,, IN oues
government and geography only twS OF t tnrcH qTbe
hons usually being set under each OF those heads no
rules require that only nd Sat these shall be
"nr,5cipally such relate TO the United Staes; hnu
they limit the 81 Se oyen@ent of the United saes
have been taken keep within this range ana no
questions upon OF the a6oyementloned suec's arc
now used which do not relate to this country ,,
The ninth contains an exercise IN the corteeuoh
of false ornoHaphy and punctuation Ihe praolce nus
Eeen 10 select an extract of moderate difficulty from
some standard work, or from an Official report 10 mis-
punctuation marks and TO require the candidate 10 copy
the passage clearly and egby correcting mstakes IN
the words their order This plan has been preferred
to that sometimes followed of giving the candidates
humber OF extremely difficult and rarely-us words,
because il believed that furnishes far better test
their general knowledge OF AT tSa Shy
relative knowledge OF orthography. , 49,. r.,
The candidate knowledge of the syntax OF the En-
clish language tested by the tenth sheet Agreeably
TO the general plan OF the Board 10 MAKE the eXanln
tion a test of practical capacity, and not Of mere
scholastic attainment or knowledge of book rules, this
test consists simply In the CORRECTION OF elSt OF zen
simple examples OF false synax be SpSdato pot
| asked whether he knows anything about the formal
rules OF grammar but simply tested as TO his AFFINITY
| Ia uset
stantay same to detect its incorrect use NO ex
amples are given for correction that do not plainly
violate the accepted rules of grammar, and NICE or
| doubtful points are carefully excluded 49,,
brief In examinations admission, the candidate is
merely required 70 write letter OF prescribed length
nv himself i'm Others and fold and brief IT, In exam
nations for promotion questions pertaag 10 tne or or
ganization, practice and duties OF he once III
Vacancy exists given frequently in the form m OF
letter to the head Of the olce These inquiries ns can
| letter, folding and briedDg his reply.
To guard against candidates gaining any advantage by
ascertaning the questions used IN previous eXamlna
tions preparing themselves with reference thereto
the board has made rule to entirely change the
questions for each examination preserving however
nearly possible the same general range rms course
although il imposes the Board large amount OF ad-
| dtonal labor, has etectually prevented successful
| "cranmlng.' . -. ~. -. A.. ,o..,.o
many marked and often notorious exceptions, political
reasons did have controlling weight in making
in the Department under the OLD system as
| Is commonly supposed. In the first place. however
earnest advocate OF the system OF Iewardng sOcaed
potcal services public position the head of an Office
might be- could fail 10 see hai In order 10 Insure
the success of hls administration ne must have eompe
tions under hm. TIE competency OF the better clerks
also becomes known to greater less extent, hroug gh
ont the Department, and thus sort OF popular sent
ment in their is created which chief Of an Office
desiring the good opinion OF those around hlm would
to outrage too often by the promotion Of political
| fayOrites their heads.
The average Of competency and efficiency throughout
the Departments might doubtless be largely increased,
but there in office men of culture, capacity,
aud administrative ability, possessing often high literary
or legal acquTements whose services are worth much
more than the meager salaries which tney receive and
stay in public employ Is matter Oi surprise to
| all who know their worth.
The examinations for admission are more difficult
than large portion OF the work OF the Department. and
call greater knowledge. This work is now per
formed either inderenty by the better class of
| chosen for the purpose from the mass Ii certainly
would be a great gain 10 the Department If the eXam
nations could exact from all persons entering capacity
equal 10 the Immediate performance ol lts most eAchg
| duties. ,
hexibity, ability grasp new subjects. The routine
positions can lled less acceptably, bat when
capacity becomes vacant it is difficult 10 ill 1t satsfacto
rily A very dull ignorant man, If he eau but read
and write III ~ acquire, under proper training the ab
ity TO perform the duties OF one Of large portion
OF the minor positions III the Department; but his ca
pacity will be limited the duties which he has been
taught the next desk falls sick he Is too
likely TO be entirely unable to MI the vacant place inns
examinations for admission tests OF general lhJe
is the aim OF the system of examination secure the
promotion of the man Of the widest knowledge both Of
general subjects and OF the business OF his oce and
therefore of the largest capacity Tor usefulness
DEFICIENCY"
The second Of the regulations governing examinations
for promotion declares that in such examinations, due
weight will be given to the efficiency with which the sew
eral candidates shall have previously performed their
duties in the Department" In the practical enforce
ment of this provision questions at presented
themselves How shall the efficiency be aseertalned and
be mpracticabe for the Board TO make satisfactory
personal examination into the efficiency of the large
number OF clerks who likely TO present themselves
as candidates promotion. IL thought most fit
that estimate Of the efficiency of candidates should
be made by the heads OF the bureaus IN which they are
employed Accordingly at the suggestion OF the Board
the heads the several bureaus requested by the
bers Board for the purpose Of considering propo
sOn from 1t that the head OF each ONCE should furnish
an estimate Of the efficiency of such OF his clerks
should compete for promotion IL was not however the
intention of the Board to submit 10 the decision of the
meeting the weight to be gwen TO the marks Tor EN-
cheney The result OF the meeting was the adoption OF
d That il be RECOMMENDED 10 the Advisory Boar that II
adopt, as part Of The regulations Tor the Civil SegTce that in all
department. the Examining Board shall make their estimate Of the
relative qualification candidate the basis 100 The chief Of
the bureau applicant may belong shall give his certificate
the Examining Board wherein be shall rate The merits Of the
He shall the specific work which tits intended that be shall be
sure, Of which 80 shall be the maximum for proficiency In the special
remaining 20 Der cent sss be allowed Tor proficiency other
knowledge and acqumena In the opinion Of the Examining Board
| Transaction no Of bis OScisi duties
Board TO the head OF the Bureaus estimate Of the
efficiency Of candidates for promotion IS eight out Of
TOTAL OI ~ per IL InIs
weight in addition to that given to questions pertaining
TO the Office prepared in most cases under the direction
Of the head OF the office, and the prominence in
the aTthmetca branch OF the examination TO practical
questions arising in the business OF the department
would give TO the efficiency of candidates all the weight
that the regulations contemplate, and. in connection
with the power possessed by the head Of the Depart
ment choosing the three highest would prevent
| the promotion of inefficient clerks. The Board how
ever bound itself to adhere TO this weight, but
has reserved the right 20 change II II circumstances
shall render change necessary.
| SCALE AND MODE OF MARKING.
Under this head the report gives at great length the
system OF notation by which estimate is placed on