Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1873-10-27
ALE. DorsN, Eair.r and frspriessr

GOLD HILL. II x0HDA1, 0Cf' zf' iofS
ALE. porRN, , Editor and Prspriessr.
CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATIONS
Tomorrow the Board Of Examina-
ton for the Treasury Department un-
der tie Civil Service rules, will COM
mence q series Of examinations to NIL
vacancies In clerkships Of Class Ono.
These will be the first examinations
held In that Department under the
new rules providing for EXAMINATIONS
by districts. Tho country Is divided
into five Civil Service Districts, In
each Of which. examinations are to be
held from time to time. As all ex-
aminations OF applicants for these po-
sitions from residents Of California,
Oregon or Nevada are to be held In
St. Louis, Mo-, It Is not probable that
the Examining Board will Be overrun
with applicants from this section. For
the information Of any who have In
terest In the matter, we will state that
the Treasury Department cierkshlps
are divided into four general classes,
with the following annual salaries lin
greenbscks) attached thereto: Glass
One, $1,000; Glass Two. $l.400; Glass
Three, $1,000, and Class Four, $500.
Probably two-shirds Of all the clerks Of
the Treasury Department belong to
Glass One, two-thlrds Of tho remainder
to Glass Two, and the remainder OF
clerkships are distributed In about the
Same proportion between Glasses Three
and Four. Above these and with sal
aries ranging from $4,000 to 5000,
are the Chiefs Of Divisions, Chief
Book-keepers, Tellera Cashiers, etc.,
most Of whom have been for many
years 10 the Treasury Department.
As we remarked, It Is not probable
that any hegira will occur among our
young men toward st. Louis for the
purpose Of competing for a clerkship
which pays 800 per month In green
backs, especially when the cost OF
travel, the unavoidable incidental ex-
penses and tho chances Of passing a
successful examination are considered.
1t must also be remembered that pass
Ing a successful examination 10 not an
open sesame to the position sought.
There are about q hundred applicants
for one vacancy. and AFTER an sxamin-
alton Is successfully passed 1t Is within
the discretion Of the Secretary to select
from the successful contestants such a.
he may choose. There 10 hardly .
young man In Nevada who does not
earn more than 800 per month. The
qualifications which would ft him for
Government c~lerkship, will in this
State, command double that price. and
1t Ia therefore not ut all probable that
the Treasury Department will be
grsced by the presence Of any Of our
Nevada youth.
Generally speaking this civil service
business as at present conducted Is an
expensive and unmitigated humbug.
Strict examinations and ample quail
ifications are required for the mos,
subordinate positions, while the rule
Is no, applied to those whose position
aud responsibilities demand a far more
searching iuves:igation:and still higher
qualifications. A candidate for a
~clerkship In a Custom House Is put
through a series OF questions and an
swers designed and perhaps well
adapted to bring out his fitness for
the position, which Is at the best mere.
ly subordinate aud largely mechanical.
while HIS superior, In whom the ju-
dicial, executive or ministerial respon-
sibility lies, Is the creature OF political
favor. and receives his position by per.
sonal favoritism, or as \ reward for
partisan service. Large numbers Of
the better class Of Government en-
ployes, now holding subordinate po-
sitions, are better qualified both as to
honesty and capabllity for the control
Of public business than their superiors,
yet a. now regulated there Is no
chance for sven the most deserving and
efficient to obtain other than . higher
subordinate office. The heads Of all
our Government departments are SO.
leeted with regard to nothing but the
favor Of the appointing power. Until
the system Of civil service shall be ex.
tended to all executive appointments
It will never be more than ~ at pres
emit, an expensive and useless farce
II It be necessary for q clerical snbor'
dinate to DO qualified for the duties o.
his position, surely 1t Is equally 80 fol
ministerial officers, and II examina'
lions to ascertain fitness are required
In the former, much more are they In
dispensable In the latter and moro re
sponsible position. 1t Is folly to en-
deavor to reform q civil service by BE-
ginning at tho bottom. As we'll cure
badness BY cutting of ones toes. Le'
superior officers be selected for capa'
bility and honesty. and there will b
some hope Of . radical reform. II
Secretary Richardson be incapable to
manage our finances, all the civil ser
vice rules In the country applied to hi
subordinates will not remedy his blum
jers, or avert the dangers Of his NAL
administration.
Reno Items.