New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-10-20
EXAMINATIONS IN THE STATE DEPARTMENT
LETTER FROM THE SECRETARY or SLATE 10 lhE
SECRETARY OF THG CIVIL SERVICE CoNMIS-

EXAMINATIONS IN The STATE DEPANI AENl
LETTER FROM THE SECRETARY or SLATE 70 HE
SECRETARY OF TIE CIVIL SERVICE CoNNiIs-
SION.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 19.-The Secretary OF
state has addressed communication to w. L. ROuhac,
Secretary United Civil Service Commission in re-
ply to the question what branches OF the service in the
several bureaus in the state Department will require
special examination under clause OF rule for adIns-
sion. He says:
"Is understood that such officers the heads Of bu-
reaua translator etc, OF this Department, are not re-
qured TO pass any examination Your question, there
fore relates simply the clerks Of this Department from
the 5000 class To the fourth class both inclusive.
cit is necessary that most OF the clerks OF the Depart
ment OF state should have at least sufficient knowledge OK
one or more foreign languages to read them in the orig.
nal documents received Nevertheless, 10 Is not aDs0-
uey necessary that every clerk should have this qua-
cation as his ability in other directions may more than
compensate lack but 1t is always necessary tnat AZ
least twenty employees of this Department should have
fair knowledge OF either French, German, Spanish or
Italian.
Further clerks except those employed simply as copy
lists and these are very few in number should nave SUM
cent knowledge Constitution ofthe United stteshe
powers OF the different branches OF the Government the
jurisdiction of the different Executive Departments, or
International law and the prominent facts OF history 70
enable them 10 conduct correspondence, NOT lo,lns
difficult questions. It is absolutely essential that they
1
under general instructions from the superior OnleeIs
There il no permanent division Of the clerks OF TINS
Department among the bureaus. All clerks are subject 70
the direction the Secretary and assigned 10 uuereho
work according the demands OF the service ana tne
force Is entirely too small to admit OF any other pracuce
were IL desirable" .-,,
Under these circumstances, suggest that sleclal
examination be given all applicants who may WISH 10
enter this Department which shall conform IA sOmo
measure the examination heretofore al one ue te-
uued I'm the case applicants for certain grades OF con-
suae and required in the case or applicants lOr CON
sular clrrkships This embraces such general quesohs
not too technical detailed In relation "a the following
subjects. rs every person OF iar educatl0n may 10
assumed to DO able to General PROVISIONS ol lno
Constitution. .,-.---.....,.,
The simpler and broader principles Of International
law.
"Geogrgphv especially that Of foreign countries;
.Trafsl1ti6n from at least one foreign language; -
The writing more dispatches OF letters, the
subject TO be indicated by the eNlmlnerl -.
Arithmetic TO sufficient extent 70 shO" ttt uc C'u
date able TO keep the simplest KIND OF accounts ana
The more important TactS or history. -,
Much stress should I'm my opinion, be laid upon inc
u oT the candidate TO compose and write letters, aS
bi urincipa duties in this Department would probably DO
Ultimately those of a corresponding clerk.
n is not expected that the scheme OF examination
thus outlined should be pushed to severity or that nab,
v IN answer specific questions should necessary entail
failure the object aimed at being TO discover the general
ability candidate to become corresponding clerh'
competent after receiving general directions from SUI
ppr6r OF the Department to conduct te ueuS Ol
correspondence after fair opportunity In the DepaIt
mcnt to learn the methods Of diplomatic ana cOhsuar
hu.