Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-03-22

Oilce were SHbjected-The ApPliCa-
ton Of the Civil Service System to the
Interview With Commissioner Greg.
DRY.
A number of examinations of a technical and
scientific character have been held recently under
the direction OF the civil service commission to
fill places in the government departments, re-
qulrlng special skill or knowledge.
"What demand has there been for technical
or special examinations" asked STAR reporter
of DR.. JIM. Gregory, of the civil service commits
sion.
1.-THE commission has been surprised some
what at the number of these demands u
said DR.. Gregory, land at the extent of scientific
ana technical service required in several depart
ments OF the government. Five of these exam
nations have already been held; the first was
for telegrapher for the Department of Justice
the second for Typographical draughtsman for
the War department, the third for law clerks for
the First Controllers office, the next tor exam
lners and others in the Patent office, and on the
18TH instant tor an officer called a junior pro-
fessOr-a meteOrOlOgist-and for a scientific
editor and proOf-reader for the signal service.
Preparations are already in progress tor exam
nations for the State department and for the
Pension bureau. Boards of examiners have
been appointed in BOTH of these cases. The
most important, thus far, of all these examina-
tons. was the one held on the 9Th instant for
of five groups of applicants each requiring sep
arate examination. The whole number exam
lned in groups was ffty-nine."
What was the scope OF these examinations"
asked The STAR reporter.
The examinations for assistant examiners ~
said DR.. Gregory, Included mathematics from
arithmetic to trigonometry. 1t also included
chemistry, physics. technics, the Interpretation
of mechanical drawings, and as optional
branches, French and German. Each had d
drawing like this to interpret" continued the
commissioner holding up an examination paper
to which was attached drawing of mechani-
cal apparatus. 'Ihe question Just before it
you see reads 'Descrbe the construction and
operation OF the machine shown in the annexed
drawing The French and German consisted
OF the translation OF French and German patent
specifications, taken from German Patent
office work, and a similar work in French. The
examination In mathematics. physics and chem
istry bore directly upon their work as examt-
hers. The questions in physics, for instance
touched those principles OF physics necessary to
explain patents The mechanical draughtsmeu
III their examination had placed before them a
model taken from the Patent office, of which
they We're required to makea tull drawing; then
they We're required to describe in detail the
several parts OF the machine, and explain its
mode of operation. its object and the class of
machines to which it belonged. The remainder
OF the examination consisted in the technical
description of drawings, methods of shading to
represent different surfaces. principles of per
spective, &c. with q description OF the elemen-
tary parts OF machinery, or what is called by
machlnists themselves mechanical devices. The
Chief part OF this examination was the drawing
from the model. 1t took some OF the applicants
three or four hours to make their draw ing5
The machines or models consisted Of many parts.
wheels and other appliances all of which they
rpnIIIrpI To rpprpSpnt in their nacn
and proportions in the drawing. and ettercd for
description, like those published in the official
Gazette"
The third group" continuedythe speaker,
"were applicants for places as cOpyiStS of draw
ings. Their eXamnationrequired them to make
tracing of a drawing that was given them.
This drawing was shaded in India ink. They
were required to reproduce the shading in
lines, so that it could be photographed tor print
inn in the official GGz.tte. 1t included also. let
tering. Every body that understands drawing
will understand that this means the formation
of letters. They were next required to describe
the views in the drawings used and to describe
the several kinds OF views made by draughts-
men. They were also asked to illustrate the
methods Of shading cOncave and convex sur
faces.
1.-The fourth group were assistants in the scen-
tfic library. whose business. in part is to
search foreign patent records and scientific pub
LEGATIONS to see whether patent applied tor has
or described in scientific works. Their ex-
animation included the translation of
German and French patent specifications,
the abridgment of the specifications
translated the abridgment of patent
published in the Gazette, the indexing by name
of inventor and title of invention the patents
in a specified part OF the official Gazette the
classification OF the same patents according to
the arts, and some exercises to illustrate the
card catalogue and its uses. The fifth group
were the proof readers. Their examination in
Guided some questions In grammar especially
with reference to punctuation. use of capitals,
&c and then careful correction of a proof of q
Patent Office specification"
''What were the results of the examination"
asked the reporter.
aminers. l can say that many of the drawings
were very finely executed, and the examiners
were very much pleased. indeed with the appa-
rent Intelligence and proficiency of the appl-
cants. Many of these applicants come from a
great distance and would never have been
heard of, much less have been applicants, under
the old system"
''Then you think the scientific service of the
government will be benefited by the civil service
system?" said theTepOrter.
II have no hesitation In saying" answered
Dr. Gregory, "that next to the value Of the sys-
tenn in removing the service of the country from
politicainfuencea and substituting personal merit
for political influence in securing appointments no
greater benefit is likely to follow from the sys-
TEN than its effect in securing for the govern
ment. especially in its scientific work, men of
the highest capacity and training. Very few
persons are aware Of the wide extent Of scien-
tifc work being done by this government or OF
its Importance to commerce, manufactures,
agriculture and the entire business interests Of
the country. There Is not an executive depart
ment Of the government In which there are not
bureaus which require men of scientific or pro-
fessional attainment and skill and the civil ser
vice system will prove Of special value, first,
from its facilities for securing applications
from hundreds Of persons who would never
think of seeking place under the old system; and
second from its competitive methods Of select
ing the best Of these applicants. Already the
commission have letters OF inquiry from many
of the leading chronological institutions of the
country, and from large numbers of the gradu-
ates OF such institutions. and from others who
have taken their scientific education abroad. I
think that the chiefs of these scientific bureaus
and divisions will find the civil service system
beneficial not only because it relieves them
from the pressure by applicants for places, but
also because 1t secures for them wider choice
and better men than they could possibly get by
any other means"
Nothing is little or common that the heart
has touched. The leArt is king who holds
from God the privilege OF purifying US when he
touches U.s.