Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-03-01
THE CIVIL SERVICE LAW.
Report OF the Com missiOnerS Upon Its
Operation for One Year.

The first annual report of the civil service CON-
nlissioners was sent to Congress yesterday by the
PRESIDENT. together with a message I'm which the
President said: upon the good results which that
law has already accomplished, congratulate Con-
gress and the people, and avow my conviction
nal benefit to the public service I heartily COM
mend the zeal and fidelity OF the commissioners and
their suggestions for further legislation, and ad
wise the making of such an appropriation as shall
De adequate for their nerds"
The report opens with statement OF the pur-
poses OF the ciV0 service law and the methods fol-
lowed in giving efsct TO these purposes. In rpIa-
uon to the sections Of the law relating to political
made by the commission into alleged VIOLATIONS OF
this section, and says: ave are satisfied that but
tri1inS sums have been secured. and this illegal
ton being called TO It." The report discusses at
length the old sE,olls system and gives detailed
examinations enforced by commissioners The
report admits that the power TO remove for even
the most partisan and selfish reasons stil remains
unchanged. But the vacancies can be nlled only
by those who, irrespective or party, demonstrate
superiority in free. open competitor OF character
and capacity. Space IS given to letters nom Gus
toms officials and others giving testimony as the
effect OF the new system. The effect In the depart
ments here is held to be most salutary The report
states that 65 per cent OF those who have entered
the service through competitive examinations
were educated in the common schools alone. 1t is
longer appointed upon party basis. but by the
successful passing OF an examination In the view
OI Tue COMMISSIONERS, no IN the CIVIL service
act Is now needed for fairly testing the new system.
SAMPLES OF QUESTIONS PRoPOUNDED.
The questions below are given as an example OF
those used In the grades which fall under the LIST
and 4th clauses OF rule 2, known respectively the
general and limited examinations. They are, the
grades
General examination-First subJect-Question
1. One OF the examiners VIII distinctly read (at
rate reasonable for copy1ngl fifteen lines from the
civil service Law or Rules, and each applicant Will
copy the same below from the reading as 1t pro-
ceetfS 3. Write below, at length, the names OF
fifteen states and fifteen cities Of the Union. 8.
Copy the following. which is section five OF the
civil service act In the blank below: Irhen follows
Second subject--Question i. Multiply sC7,e6s by
49os75 and divide the product by 3o7 ,96s. Write In
full the operation. Divide threef0urthS OF eight
ninths by Oneseventh OF three-fifths and subtract
one-seventh from the quotient. Divide one thou
and eight one-hundredths, expressing the process
In decimal fractions. 4. The compensation OF
clerk, beginning June 80, was 1898 q calendar
month. On the first OF october his salary was in
creased Is per cent, and so remained until June 1,
when 1t was Increased a further amount OF three
per cent on the original salary. What was the
whole amount payable to the clerk for the YEAR. s.
comlniSSary suddenly forced TO change quarters
had on hand $50 bushels OF wheat which cost so
cents per huSel. He sold six per cent OF it at loss
OF four per cent and four per cent it at loss OF
three per cent. How much Was the Whole loss in
CURED by the sale?
Third subect-Question 1. A note for s2647 "a is
payable eleven months from date with interest at
81 per cent What VIII be the amount due on the
note at maturity? Give all the Figures in the oper-
alton. 2. A disbursing agent failed. owing the
government one item OF s3s45, another OF g. 90l o.
The government agreed TO make a discount OF 10
per cent the first item and II : per cent on the
second. How much was payable under the agree
ment9 3. June 30, 1880, gave a note for l,0o5,
May l, 1882, paid $685.. What WAS the amount OF
principal and interest due when the note ma
tu1ed? d contractor furnished the government
articles as follows June s. 1880 300 barrels of -four
at $50 barrel, and July 6, 1880, 1S7 yards OF
pet at y yard August 4, 1880, 1000 yards OF car
account as follows: June 12 1880, 81 900; July TO-
1850, 500; August A. 1880, 500. State the dealings
between the parties in the form OF a debit and
credit account, showing the balance due.
Fourth STANDARDIZATION 1. Give definition as
1uii as the space viii allow OF o. verb; ~ noun;
~ an adverD; ~ an adjective; ~ proposition; (6l
conjunction; and OF q the phrase, 1.-THE grammar
OF the English language" . Write letter, adj
as far you are willing to express them in regard
10 the duties and responsibilities OF an officer In the
public service which you seek to enter Let it Till,
as nearly as may be, the following space.
FIFTH SUBJECT.
Question l. Which states extend to or border on
the sea or tide water? What the capital OF each
OF said states? 2 What is meant in our history ~
by the colonial period? 2) by the Continental Con-
G RV 5S @ oy tns Rseaaton Of ~
sWers, as nearly as may be, I'LL this blank. g.
State In general terms, but as particularly as the
and functions OF a. the Congress Of the United
States? OF a. the Supreme Court OF the United
Statse? OF ~ the President OF the United States?
and give the names Of each of the executive depart
MentS at Washington.
In the limited examination the first subject is the
same as In the general examination The only
other subject Is arithmetic, in which are pro-
pounded simple questions In addition subtraction
multiplication and division.
THE NUMBER OF APPOINTMENTS MADE
The whole number examined for the depart
mental, customs and postal service has been 3542
The number passed at Is per cent or over has been
20fi. The number examined having only a COM
mon school education has been 2272. The number
appointed to the service from July 10, 1888 to JAN
uary 10, 1884 OF those examined has been 5I6 The
average age Qfall those examined has been thirty
one years.
CIVIL SERV ICE IN THE WASHINGTON POST OFFICE.
Among the letters from postmasters regarding
the operation Of the law is one from Postmaster
C0nger of this city, stating that out of fifty who
succeeded at the examination at this post Office
seventeen have been appointed Eight of those an
clerkships. The postmaster further says 81 have
In all cases selected the persons highest on the list
OF elglbes, and so far have not mad occasion to
drop any one Tor incOmpetenCy, and OF the opin-
ion that probably all OF those selected Will be en-
titled 10 permanent appointments the expiration
OF six months probation as clerks"
District Government Affairs.
MISCELLANEOUS.
Lewis H. Douglass calls attention to the condition
or street northwest, at the corner OF 18th street.
Edward Malone requests the repair OF the hy- |
drant at the corner OF I'd and streets northeast.