National Republican., 1885-09-05
rnE YOUNG MAN WHO PASSED
An Object Lesson in civil Service Re-
form for Red Hook Point.

IN ObJctl Lesson III iiNil service Ne-
form for Red Hook Point
Sew York Timcsl
Red Hook Point, South Brooklyn, has had
a revelation upon no less subject than
civil service reform. Its natives are dis
cussing II with mingled surprise, curiosity,
and growing favor They have had prac-
tical illustration Of the fact that under this
"ncw-fanglcd system, which the politicians
rcyile, an intelligent workingman can get
government Office and good wages. The
case is that of young owen McGowcn. who
has got in the Brooklyn navy yard by pass
ing civil service examination, and not by
possessing any "pull" among the politicians
When that dyed-in-the wool Democrat
and anti-Civil-seTyice reform legislator Mr.
| Michael j. CofTey, Red Hooks representa-
| tive in Albany, heard Of McGowen's case
| he gasped, but recovered sufficiently to
make this admission: "Wcll, this civil SER
! vice business seems TO work for the poor
man as well as IL does for the man with the
college education" Those who know Mr..
ColIey will be amazed at the admission. 1t
was an admission with which he introduced
this story that had come "under his own
| eyes:n
"a young fellow came in to me one day
a couple Of weeks ago and said he wanted
to be foreman of the iron department IN
| the navy yard, and asked me to sign his
certificate of character. Well, he poralyzod
me. | must have looked as II / had my
doubts about his getting job, for he said in
avery handsome brogue, All roght, yen
| wait and see.' Well, sir, what does he do
| lie goes up before the civil service examin-
| ing board at the navy yard and is examined
| for the office Of foreman. lie gets a rating
| of ~, and the next thing know he comes
In and tells me he has passed the eXamina-
! tiOn and has been put to work. Well, | am
| paraly2cd completely this time, and again
| he sees II and comes In with his elegant
brogue. 'Oi'ye been making iron ships
these many years, Surr,' said he. 'Oi've
| perfected mcsclf by observation and cX-
| pariencc and there amt wan thing from
| the thruCk To the keel Nv au iron ship which
| ! don't know all about, and tOuld Mr..
| POOk 50 In answer 10 his many questions p"
| Mr.. COlGcy admitted that he never sup
| posed the man was In earnest or that he
would pass any examination. MCGOwcn
is now on trial ut the navy yard, and is re-
cciying Si.O2 per day for his services. A
| lot of the Red Hook politicians are striv-
ing to create the impression that they are
responsible for his admission to the navy
yard, but the friends Of McGUwcn have
circulated the true story, and now the Red
lIOokcrs are bu2zing about "thc young
fcller who passed the examination
Mr.. Coircy's story was investigated by Il
Times reporter with interesting results.
Naval Constructor PoOk was asked II he
had such man IN his employ, and what the
circumstances were of his admission into
the government service. Eyes, ! remember
his case very wcll,n said Mr.. Pook. III cX-
amincd the man myself, and | must admit
| was very much surprised at his knowl-
edge of iron shipbuiding lie doesn't
look ii, US you must admit. We had thir-
teen offices to be filled In which the occu.
pants were expected To know something
about the management Of gangs Of men u,
well us to have u knowledge of the particu
lar branch of the mechanics ut which they
were to he employed. About $50 men were
examined, and out of the lot were selected
the thirteen men who had passed the best
examination. Ills name was on the list,
aud he was notified and has come to work
We arc dispensing with number
of foremanships, and in their places
are appointing men with the rank
and title Of quartermcn. McGowcr
has been appointed quarterman, and is
now ut work The master sparmakcr
and the man at the head of the blacksmiths
department were men who also stood very
high in their examinations The cXamina-
tion in the case Of MCtOwen and all tho
Others was Of the practical sort. Here is O
list of the questions. You see by them that
all that is required ,of an applicant is q
knowledge of his trade. lie is not required
to he n mathematician or a grammarian.
saw that this man understood how to work
in iron and what to do when certain june
lures were reached in putting together AZ
iron ship. 1t is Secretary Whitncy's desire
that the best men shall he selected for tn,
work that must be done here and In the
other yards, and that has been the standard
by which we have cndcavOrcd to gauge al
applicants abilities"
The reporter found the new quartcrmar
Mt his work in the yard. Mr.. McGowen Ia,
indeed, as Mr.. CoiTcy says, an elegant Irisl
broguc. lie has, moreover, sunburncC
face, clear, quick eye n ready wit, and {
manner that is prcpOssessing. lie Is moi
more than 30years ofage. lie COrrOboratet
the story of his interview with Mr. Coife,
and his application. lie had told Mr. Pooh
that he might not he so well able as some o
the others to intclligcntly describe how t.
docertain kinds Of work, "but II yen plac,
II before me where can get at IL I'll show
We how to do II, was his emphatic deClara
ton "Give me the loines (lincs) and II
build ye an American iron ship as fone a
any that can he got IN this country.
commenced to help bolt rivets when | wa
so high" said he TO the reporter, indicating
an object trihc higher than the late Ton
Thumb. MctiOwen said he had worked 70
John Roach, for the Grccnpoint shipyards
and for various yards throughout tn
country. lie helped build the Wanda anl
several other boats known to the spOrtin!
world.
The navy yard bell struck the hour Of 3
and the mechanics dropped their tools ant
: made bee line for the gate, Mciowel
, and his friend and the reporter failing NJ
the procession. whats that book yoi
have under your arnyn asked the reporte
of McGowen, "Yc have heap of curios
C ity," replied he coloring up to his eyes an,
sticking the small volume in his coat-tai
+ pocket. Finally hc admitted that the bool
= was an arithmetic, with whose forms @
I ready reckoning he was striving to familiar
! ize himself at odd moments during tn
UnN