Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-06-26
Porter Quotes Law
In Answer to a Civil Service
Reformer's Letter.
SELECTION OF THE CENSUS FORCE.

| A Matter Provided for by Act of Congress
"A Haif-Breed Indians Criticism of His
Christian Friends-Congress To BE Con-
vened I'm Observation-Disclosures Carr Get
ting Points I'm the Science of Diplomacy
-Postmasters Appointed.
WASHINGTON CITY, June 26.-Correspond-
| ence respecting civil service examinations
for positions in the census bureau was made
public yesterday. The first letter is one
dated Massachusetts Civil Service Reform
league, Boston, June 81, 1899" addressed to
Hon. Robert p Porter, superintendent of
census, and is as follows:
DEAR SIR:-To any one not acquainted with
the excellent results that can be attained by
competitive tests, ii would be quite natural to
doubt the eNpediency of putting the census
bureau under the civil service law and rules;
but the kind of ability needed, such as accu-
racy, power to compute etc, can be tested
only by trial, and the competitive examine
tons can be, and should be, mainly q test of
the exact work TO be performed. such as in
dexing, calculating, copying. classifying and
the Ike. As experience Is far better than
theorizing, let ms call your attention to the
admirable results in Massachusetts from put
ting our census and labor statistics force I'M
der civil service rules. l mail you a copy of
The Civil Service Record. containing the state
ment of no less an authority than Carroll ID.
Wri yht. should also like TO refer you to
OWL Service in Great Britain by ID. b.
Eaton. PIP. =6l-3, showing the testimony of
how wei the civil service examinations have
worked in England in the selection of census
clerks. Respectfully yours,
r. II. DANA, Secretary.
MIR. Porter's Reply.
To the above Mr.. Porter sends the follow
hg reply:
DEAR SR:-I have the honor to acknowledge
the receipt of your letter of the 2lst a. well as
copy OF The Civil Service Record, containing
an article in relation 10 the subject referred
to In your letter.
Legal Difficulty.
am mindful of the importance of securing
the services of clerks having the requisite
knowledge and capacity for census work, as
well as the necessity of applying practical
test preliminary to appointment. The law ex-
pressly provides, however, that" All examina-
tons for appointments and promotions shall
be in the discretion and under the
direction of the secretary of the
Interior" and in view of this specific
expression of the intent of congress / am
thoroughly of the opinion that the power of
selection as well appointm mt should be
vested in the secretary of the interior upon
the recommendation of the superintendent of
census. The question, theref ore between the
civil service commission and the census Office
Is not one of examination but of power of ap-
pointment.
An Examination to he Held.
Furthermore, il is my intention to institute
system of examination in connection with
the appointment of the census force and for
this purpose have delegated TO Mr.. William
O. Hunt, formerly OF the Massachusetts
bureau of statistics of labor, and now
statistical expert employed by this Office, the
preparation of a series of questions which will
fairly test the capacity and general knowledge
of applicants for the various positions on the
census. All applicants for employment in the
census Office must pass these tests, which, as
you see, will be mainly test of the exact
work to be performed, such as indexing, steno-
graphy, typewriting, calculating, copying
classifying, etc. Mr.. Hunt, as you probably
know, has been connected for the past six
years with the Massachusetts bureau, and is
thoroughly informed as TO the kind of ability
that is needed for the prosecution of census
WI