The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-10-15
AFTER THE CIERKsHIPs
thirteen Applicants for Positions /,
Uncle Sapass Erania-

Uncle SANS Employ.
Thirteen applicants for position in the
United States civil service faced Civil
service Examiner Frank NJ. Higgins in the
United States court room at the custom
house yesterday morning.
Nine OF the applicants were colored men.
rec were white men and one was a young
lady. Ten OF the men were taking exami-
nations tor the railway mail service, two
Tor positions as departmental clerks and the
young lady for position as copgist
The Candidates were examined in orthog-
rapny. penmanship, copying, letter writing,
the elements OF the English language and
arithmetic. Those examined for positions
In the railway mail service were required
20 give pretty thorough account of their
knowledge OF the railway systems of this
section, and the would-be departmental
Clerks we're examined in bookkeeping. The
applicants were given from five to seven
hours In which TO complete their examina-
tons, according TO le position applied for.
A MORNING NEWS reporter dropped
into the court room about noon The ex-
ann latlon was processing very quietly
Mr.. Higgins is a young man of yery pleas
ant manners aud understands his work
thoroughly. Everything was Conducted
very Systematically. The candidates were
required to place the tips of beginning
upon each paper and time of completion.
Mar. Higgins said he did not think more
than three or four-of the candidates before
him would pass the examination, Judging
from casual examination of their
work. The education of most of
them see ned to have been neglect
ed. They were stumped by the
questions given them, though any one with
a good common school education could
have easily passed the examination. The
general average required to pass it is only
~ per cent, aud those passing are
ra1eo according to the percentage made
One colored candidate was advised by
ths examiner to withdraw after having
taken glance at his pBpers. as ne did not
tnink his general average would
hopeful candidate pr accepted pei' t tds
alvice rather reluctantly, saying that he
had been examined once before, when he
made ~ per cent, and he thought
he would try again and see if he couldn't
do better. At this rate 1t will take about
five years for the aspiring candidate to OBJ
tain the necessary 70 per cent.
MIR. Higgins said that some of the exam
nation papers are simply absurd. He
showed one paper where tbs candidate had
been requested to simply copy upon the
sheet below paragraph printed at the head
of the sheet. The handwriting was won-
derful to behold. but the way in which
the candidate had filled in the
sheet with sentences drawn from
his own fertile brain was most
remarkable. The percentage of candidates
passing is much less in the south, Mr.. Kig-
gins says. than in the north.
There are not nearly so many applican is
in the south as there are in the north elthsr,
the positions being much more sought after
there than here. Mr.. Higgins recently pre- :
fAoNo NJ. go. -, L.N.l
lis, where there were $50 candidates. and
one at Philadelphia where there we're $50
The idea held by great many people
that the civil service examination
consisted of senseless and ridiculous lot of
questions, bearing no relation whatever.
to the duties of the position applied for.
which would require a collegiate Q lucation
to answer them, or one that boy fresh
from school would stand better chance OF
passing than an experienced business man,
and that the examination is a farce really
intended to shut out applicants,
Mr.. Higgins says, is totally iu-
correct and absurd. The questions
are entirely practical, and related only to
those branches of knowledge necessary to
the proper performance of tue duties OF the
position applied for To this end separate
and distinct examinations are prepared for
candidates for each one of the different
Of the civil service. Mr. Higgins exhibited
the various lists Of questions of the examin-
ations, which bore out his assertion that they
are entirely practical AMI pertain only to a
knowledge of those branches requisite to q
proper performance of the duties of the re-
spective positions.
The examinations were concluded yester-
day afternoon and the papers were for
warded to Washington, where they
will be passed upon by the central
board of the civil service com mission.
The candidates will be notified by
mail within the next three weeks
of their success or failure, and the per cent
of their general average. II they make
over 20 per cent. they are rlaced upon
the list of eligibles tor the different posi-
tions and stand cha ce of being ap-
pointed to a place sometime hereafter.
There are about 10000 positions now
under the control Of the civil service and
as changes are constantly being
made those who pass the ex.
animation stand some showing
of receiving an appointment. About two
fifths OF those who pass the examination
are given appointments, on an average
those who make the highest percentage
being given the preference as a rule
Mr.. Higgins leaves this morning for
Jacksonville to hold an examination there
tomorrow. there being twenty-five appli-
cants in that city.