Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-07
Mr.. LYMAN i-.2LAINS.
He Describes to the Committee How
Civil Service Works.

He Describes to the Committee How
Civil Service Works.
TIE INQUIRY BY TEE HOUSE CIVIL SERVICE con
MrrrEE REsUMKD ToDAI-coMMrssIoxKR LYNAy
on TIE sTASD-THB WAY EXAMINATIONS Arr
CONDUCTED AID APPOINTMENTS MADE.
The investigation into the general working,
Of the civil service commission was continued
today. As usual, there was considerable diff
Guilty in getting q quorum together. A quorum
Of the committee has been placed at three Il
hear testimony. Mr.. Lehlbach and Mr.. Green
halge and the three members Of the com
mission were on hand at an early hour, bu
the third member did not materialize. In tn.
little preliminary conversation Mr.. Lehlbacl
remarked that he supposed IL would be neces
sary 10 reduce the number of quorum
to two. Finally Mr.. Stone arrived and the
hearing was commenced. It was first decided
that the statement made by Mr.. Roosevelt al
the last meeting should be considered as par
Of the record
MR.. LYMAN on THE'srASp.
The examination opened with Mr.. Lyman on
the stand He was asked how many and what
we're the duties of the employees Of the com.
mission. He suggested that he first make a
mission, which was agreed to. The
commission, he said, was started on
the 10th day of January, 's3. MIR.
Lyman then gave rapid history OF the differ
erent commissioners in their order. giving the
dates of the retirement of each commissioner
down to the present time. The Office al
present, he said, consisted Of three Commits
sioners. a chief examiner at 5000. q secretary
at O.. 900 IL clerks of the various grades, mes
ssnger and laborer. In answer to the
question as TO the annual cost of the commits
sion, Mr. Lymaa said that outside of the sal
aries the only expenses were $3.50 allowed
for travelling expenses and the printing
and stationery allowed by the Interior Depart
msnt. According to his calculation the sal
aries amounted to S35, 100 per year.
Mr.. LYMAN was asked to give history entire
OF the manner of carrying on an examination.
As a preliminary he gave number of figures
showing the number of men coming under the
classified service. At first $4,000 came under
this head, and in June. 's9, between $4,000 and
$4,000 fell under the classified service.
THE NUMBER OF APPOINTMENTS.
Mr.. Lehlbach wanted to know how many Of
this 2s, 900 had secured their positions through
civil service examinations and how many we're
hold overs
Mr.. Roosevelt thought il would be difficult TO
give this information. but Mr.. Lyman thought
that before the investigation was over he could
give the information desired with substantial ac-
curacy. So far, as at presentc could be seen from
the books, he said appointments to the number
OF II, 236 had been made to the classified service
through means of the civil service examination
Roughly he thought up to the present time
1900 have been so appointed. In regard to
the examinations and appointments Mr.. LYMAN
said the first step was the filing of an applica-
tion in the form required. The applicant is
then eligible for examination. The examina-
tions are OF two classes, one known AZ CLERKS"
for positions Of 81 900 and over, another kind
known ''copyist," for $500 positions, and
under. Besides these two general examina-
tions there are many special examinations, the
main ones being bookkeeping special pension
examiners, medical examiners and assistant
examiners for the Patent Office. There are
many other special and supplementary exam
nations which are used as the occasions arise
as In typewritlHg, steDography, &c. The papers
for the "clerk" and ''copyist'' examinations
are always prepared in the Office Of the conn.,
mission under the direction Of the chief exam
liner. This is also the case with most Of the
other papers. although IN some technical ex-
amlnatlOns the papers are prepared by boards
outside. The commission. however, has entire
control of these papCrs. In some of the exami-
nations in New York the papers are prepared
by the special beard Of examiners All the ex-
sminers, said Mr.. Lyman, were detailed from
the departments, and their services were simply
loaned, as it were.
DETAILS FOB ExAMINISa BOARDS
The question Of the detail of these men from
the departments was . matter which should
be looked into and amended, thought both
Messrs. Lyman and Roosevelt The men so de-
tailed were away from the eye OF the
head Of the departments and considered them
selves rather out OF the line Of promotion.
Continuing on the question Of the examina-
ton papers Mr.. Lyman said that all papers
we're either made by the commission or by
outside boards and submitted to the commits
sion for approval The commissioners were
therefore responsible for all papers used in
examination.
The examination consisted of three parts,
said MIR. LYMAN. The first had refer
ence to the persons character. his name. resi-
dence, &c, his vouchers and affidavit as to his
residence. The second portion is then the
educational test, the questions themselves The
third portion of the examination is the six
months practical examination at the depart
ment itself. After the passage Of these three
portions Of the examination the applicants
may be said to be actually In the public ser
vice.
on THE LIST or ELIarBLEs.
The applicants passing the first two portions
Of an examination ere entered upon the books
as eligible. If the general examination. as for
clerks or copyists. is taken the successful ones
are entered upon the book Of the state from
which they come, with the grade, &c. Passing
the written examination with a grade OF 10 per
cent constitutes eligibility, except in the cases
of soldiers discharged for disability, in which
cases only 65 per cent is required In this latter
case the successful ones are required to be GER
tilted first This does not onIy
include soldiers and sailors of the war
bat even includes soldiers of the present day
SO discharged In certifying three names are
sent, and in case there is a soldier the fact
must be cls0lv set forth in the certificate.
There q: e. -! CT irse. said Mr.. Lyman, MANY
other re slst'cJ Of the special examinations
which are not arranged by states. The next
step IN an 3polntment is a requisition from
head OF u department that such and such men
are need i. The commission then examines
It's schedule states showing the apportion-
ment and how many appointments each state is
still entitled to. On this schedule the state is
found from which the appointment should be
made. The commission then takes the
three names with the highest grade
from the book of the selected state
which names are sent to the head
Of the department sending the requisition and
from them the appointInen ut must be made ex-
cept in case Of serious objection from the head
OF the department. which objection must be
upheld by the commissioners. In case the oh
lection is upheld three more men are certified.
In case the objection is not allowed the ap-
pointment must be made from the
three originally certified An eligible is
entitled to three certIfications. Mr. LYMAN i'm
answer to a question said that IS per cent of
the men appointed through the civil service
were retained in Office, passing successfully
through the SIX months, preliminary practical
examination.
ADJOURNED TILL TOMORROW.
Az this point II O'Clock having arrived, Mr..
Iehlbach suggested that the committee ad.
iourn until tomorror which was a,ra.5 20