Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-06-09
CIVIL SERVICE CHANCES.
The Commission Prepares a Statement
Answering Many Questions.

fails to ask II has not vet been found out. To
answer everything would be too much for any
one to attempt to DO. so the commission has
endeavored to simplify matters by compiling a
pamphlet Of Instructions to applicants who
wish to enter the classified civil service of the
United States with information as to the
chances of appointment. The pamphlet has
just appeared and contains a great deal of III
terestlng matter on both subjects. Is begins
with an abbreviated edition of the rules that
govern the commissions methods and work
under the several heads-applIcants. times and
places of examinations. examinations, and re-
examinations.
BE-ENANISAIIoSs.
Under the latter heading this book Of in
structions has the following:
Persons failing TO pass an examination may,
after six months from their failure. file new
Applications and be re-eYamined. No person
who has passed an examination shall, while
eligible on the register supplied by such ex-
animation. be re-eXamined.
denominations other than as specified
above can he had only by permission of the
commission: and surh permission will be given
only IN exceptional cases where the applicant vas
incapable OF doing himself justice on account
of sickness or other good cause. and then only
upon affidavit Of the facts.
when NAV an appointment be expected is
the question That IL certain 10 be of the most
interest 20 an applcan. who has taken an ex-
animation and feels satisfied that he has done
himself credit This very natural PRESTON
the commissions handbook answers in the
following Way:
THE ROUTINE.
The name Of each applicant who passed the
clerk or copyist examination a! the required
grade will be entered upon the register OF
eligibles of the state of his legal residence for
certIticatiOn for appointment from that state in
Aha ID nF 10 81 A1,ag- - -
passed the clerk examination take their chance
of getting at first a II. 200 or only a $1,000
place. a. must those who have passed the
cOpyIst examination take the chance of getting
a $500. or only one of the $40, 500, or even
lower places.
But admission is usually at the grades of
$1,000 and 1900. When there is a vacancy to
be filed from the clerk or copyist registers the
commission c~ertlies from the eligible register
OF the state then having the smallest share of
appointments III proportion to its population
the names OF the three persons graded highest
OF the sex and grade called for, and from the
three a selection Is made. The applicant must
remember that the examination. If 1t shows the
requisite capacity. will only entitie him to be
placed on the register of those eligible for ap-
pOintment, and to be certified, in his turn, to
the appointing officer when a vacancy shall oc-
cur. and when his state is reached in the order
of appOrtiOnment.
The time of examination is not considered in
making Qualifications, as the highest in grade
on the register must be certified first, although
they may not have been the first examined. No
name can be certified more than three times to
the same department. Persons honorably dis
charged from the military or naval service of
the United States by reason of disability result
ing from wounds or sickness incurred in the
line Of duty are given preference III c~ertifica-
ton.
Each applicant by his examination decides
his own standing and hence his own chances OF
an early appointment. Most of the examina-
tlons are common for all the places in each of
the departments at Washington for which they
are appropriate, and an applicant cannot
know 10 which department his name may be
certified Each name remains eligible on the
clerk and copylst registers one year from the
date of its entry thereon after the marking is
completed unless the person is sooner APP
pointed, and ON the special and supplementary
registers two years.
CHANCES OF APPOINTMENT.
schedule that speaks for itself is printed
showing the number of those who .ook clerical
examinations from the various states up to the
18th of May, 1880. with a list Of those who had
received appointments during the year ending
On that date. Out of 8lS examined only seventy
i've received the desired positions. In COM
mentlng on this schedule the commissioners
have the following to say:
The great disparity between the plumber ex-
amIned and tine number appointed shows the
6eenuess OF the competition on these registers
and makes II evident that none of those apply
ing have any chance unless they pass at an ex-
ceptIonaliy high standard. OF the $50 men
VIII passed the clerk examination during the
year ending June 30. 1889. only 65 were ap-
pointed. The proportion of appointments.
however. to those who pass varies greatly in
different states. Thus IN that year : men
passed the clerk examination from Arkansas
and 8 were appointed: 2 from Louisiana and 2
appointed; s from Mississippi and 4 appointed;
from Georgia and 3 appointed; s from Texas
and appointed. Thus from these five states
80 passed and 10 were appointed On the other
hand. from Indiana 10 passed and none were
appointed; from Virginia Is passed and none
were appointed; from Illinois 10 passed and
none were appointed; from Ohio %
passed ard none were appointed: from
Maryland "A passed and none were
appointed Prom these five states 255 men
passed the clerk examination and none were
appointed No appointments have been made
OF men from the clerk and copyist
registers of Maryland and Virginia since
ISL aud the chances of any applicant
from these states are very small Since July
i. lsSf. the lowest standing reached for an APP
pointn2ent under the clerk examination from
Indiana. OHIO, Pennsylvania and Illinois wa.
81 Ihese hgures are partly explained by the
need OF making an apportionment which ha,
been equitaDly maintained with respect to most
OF the states, although. of course. not with
mathematical exactness. A few OF the states
and nearly all the territories have received
relatively all excessive share of appointment a.
NAAtA GUMS AbAE ~ " ~
bly, the case with respect to Maryland. Virginia
aud the states and territories indicated in itai-
les Ia the table and the District of Columbia
and has resulted from "a necessity of examining
anu certifying for appointment to places re.
curing special or technical knowledge or skill
such pessOns as offered themselves after du,
puolle notice. without regard to their places Of
legal residence.
Such persons have been found relatively il
larger numbers in Maryland. Virginia, Indiana
ONO. Illinois and the District of Columbia thar
elsewhere. The states which in the abov,
table appear To have had no clerk appoint
ments or only a small share have supplied per
sons from the special and supplementary regis
fers IN great numbers and in this way hav,
secured their full share. and in some case,
more than their full share. of all the appoint
ments made These same states also send larg,
numbers into the clerk and copyist examina
lions. appointments under which cannot b'
made because of the unavoidable confinement
OF appointments from those states to thu
specIa! places.
"TN~FLUENCE."
There is no need of seeking the aid of an,
prominent or presumably influential person 4
secure an application paper or an examination
No recommendation or certificate. beside
those provided for in the official blanks, vii
be receivedOr can be of any use in secruini
an examination or a certiication for an an
poIntmenL- Time spent IN attempts TO chang