The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-06-11
WANT POSTAL JOBS.
Twenty-Four Candidates Take
Civil Service Examination.
POLITICS ours NO FIGURE.
The Applicants About Equally DIVIDED
Growth - the
Seattle PosteMes Business.

An examining board Of the civil service
met yesterday morning at O'Clock IN
rooms 2iO and 2l1 Bank of Seattle build
ing, and twenty-one Of the twenty-four ap-
piicants tor postal service commissions
were examined. The board MAS composed
OF employees Of the Seattle postof6ce. As
sistant Postmaster w. J. Colkett acting As
president, assisted by the superintendent
Of money order department.. w. J. Nc
Clellan. and the superintendent Of the
registry division. Fl. D. Temple.
OF the twenty-one applicants appearing
for examination, eight we're examined for
clerical positions. . woman being one Of
the number. while thirteen were examined
for the carrier service.
The examination for clerks consisted OF
questions in photography, penmanship.
copying, letter writing. arithmetic, geog-
raphy Of the United States. local delivery
and reading addresses. The carrier ex-
animation vas the same, except As to
the letter writing and geography depart
ments, while the examinations in arith-
metlc were easier.
The examinations lasted until 2:S0 p. m.
The applicants rs = whole were an intel
iigent class ana the fact that they got
through their examinations 30 quickly is
an indication of the high standard Of in
telligence Of the applicants. Indeed the
personnel Of the party we'll bore the COM
ment made by Postmaster Griffith Davies
in speaking Of them after the examine
tons when he said AS whole they were
a. fine looking lot Of young people as
could be mustered in the Northwest"
As to the politics Of the applicants Mr..
Colkett said: "Politics cuts no figure in
the civil service examinations or appoint
ments-at least In the Seattle postofiice
and never has since have been here.
now nearly thirteen years. happen to
know the politics Of some Of the young
men examined today and of those have
a knowledge Of they were about equally
divided between Democrats and Repub-
licans." ~
"As an indication that politics does not
count in tho Seattle postofRce." added
Postmaster Griffith Davies, II had not tho
remotest idea what political party my last
two appointees belonged to until moment
ago the matter came up and was informed
both were Democrats. What / wanted
was efficient men-and got them"
As an indication of the growth Of Seat
ties postal business and service. Assistant
Postmaster Colkett remarked during . con-
versation: "When became clerk in the
Seattle postofiice in June, 1850, the total
appropriation for clerical hire for the Office
service was 1926 per year; it requires
$4,000 per year now to pay the salaries Of
the forty-seven employees. Then the total
receipts Of tho Office we're less than 5000
per annum; in 1892 they were over 500, 900.
and the business Of thu Office Is increasing
all the time. as was indicated by the bust
ness of last month, which showed an in
crease Of over Il per cent. over the CORE
spending month Of 1891 The Seattle post
Office has now twenty clerks. twenty-five
regular carriers. three subs and two mes
senger boys attached to the Office, while
most Of our messenger service. which is
quite heavy. is done by the American Dis
trict Telegraph people. In addition to
this army Of help We are In need Of more,
and we are IN q fair way to get what We
ale asking for, as our oface Is showing up
big"