Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-01-24

The Board Of Examiners Make . Report Oh
the First Years Work.

The Board Of Examiners Max. Report o.
the First Years Work.
RECORDS MADE BIZ MIN AND BY woMEN-THE
pAxeER POINT UNDER THE PRESENT sYsrEr-
TEE GRADE OF JUNIOR CLERK PRoPosEp-rHr
PnoMoTroN OF TRAINED CLERKS TO HIoHKR
OFFICES.
The board Of examiners for promotion in the
Treasury Department has submitted its report
Of . years work under the new rules and regu-
lations promulgated by Secretary Foster The
report Of Mr.. Theodore L. De Land. the treas
ury examiner, is included in the papers sub
mittsd- It describes the new rules ordered BY
President Harrison, the efficiency records and
rules for competitive examinations.
There have been examined under the new
competitive rules "A Candidates, of whom 273
were males and III females. They came from
Is bureaus, and were arranged into eligible
lists a. follows: Five lists for class f. for class
8. for class 2. 10 for class l, 9 for class E. 8
for class D and for class c, or a total of 4S
eligible lists.
There were for the classes candidates az fol-
lows: Forty-four candidates for class four,
SO for class three ia for class two n for/class
one, s. for class Z, so for class d and IA for
class c. In the treasurer's Office all who were
examined below class d were considered as
eligible for class d, and promotions were made
grade by grade without further examination.
OF the 100 promotions that have been made
under the new rules ifty-four were won by
women. Of whom thirty-two received general
average Of 80 or more. OF the women SO
promoted twenty-one have served in this de-
partment over ten years and eight have served
between twenty and thirty years. Sixteen Of
the fifty-four promoted we're certified from the
lists Of the civil service commission.
Eortv-six OF the first one hundred promotions
under the new rules were given to men, OF
whom twenty-eight were appointed from the
eligible lists Of the civil service commission.
Six Of the persons so promoted received COM
during the civil war, seven had served in this
department over ten years and one had served
over twenty years.
THE DANGER POINT INDICATED.
"There is a danger point in the civil service"
says the report. (which cannot be overlooked
much longer. The present policy is to pro-
mote from grade to grade, the result of
which will be eventually to fill all the
higher grades with persons now in the
compete before the civil service commission for
admission accept positions when the compensa-
ton is 80 small9 And if the best will not enter
the service by reason of the inadequate pay
how can deterioration Of the service be pre-
vented? The question Of the substitutes also one
commencement OF the service of such persons
is on such small pay, the tenure Ia apparently 40
insecure and the period Of temporary appoint
ment SO indefinite that many who would make
good clerks refuse positions after being selected
The department must be protected, if possible,
under all conditions. This may be accom-
plished in part if the civil service commission
will raise Its standard for admission so that
none but the best can reach the eligible list
There is also a chance to improve the oppor-
tunities Of those who enter by increasing the
number Of grades in the civil service; that Ia,
as it soon must be, especially in the
sixth auditors office, provide for places
the pay Of which may be fixed
at 81 200, 81 500, $1,000 and 81, 100, positions
intermediary between those now fixed by law.
This will increase the number OF promotions
and elevate the service by the inducements Of
fered for the advancement Of the faithful and
efficient.
THE GRADE OF JUNIOR CLERK PROPOSED.
grade Of junior clerk might be provided for
In the Treasury Department with . low but rea-
sonable compensation. say $500 per annum to
be under the Secretary Of the Treasury; this
branch to be the entrance grade for all persons
who rome into the service from the eligible
lists Of the civil service commission. When va
cancies occur in the bureaus the heads of the
offices might select from the persons on the
junior clerk rolls those best fitted to do the
work required, in which case the chief could
see the work Of the clerk before he selects him.
which is not now possible. 1t would also pre-
vent the putting Of square pegs in round
holes" the assignment of a clerk to distaste-
full line of work and also prevent the anomaly
Of placing a graduate of Vassar or Harvard at
counting paper or copying plain copy. The
Secretary could use this class to aid in emer-
gencies in any Office where work was pressing;
and to this roll could be transferred the clerk
who is chronically SICK leaving his position in
his own Office to be used for the
good Of the public service, not as now
to be filed temporarily by a
substitute with no stable tenure. A clerk
when entering the junior grade would have an
opportunity perhaps 70 select duty congenial
to himself, commensurate with his abilities and
beneficial to the department. In other words,
this grade could be used a clearing house
for the positions of the clerical force. It would
have the additional advantage of employ
ing at once a new appointee on a variety Of
work that would develop his capability. and
would enable the head Of the bureau to learn
from practical tests the comparative fitness Of
candidates for specific positions. And it is be-
heved that this system could be carried into
effect with little or no increase of expenditure
for the department.
SHALL THE TRAINED MEN HAVE THE HIGHER
PLACES?
The position of tia clerk in the higher grades
is also worthy of Mention. He has reached
the position OF class four, or possibly assistant
chief Of division, by his zeal and fidelity; but
under the present order of things it is useless
for him to expect or to hope for further
promotion. Does not the advancement of the
public service demand that this selected ma
terial shall be considered from which to take
as the result Of q competitive examination
or by other means the best men
for chiefs Of division and possibly
deputies? Will not the trained men
of the department, those who have risen
by reason OF merit, give better satisfaction as
chiefs OF division than men who enter the
service with no knowledge of official life or Of
official duties? This question will soon press
hard for solution upon the secretaries Of the
future.
THE EXPERIENCE OF THE FIRST YEAR.
The efficiency rules and promotion regula-
tons have been issued and in force one year.
and have been observed by all the heads of
bureas and chiefs of divisions of the Secretary's
Office. with q single exception. Those not
called upon to create have had an opportunity
to criticise, it being much easier to criticise
than to create or organize. As long as man is
fallible, so long will any theory devised by man
be imperfect and subject to animadversion The
old truism that "Rome was not built in a day.
is applicable to any such undertaking. The
man who expects to see q system spring from