The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-04-14
WANT TO sEHvE UNCLE SAN.

CoD010oto0 Under Civil Service 1xAms
ination-Eneets u the System.
Twenty-one applicants for positions in
the service of the government underwent
q civil service examination yesterday. con-
Quoted BY Special Examiner B. A. p. Pool,
of Washington City. assisted by the local
board Of examiners, Assistant Postmaster
w. J. Colkett, Money Order Superintend-
emit W. ]. Mcclellan and Registry Division
6uperintendent H. D. Temple.
There were eleven applicants for posi-
tons in the railway mail services, eight for
positions a. clerks in the departmental
service, one - q copyist in the depart
mental service and one as assistant OBJ
server In the weather bureau. In addition
to this two applicants took supplementary
examinations IS Law clerks and one ~ .
proofreader. Tho examination ques-
tions. while comprehensive, are not
especially difficult, and . standing
Of 20 per cent. must b attained to make
the applicant eligible for appointment.
After passing the clerkship examination
IN applicant passing the supplementary
examination stands double chance for
appointment, one as clerk and one in
the special work. Law clerks are eligible
TO appointment in the state and judiciary
departments and proofreaders are eligible
in all departments. especially in the in
terror department..
Mr.. Pool il one Of about nineteen civil
service examiners, six or eight Of whom
travel about the country holding examine
tons. He goes from here to Walla Walla,
where he holds an examination on the
18th and another in Spokane on the 18th.
The next examination in Seattle will be
held September II. He said yesterday:
had hoped that there would b some sppli-
cants for positions In the Indian service, - they
are pretty well paid. and there are vacancies to
Be hled. with the chances for appointments very
good for those who should pass the examina-
ton. There IL . great scarcity Of applicants for
these positiona This branch of the service
needs teachers, supsrtntendsnts, matrons and
phys,cians in the Indian schools. and
applicants for different positions in
the different branches answer different
questions. and are allowed different periods Of
time in which to answer the question: OF
course, time Il IN element which counts - we'll
- correctness For that reason, - You go.
there IL Q little blank left ct the top Of each
page ON which each applicant states the
time Of commanding and the time OF clos.
ing the work represented on that particular
sheet About S per cent Of the applicants
fall 70 pass, aud les than half OF those
who pass secure appOintments, that
being of course governed by the demands Of the
different divisions and branches. After an appli-
cant has failed to pass an examination hs must
wait six months before he can attempt another,
and after passing once he must wait year before
taking another II he fails to get an appointment
In fact. he 10 not eligible for longer than year,
and II he does not BY that time receive .
place he must take another examination.
Those who pass the examination are put upon
the list OF eligibles for appointment according
10 their standing. and when vacancy occurs in
any department the names and standing Of the
three highest on the list of eligibles are cefti-
hed to the appointing omosr, and he can choose
either. Another vacancy Occurring, the other
two and one more are again oerti.
fed aud 20 on. Appointments are
made from each state and territory
according to population, Warrington being en-
titled to seventeen out OF 8.1lo appointments in
the departmental service. ! believe that In
time promotions viii also come under the civil
service regulations BY mixture OF examine
heads Of departments bear witness to the fact
that they have much better work under
the present system than they had under
the old patronage system. Presi-
deut Cleveland has strongly indicated his In.
tention to uphold the system. President Harrf-
son extended the service to the free delivery
postodices. to the weather bureau aud 70 the
nsh commission, and have no doubt but that
President Cleveland will further extend the ap-
plicatiou OF the rules.