Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-08-17
PRINTERS AGE LIMIT
1t Will Certainly Not Hold Against Dis
abled Soldiers. -.... .
District Men Arc Specially Fovored
the Ground of Emergency Needs.

The results of the recent examination of
applicants for positions in the government
printing Office were today summarized. OF
those who were examined for compositors,
6S per cent passed. OF those who tried for
pressmen. 10 Oper cent passed. OF the
tookbinders, 81 passed, and of the skilled
laborers. 10 per cent passed. This the COM
missioners regard as q very good showing,
and one that ought to establish, If any
thing can, the fact that these examinations
are not SO difficult as to bar any really
deserving workman.
District EIfsfbIcs.
The prospect of modifying the rules IN
some particulars draws out great num-
ber of criticisms Of the system, some of
which have reason and merit, and some
are frivolous. Among other things it is
said that the commission IS trying to shut
out District printers. This is not at all
the case. On the contrary, as the work in
the government printing Office Is largely
emergency, employment requiring at some
parts of the y ear much larger force than
at other seasons, particular favor Is shown
District printers, pressmen and bookbind-
ers. There is not word in the rules or
In the blanks barring District people from
the examinations.
When 1t comes to appointments the law
must be observed in regard to state quotas
If there is no pressing emergency. If there
Is, District ehgibles on the ground will have
their chance promptly. A waiting list, or
emergency list, is kept of District eligibles,
and they have the benefit of an entire
absence If there Is such, of eligibles from
any state.
Age Limit.
The action in regard to the forty-five-
year age limit is largely the result of a
careful consideration of section 1854 Of the
Revised Statutes, which gives preference
to soldiers disabled in service. The section
Is as follows: Persons honorably dis
charged from the military or naval service
by reason of disability resulting from
wounds or sickness incurred in the line of
duty shall be preferred for appointments
to civil offices, provided they are found to
possess capacity necessary for the proper
discharge of the duties of such offices" 4"
August letter was received from an old
printer in Pennsylvania which in a very
able and convincing manner called the at
tention of the commission to the age limit
in connection with this section. After care
full study of the matter the commission
took the view that it had no right to
prevent an old soldier disabled in service
from showing in an examination whether
he had the capacity necessary for the
place for which he desired to be an appli-
cant. The age limit will beyond all doubt
be suspended for a time, although the COM
mission has not formulated it's action.
A District Printers View of 1t.
To the Editor Of The Evening Star:
Much has been said in your valuable
sheet in regard to the injustice of the
civil service laws now In effect in the gov
ernment printing office, and no doubt such
an injustice will be talked down for long
time to come. In this connection permit
me to call attention to the clause, mo Dis
trict printer need apply" There Is now
in the city a number of printers who were
born in the District of Columbia who have,
at various times, worked in the govern
ment printing office, some of these serving
their apprenticeship in the office. Now,
think of the unjust discrimination against
these men.
Take the man that served his apprentice
ship in the government printing office.
Does any one have the slightest doubt
that after serving four years apprentice
ship. under the training of some of the
finest printers that were ever employed or
viii be employed In the G. P. O., that he
is not cc::.3esse:it 70 a.. sM q n"sition In tho
61Jice? But, according to the blanks. fur
nished by the civil service commission, he
Is barred.
There are today some of the finest prin--
tiers in the country walking the streets OF
this city, and may continue to walk II this
clause is permitted to remain. just on ac-
count of the injustice of said clause.
AS a District man, an ex-employe, serv-
ing my apprenticeship in the G. P. o., can
not let 20 by unnoticed this injustice.
EX-EMPLOYE.