Delaware gazette and state journal., 1895-09-26
Opportunities in the Civil Service.
. I. Newcomb, In the September Forum.

II. I. Newcomb, in the September Forum.
The rapidity of promotion varies
greatly in the different executive de-
partments, and also in other branches
Of the service. Clerks and copyists
are appointed in the departmental SER
vice at salaries varying from 5000 to
5000 per annum. Promotion to the
maximum should be rapid where the
original appointment is less than 5000.
The grades above this are $1,000,
81, 200, 81, 400, 81, 600, and 81, 800, and
in some departments $1,000. Still
higher are the positions of chiefs OF
divisions, which pay from 81, 600 to
50. 800 according TO their Importance.
There are numerous examples of clerks
who have entered the departments since
the civil service law went into effect
and are now receiving 81, 500 and 81, 600
per annum. They are generally young
men, and their advancement has been
usually secured through merit alone.
Special examinations are held to fill
positions in the examining corps of
the patent Office. Original entrance
is invariably at 81, 200 per annum, and
examinations for promotion to the
higher grades are held at regular in
teryall, Out of total of "a principal
examiners receiving 81, 500 per annum,
more than two thirds originally entered
the service under the civil service rules
in the lowest grade. The proportion
among first, second and third as sistant
examiners, whose salaries are 81, 500,
81, 600, and 81, 400 respectively, is still
higher. The present chief clerk Of
the Department of State was appointed
to clerkship in the Treasury Depart
ment at 81, 2O0 per annum on February
nth, 1881, and promoted in due course
to ST. 500; transferred TO the State De
partment, and made chief of the
Bureau Of Statistics, April 18th, 1909,
and appointed chief clerk one year
later Another clerk who entered the
service at Sl,200 per annum during
July, 1856, was promoted to 81, 400, in
1887, to 81, 500 in 1889, and made chief
Of the Consular Bureau on March 2Sth,
1888, Perhaps no better example of the
opportunities afforded young men in
the civil service could be found than
that of an employe Of the Civil Scvice
Commission, who in 1889 was en-
| ployed in "a railroad Office at Whining
| ton, N. O.. at salary of a35 per month.
| In common with most of his neighbors
he believed the Civil Service law to he
| a hulllhhSs duAls dH llt WHS democrat,
thought he had no chance of appoint.
ment under the then existing Rcpub,
,ican administration. However, he
| finally determined to take the copyist
examination at Gollshoro, N. c..
as an experiment. lie passed, and
two months later received an appoint
ment as messenger in the Office Of the
Civil Service Commission at $50 per
annum. He has been succcssively pro.
NOTED through the 81, 600, 81, 200, 81, coo
grades to Sl,S00, which is his present
/ compensation. The opportunities for
women are not so satisfactory as those
for men, yet quite number who have
entered the service at from 5000 ia
Sl,000 under civil service rules, are
now receiving 81, 200 and ST, 400 per
annum, They are appointed generally
as copyists, typewriters, Or stenogra
pliers, and have usually found promo
tion within the lower grades sufficiently
rapid. There has been an unfortunate
prejudice against promoting them to
the highest salaries, but this is be-
lieved to he fast dying out, as the ap-
pointment to more efficient and
meritorious class of women demon
strates their ability and fitness.