The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-04-24
THEIR BOOZE NAN.
Things That Happen in the
Civil Service Rooms.
READY FOR THE SACRIFICE.
Tomorrow the lAse Day tor ApplicA-
t1onD Tor Fire and Police
Departments.
READY FOR THE SACRIFICE.

ermen used to conzregzte ana exercise
their talents on municipal legislation pre-
SCENTS IN altered appearance since II has
become the scene of the labors Of the civil
service commission The chair OF state
elevated on . platform. from which the
chairman issued his edicts to the board.
has been removed. together with the long
desks and easy chairs used by the MEM
bers. In their stead few small business
desks have been placed. In one corner 3
q cabinet with alphabetically arranged
flies. The railing which In "ye oiden days"
restrained the crowd gathered to watch In
awed silence the workings Of the alder
manic intellect IL now used TO support the
forms Of applicants for positions In the
police and FIRE departments, and incident
ally to protect Secretary A. II. Grout from
the attacks of ardent ofiiceseekers- Al one
side counter has been built over the rail-
ing and on II rests the book used to regis
ter applicants for positions within the
range OF the city employment bureau
A visit to the room In interesting. the
applicants A. . rule a6ording good mate
rial for character study. and their replies
to questions being at times full of uncon-
scicuS hImor. At one time yesterday aft
ernoon all the chairs placed outside tho
railing for the convenience Of those having
business with Secretary Grout were filled.
On one side were four women. while oppo-
response to the beck Of the secretary one
OF the men. a great buriy fellow. stepped
to the counter and said he wanted q Job al
a painter When asked II there was any
thing else he could do he replied: "Oh,
yes. anything for bed and board, except"
he added. after a thoughtful pause, hard
work" A musical litter escaped from the
female Quartette and the big fellow hast
ened to remark. with . rather sheepish air,
saf,nh
He has had experience with victims OF that
tired feeling. The last one Of those present
to be disposed OF was q colored lady. She
was not a common pusson" OF the genial.
smiling type. Her name has been regis
tered on the books Of the free employment
bureau for many moons. and when told
there was nothing as yeti she proceeded
to administer . lecture on the evils Of
discrimination.
Use ben hyur 'nuff,' she exclaimed.
angrily. IAN you neva has nothin'. You
gives other wtmmin Jobs. but not me. an
It amt right, II ain't."
The little secretary Is q believer in the
proverb that "a soft answer turneth away
wrath" and he sent the indignant woman
on her face as could be conjured out Of
such a visage.
One or two policemen put In an appear
once and presented filed application blanks
with an air Of great diffidence. The pre-
servers OF the peace generally present the
appearance OF men about to be hanged
when they approach the room appropriated
to the use OF the civ!l service commission
The stern demeanor and military carriage
which are supposed to inspire the criminal
classes with such awe deserts them and
they submit their applications to the Sec
rotary Ike a schoolboy handing In o poorly
prepared exercise
The commission does not ask the relig-
ious or political beliefs of applicants but
sometimes the knowledge Is thrust upon
them One man who states In his applica-
ton that he was born in Glasgow. Scot
land, and has been IN the city's employ
under Street Commissioner Alexander,
writes after the query concerning his rea-
sons for leaving the employ: Be
cause I am an American and believe In
America for Americana"
Applications are coming in rapidly. Sat-
urday night will be the last opportunity to
file them for the fire and police depart
meats, and numbers are evidently putting
OF the ordeal until the last day. Probably
not one-half OF the men in the police and
FIRE DEPARTMENTS have taken any steps In
that direction yet.
The worthy patrolmen are cudgel.ng their
brains fer technical definitions OF all the
crimes In the decalogue. At headquarters
the talk Is assuming decidedly technical
turn, ard cases are unearthed from the
criminal records OF the past and discussed
with a redundancy Of cetail and legal
phrase. Since the age and weight limits
have been made easier 20 members OF the
department. the intention OF many to GO
into athletic training has given place 70 a
desire for literary knowledge Some OF the
men in the police department complain that
fregnen have been provided with copies OF
the questions asked in the csvil service
examinations OF some OF the Eastern cities.
They say II Is possible for the chief OF q
department to obtain them by writing
East but ~ the head Of their own DEPART
ment has taken any steps IN that direction
u has not been made known TO them.