Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-05-24
CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATIONS
Change in the Methods Used by the Commits
sion.
improvements Made rs a Result OF
Experfcnce-Change Found
to be Desirable.

Those who are familiar with the history
Of the civil service commission and with
civil service reform in this country do not
regard 1t as anything detrimental to the
work Of the commission that 1t should
change or improve its methods. Every
great work has started with many erudi-
ties attached to 1t. improvements are
wrought from time to time as a result
of experience. The men who were respon-
sible for the work of the commission In
| its earlier days are not regarded the less
highly because some of their methods have
been changed and improved. 1t was SIM
| ply, civil service reformers say, Inevitable
Chief Examiner A. R. Server has sought
| to make all examinations bear directly up
on the needs of the position to be flied
| by the applicants. By his method he seeks
to secure the best blacksmith when work
man of that kind is desired, regardless
OF the ability of applicants for such posi-
uons to answer any scholastic questions.
He has been given wider scope In the
pursuance OF this policy than had any OF
his predecessors, from the fact that for
merry the great majority of positions filled
Dy the civil service commission were posi-
lions in which 1t was desired to secure a fair
order OF general intelligence rat her than any
special skill or knowledge. Fer that -ea-
son the earlier examinations were pr;nt.i-
pally designed to determine IL those who
TOOK part In them were fairly Intelligent
and capable OF performing clerical duties
OF general nature. The satisfactory on
Grafton OF the method formerly in vogue
mas been proven by the rapid promotion
OF the clerks SO obtained, many of them
hoialng positions OF the greatest response
pinIy IN the government service. But after
skilied laborers of every kind were OBJ
tanned through the civil service commission
the method pursued to secure such labor
mas had more or less effect upon the OK
animation of men and women for clerical
posltlons Among the examinations TO test
special fitness those of the fourth assist.pt
patent examiner, special pension examiner
ana few others of similar character wore
prepared to test special Qualification and
nave been considered by the departments
interested and the commission as highly
successful.
examination for Special Positions.
Chief Examiner Server was asked NV
star reporter today how the scope and
character of examinations for special DO
sitlohs are determined 1t frequently ham
pens 'hat when unusual qualifications are
eaheu LOT there are criticisms on the part
OF senators and Representatives ofte, -.
tered in session of Congress 10 ST., ~
unprGctlcai character of these exan,ina-
IONS Regarding the method pursued NJ
Server said -Aii'
When request is received from, q do
partment for an examination of rarso ~
possessing some special or peculiar cnaIj
1cations the department is asked ~ n
mas mas nor already furnished 1t, to give the
commission certain detailed informa,inn
regarding the duties TO be performed and
also 10 designate some one familiar with
the duties of the position to be filled with
CLASS OF examinations has been very salts
oruer 10 SO arrange the examination as to
secure those best qualified to fill the nosi
tlon In nearly all cases there has been
an amlcaole cooperation by the DEPART
n,ent ana the commission, so that this
class OF examination has been very salts
factory. While the commission has nor
entirely emerged from the experjments1
stage, and while mistakes are still made in
adapting examinations to the requirements
of the places to be-illed there has been
from the first a very earnest effort to make
the examination fit the exact conditions
required.
Acted on n Departments Request
II do not think the commission is now
making any unusual effort to secure prac-
teal tests. as the records show II has AL
ways tried to have its examinations as
practical as possible. The commission has
frequently been criticised for holding ex-
aminations for unusual or extraordinary
qualifications but it has always done so al
the request of the department which need
ed such services. 1t may well be supposed
that the department in which an ernploye
is to be engaged is best qualified to ipdi-
cate the character of ability that will be
needed. 1t is the province of the examina-
lions to supply The wants of the depart-
ments. When examinations are criticised
the criticism reflects on the department
for which the examination is held, and not
on the commission. While il is not always
possible to test practical qualifications sat
isfactorily by means of a written examina-
ton, yet when part of an examination is
devoted to general intelligence another
part to such practical questions as may
properly be included in a written examina-
ton for special trade, occupation or pro-
fession, and a third part devoted to a con-
sideratlon of prior training or experience
in the particular trade, occupation or pro-
fession, the result is sure to exhibit the
qualifications of those best fitted for per-
forming the duties of that class of posi-
lions. 1 feel sure that investigation CT
the examinations held by the commission
will fully answer the extreme criticisms
that are constantly made of the methods
that are used to test fitness of government
employees"