Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-08-19
ENGINEER CORPS EMPL DYES
Gen. Wilson Issues Circular of Instruc-
lions.
The Class Requiring No Examination
for Eligibility to the Clerical Class
Those Exempt From Tests.

Corps OF the army, has issued a circular
giving instructions to the officers of the
corps regarding the employment of men IN
pubic works under the civil service regu-
lations. The order placing tee employees
under the civil service was issued in Nav
1896. Since the order was issued there
nave been many conferences between Gem
eral Wilson and his assistants on one hand
ana the civil service commission on the
other in an effort to adjust all differences
SO that the employment of men under the
new regulations would work smoothly and
satisfactorily. The regulations now issued
are largely devoted to details and are be-
neved to meet all the objections that have
oeen made to the new system. Provision is
made for the selection of temporary en-
ployes for positions where there are no
ehglpies or in case persons on the eligible
list do not possess the requisite qualifica-
tons. These temporary employees may en-
ter the service by passing the prescribed
examinations. Civil service local boards
nave been established in each engineer dis
trlct that examinations may be had for
hlling vacancies. Provision is made for the
selection of emergency employees through
the chief of engineers and the civil sery-
Ice commission One of the largest class
OF employees who require peculiar qualifica-
tons for the work are Junior engineers
winch grade includes inspectors subin-
spectors, overseers suboverseers surveyors
PHOTOGRAPHERS. topographers, transtmen.
levelmen, seNtant observers commuters
rodmen and recorders.
Relative to these officers the circular of
General Wilson says:
The eligible lists of Junior engineers will
De prepared as heretofore by the civil sery-
ice commission, and by a recent decision
OF the commission, the list showing the
qualifications or fitness of the various ell
g1bies Tor particular work will be furnished
TO central board. appointed by the civil
service commission. in the office of the
chief of engineers. Hereafter certifications
VIII be made to the chief of engineers by
this central board. In making applications
s6r Junior engineers, officers and agents
should be careful to designate the particu-
lar qualifications that the appointee should
possess in order that the proper persons
may be selected for certification."
No Examination Required.
AS the examinations required for the
Junior engineer positions are of a more
comprehensive character than those for
the clerical positions. the civil service COM
mission has decided that employees occu-
plying any of the Junior engineer positions
in the classified service. for which edu-
cational tests are required are eligible for
assignment to the clerical grades without
examination. Such transfers can here
chief of engineers.
Craftsmen may be secured from the spe-
cial list of eligibles prepared by the civil
service commission, or from the Junior en-
If selected from the latter list, the ap-
pointee is eligible to assignment or promo
ton to any of the junior engineer grades
without examination.
The provision applies to junior engineers
and craftsmen who were in the service
when the civil service law went into effect.
No Educational Test Required.
Gen. Wilson also says: "Appreciating the
fact that many persons, by reason of prac-
teal experience, possess the peculiar quail
fications necessary to perform satisfactor-
lily certain duties required of employees in
the engineer department, and who are not
competent to pass an educational eNan'ina-
ed to the organization of the second gen eral
class, for which no educational ties, is re-
CURED.
The employees i'm this class are ell I'M
Grated as follows: Inspectors, subinsp.c-
tors, overseers suboverSeers, whose pay
does not exceed 500 per month; deputy in
spectors and masters, deputy inspectors
and pilots, deputy inspectors and mates,
masters, pilots, mates, engineers of steam
vessels and other similar positions which
in private employ require a license from
the office of steamboat inspection, when
the applicant is licensed; all the mechani-
cal trades, master workmen, master labor
ers, balers, blasters, boarding masters, boat
men, steermen, cement finiShers, cement
testers, cement workers, chainmen, con-
crete finishers, craneSmen, divers, dredge
runners, dredge engineers, elevator con-
ductors, gardeners, gauge readers, leadsmen,
lock masters and assistant lock masters,
lock and bridge tenders, weayers, weavers
of mats, motormen, including all steam en-
gineers not licensed engineers; pile drivers,
powder men, ringers, rodmen and record
ers at $40 per month or less; stewards,
strikers, telegraph and telephone linemen,
blacksmiths' helpers, calkers helpers, car
penters' helpers, machinists helpers.
watchmen, including custodians, valve
tenders, trackmen, fort keepers, torpedo
station keepers, light keepers, porters,
messengers, janitors and similar positions
not specified herein.
General Wilson expresses the belief that
no difficulty will be experienced under the
new system in securing the best and most
suitable employees.