The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-05-02


Positions VIII BE Thrswn Open
foe Distributes Anon9 Thos-
sands Of AvDIfcants.
Special Dispatch to the Post-Intslligencer.
PORT TOWNSEND. May i.--Under the
existing law ard rulings the next coli
hector OF customs Of this district viii have
one once At his disposal namely. that Of
cl1ore woman. There is but one other
position that can be filed By appoint
1neut, II the existing civil service reguia-
tons are correctly interpreted, and then
only In the event that the present In
canbeut would resign. 1t II pretty
generally accepted theory that one OF
the unwriffen laws governing the con-
tlnuafson OF Democratic employees in Office
Is that they rarely die and never resign.
To begin. the collector will be required
to furnish bond acceptable TO the judge
OF the United States district court IN the
sun Of $10e.gB0. During year the col
Iecfofss deputies receive more than
quarter Of million dollars In government
duties, and there Is no law by which
he can exact bond from his subordi-
nafes. or have any voice In their appoint
Insnt. Besides. too, In his official bond,
he u responzibie for all OF their official
actions r. = mistake In his Office is
made whereby vessel gets into trouble
ur fncurs penalties, the collector must
stand the pecuniary consequences, not
the officer making the error. The only
responsibility that the latter would be
likely TO incur would be TO forfeit his
position.
Two Glasses Of OfIicers.
The officers arc divided into two class
n -. III Sc sssy4f~
and .-nen-accepteds' officers. The cashier
Of the district-sn this Instance he il the
chief deputy collector-ls termed en- "ac-
ceGtcd officer" He il entitled TO the
same protection as an army officer. ex-
cept that upon his resignation or removal
from Office the collector Ii empowered to
I'LL the vacancy b. appointment, and the
appnintce need not have passed the civil
service examination. b. - long as the
Incumbent chooses TO remain and can
protect himself against removal for cause.
the collector Is roHerie1S 10 effect
change All OF the other nfty-slx enl-
pioyea are protected b. the folds OF civil
service. so generously extended a little
over two years ago By Mr. Cleveland.
There are three distinctive grades or
Glasses through which aspiring candi-
dates must pass before the coveted prize
or holding Federal appointment can
be obtained The character and pro-
fieiency OF the applicant are essential I'm
the fifst two classes, and having pull
with the collector IL necessary In the
third or final stage Of advancement.
First Of all II Is required that candidates
should be or good moral character Then
they must undergo an examination before
civil service commission. which is now
composed OF three customs deputies. who
went into office under the present col
iector four years ago. The manner and
mnthods OF conducting the examinations
arc strictly fair and impartial, and there
II no possible way whereby any person
can IN advance obtain a copy Of the CUES |
tons The moment the exercise Is con- |
Guided the applicants papers are sealed /
and Immediately forwarded TO the sec |
retaFy OF the civil service commission In |
Washington. where they are opened, cx- |
anined and rated. The examination it, |
self Is no more severe than Is usually |
given to graduating classes OF grammar |
schools I'm large cities. In fact. IL Is /
more practical. The idea that ..catea /
aveslinns are propounded Is absurd. and |
In all probability originated over the sur |
prissnE fact that a niddie-aged person /
or academic education Is liable 10 fail, |
and bright lad just out OF school will 1
pass with a surprisingly large percentage.
a very good test Is 10 ask an average |
educated person TO name the capitals OF |
each state. A majority Of persons win
fan. and more particularly III the time
fer answering liz limited say 10 three
nass.ntes. Such a question as what and
~nere IL the capital OF Florida situated7
Is essential. In office the candidate
might have a consignment OF dutfabie
merchandise billed TO jacksonville. Fla.
and In an instant he must know from
memory In what part of the state the
city IT. located. and from that TO deter
Ia f<s4tts IA sfr{-
Is indebted. This example Is no cri-
terton 10 follow. except to illustrate the
necessity OF having a practical knowle3ge
Of common education In due time
the rating Is returned from Washington
ny the commission. II the rate be less
than % per cent. the applicant fails 10
set on the list OF eIigihies and Is rele-
gated 20 the painful necessity OF earning
livelihood IN 1ame other Avenue.
Preference tn old soldiers
There are some advantages 10 be de-
rived ~ being an old soldier The law
provides that veterans OF the civil war
possessing the qualifications necessary 20
! acquire \ pension shall upon taking efae
sivsl service examination and securing
rating 81 s. per cent or over. he adj
xaaesd % the head ~ the list Of ellginlos
In other words. crippled veteran secur-
ing . standing of & per cent. must be adj
ssneef 20 the head OF tho HIST even
ranking any ether applicant who may
have acquired leo per cent. After that
the veteran must take HIS chances with
the collector OF customs similar 10 all
other sspiraUts.
When vacancy exists the collector
calls for a llst from which 20 choose an
appointed. He Is given three names, those
standing the highest in the examination.
from which the selection Is made The
next hikheAf candidate then takes the
place. made vacant BY tho selection. When
the third person "a selected the list il
Cancelled and another list containing threa
new naiazss u those standing next ia tho
order ~ their rating Is given the collector
upon application. Ky tina method the cos-
ieoter Is compelled 70 appoiat three ant
es every IKE nanaes submitted by tho cgyfl
service hoard. SO far the collector has
bad very little TO say, bat in the fhira
round he gets an inning and a chance to
punt cut.
The aprcsnfees thus chosen are the,
classified as permanent Temporary an
Ysotnteee~ and when extra labor ar ofte-
duty IS required they must BE- rAa.l,r "a
perform the servsces- THIS IS what i.
called probationary period and n
the candidate is not acceptable to the coll
IectoY within six months he Is ssroopsa
from further consideration. Ths. e,,ltegstor
ts not compelled 90 assign any reason ar
cause fer his action. Al present there aro
two candidates On Tire liss. both Ren,th-
licanS.
In brief such Is tho naeaa 80 procedure
through which aspiring candidates must
1T
nf~@,,~-a go x,1w,s8