The morning times., 1897-01-02
MORE ENGINEERS WANTED
First Civil Service Examination
in Their Interest.
FOR COAST DEFENSE WORK
West Point and Annapolis Unable to
Supply Demand-Plan to Fill
Engineer Department With Civil
ians-One Result of Recent Alarms
of War With Spain.

The significance and Importance or the
mere announcement by the Civil Service
Commission as to an examination Tor
engineers has escaped general attenti IN
The proposed examination is in fact, the
first to be held by the Civil Service Com
mission in this branch II the public service.
twill begin on the 18th instant, and oecon-
tinued thereafter until further notice.
tits contemplated by this examination TO
make available large number OF civil
engineers, whose work is to be on coast
iefenses and harbor Notifications. This
fact is particularly interesting, as it in
dicates one Of the methods by which the
government is TO carry out plans, part OF
which have been more than limited at In the
increased work at navy yards, orders lor
munitions of war, and other such iLci-
dental preparations, which Ire not usually
made when peace is lowering over the
country with outstretched pinions.
All of the work in which the new engi-
neers will be employed comes under the
engineer department, of which Gen. Craig
hill is in charge. Heretofore the filling
of places in the engineer department has
been done by this department itself.
Number of Engineers.
1t has been assumed, as t has been in
all of the departments, that all appoint
ments, or majority of them, have been
made with political reference, notwith-
standing the usual general disclaimer OF
that assumption. The ranks will now be
filled from the eligibles declared by these
examinations.
The increased number OF engineers thus
70 bo r;,r ~.
bill or estimates for $4,000 900 for coast
defcnses, etc, which were discussed
during the last session of Congress when the
war fever was at its height The matter
came up in the discussion of the river and
harbor bill.
The provisions of the bill introduced by
Congressman Mahaney OF Buffalo, t will
be recalled, was thai only American citizens
should be employed in the work to be done
at Lake Erie.
This bill required that all grades and
classes of workmen from the lowest to
the highest should be American citizens
The Civil Service Commission, il is not
generally known, has always required that
those standing for examination for ap-
pointment for any government place should
be citizens of the United States.
All those who pass the examination
will, therefore, be eligible To appointment
under the Mahaney bill
Exa mination Not Easy.
The tests are not easy for applicants for
examination. They must have a thorough
knowledge of all kinds of construction,
masonry, woods, and construction under
water, surveying and photographic work.
The number required will be large consider
ing the amount of money proposed to be
tions.
West Point and Annapolis cannot turn
out all that will be required in this line,
a fact which is demonstrated 10y the cir
cumStance that there are already about
1000 men in civil life filling positions
which would ordinarily be filled 10y gradu-
atcs of these institutions.
TIE pay for positions such as will be
filled from the results Of these eXamina-
tons. ranges from 500 month to $500
u month, so that some good berths are
awaiting good men, who otherwise would
probably have had but little chance To
utilize their scientific education had the
methods of appointment remained the
same as they We're before the Engineer
Department was placed under the civil
service.
Notice will be given in due time Of the
places, other than Washington, where the
examinations will be held.