Evening star., 1898-12-13
Annual Report of the COMMISSIONS IS
Chief Examiner.
REASONS FOR FAILURE OF APPLICANTS
The Matter Of Temporary Appoint
ments Discussed.
PREFERENCE NTS

SloU lbudS
This report is regarded as one of the most
important ever issued, and matters of vital
Importance to the service are discussed at
length
During the year the commission held 2n3
ferent times and PAGES. OF this number
ferent times aend places. this number
IS2 were for departmental service, 1850 for
the post office service. 244 for the customs
service and 1J6 for the internal revenue
service. Applications for these eXamina-
uons Were receive from 1913 persons.
Attention Is called to the questions asked
at these examinations. and Chief Serven
meets the criticisms that have been made
thereupon with the following:
While the examinations are frequently
criticised because of the scholastic tests
they contain. IL appears that the general in
teiligence of the competitors, which these
tests are designed to draw out, is a very
reliable indication of their value in the
great majority of classified positions. When
these tests are combined with an eXamina-
tipn into the practical experience which the
competitors have had along lines of work
similar 10 that for which they are seeking
employment the best results seem to be OBJ
tanned. While ii is true that the educated
man without practical experience is of lit
tie value in many positions Vet ii is equally
true that the man who has the practical
experience and also trained mind is so
much more yalua- because of his eduCa-
ton For if this deduction is not correct,
then our system OF public instruction in
the Cuited States is ali wrong.
The practical value of local examining
boards is discussed at length, and the dis
advantages under which they operate
pointed out He says in this connection:
1t is believed if the United States could
be divided into districts. larger or smaller
is necessity may dictate, and Joint boards
be designated for each district, most of the
difficulties of the local boards may be over
come
Referring to the criticisms Of the COM
mission. he says:
There is no doubt that the work of the
commission is many times criticised. and
justly 50, not meeting the demands upon
IT. With better facilities for understanding
these demands the commission would be
ahle to remove most. if not all. of the
causes OF the unfaVOra BILE criticism"
Chief Server. in discussing the reasons
OF failure to pass examinations gives the
following as the principal causes:
why Applicants Fail.
Because the competitors are not qualified
to pass the examinations which they have
selected Some competitors have never had
the preliminary training which would quail
" them to pass. while others may have
had the theory. but have not clinched it by
practice.
Many competitors fail in examinations for
want OF attention to the directions given
for performing the work
tar|l@ssEess in performing the work re-
qdlFei Is The cause OF failure in many in
stances.
Another cause for failure Is the natural
nervousness which most people feel when
Ihey are placed in direct competition with
others and are striving for an important
object.
Those who have failed i'm examination
frequently complain hat the tests REQUIRE
too severe rhEsic ard mental strain
anu that they were so exhausted that they
were unable to do themselves justlca. The
question Oi endurance ttS.s has been care
IHiE considered. and he examination
nave been so arranged as to allow ample
TINE Tor the work, provided the conpetitcr
Is pr"hGlrht IN It. The examination is el.o
Planned 50 that those VINO are physically
incapable of y rfOrming the work cannot
nope 70 take the examination successfully
a. II l. the opinion OF tn comm IS on that
every classified employc of th- government
should De able. under any ordinary ,ir-
'UIh~tances. 10 perform fair days work
Prospect of Appointment.
Many inquiries are received from pros
pectIve applicants as 10 what examinations
They should take in order TO be sure of
appointment Il should be remembered
that the mere passing of an examination
does NOT by any means Insure appoinfr rnent
Each competitor should carefully study the
scope and character of the different cx-
aminations in order to determine which
deaVor to determine from the comm ssio,l's
published statistics from which of those
he may most reasonably expect appoint
meut. All applicants should remember
that those standing highest IN the ex-
afnlNHtl. rs are first certified. Pr badly he
largest percentage Of appointments TO com
ptNtcrS Is made from the examinations
" here special ability in some special line
i tested which may he in some scientific
direction or that acquired i'll the shop the
factory or the technical school. The few
preference claimants who pass the en-
aminations do not materially affect the
prospects OF appointment Of other cligibles
Temporary Appointments
Chiei Serven discusses at length the ques-
ton Of temporary appointments" and ex-
plains bow they became necessary and the
good that accrues therefrom. Continuing
Re says: The experience of the commits
sion in the mater 1f temp orary appoint
meHiS would seem to justify the conclusion
That no such appointments should be made
FOR regular Positions where il is possible 10
avoid them. In every case where tenn
P"IaTE appointment is necessary the tenn
pprary experience is of practically no ad-
vantage IN the examination to secure eli
KipteS Tor ttrtIncatlUn as the commission is
prepared TO certify at any time for posi-
tons which do not require exceptional or
technical ability Where such ability is -
qdircd it can only he had from years of ex-
p+tlvhHe- an" the temporary appCintees un-
less they have had such experience before
appointment, cannot hope to be successful
IN these examinations. 1t should be dis
tinctiy understood that the commission j.
not a party to any scheme which may be
devised f.r the purpose of securing 4
place in the classified service for any par
tiCular Individual
In order TO more satisfactorily meet
the demands Of the service for eligibles
with exceptional and extraordinary uualf-
A'aLuHs "a plan has been under considera-
trH Tor some time which IL is hoped NAV
be eventually perfected. hat will provide
Tor what may be called progressive ex-
SIniud tons This plan contempIatcs The
"sldblisnm ut Of series of examinations
which Will enable all competitors 10 qualify
on as many different lines Of work as pos
s!'le. and that eligibility shall be advanced
step by step from lower 10 higher registers
a. faSt as the applicant can qualify Such
eiiElblrs may b. certified for any of The
positions for which they have qualified so
long as they remain eligible on the most
advanced registers II is believed that in
fhis way the commission Will b. Dreuared
a. all umts to make fun certifcations for
any vacancies that may reasonably he ex
pected To occur in the public service
Preference Claimants in Ex,pi,,
tiOns.
In accordance with the provisions Of