Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-01-12
MORE EXAMINATIONS
They Have Again Been Resumed in
the Census Office.
LARGER SUCCESSFUL PERCENTAGE
Practical Character of the Ques-
tons Now Asked.
GER SUCCESSFUL PERCENTAGE
TIL f PRE- S ENT FORCE

After absence of three months. during
which time examinations were conducted
in many of the principle cities of the
United States Chief Examiner CARRIER of
the census office has returned. and is now
conducting examinations at the new CEN
sus building. at the corner of LIST and 3
streets northwest.
There is marked Improvement in the
ability of the applicants and a much larger
percentage OF those who take the examina-
ton pass. This is due, the officials of the
census bureau believe to a realization on
the part of applicants that they must be
equipped intellectually before they can OBJ
tain employment in the census bureau.
When the examine lions first began 1t was
broadly stated that the director merely
required test as Formally and that no
attention would be paid to the markings,
but that those who had the necessary infiu-
ence would obtain positions. 1t required
that Director Merriam in earnest and
that without fear or favor he would insist
upon a degree of efficiency as a condition
precedent TO appointment.
Complaint From Congressmen
There was some complaint among the
congressman whose candidates had failed
to make the required percentage, but it had
no effect upon the director. who insisted
upon his right to surround himself with an
intelligent force of clerks 1t was known
that the census office would require in the
neishborhood of 5000 clerks. and when it
was understood that the civil service COM
mission would have nothing TO do with the
bureau it became the dumping ground as
it We're, for the unintelligent class of those
wEo had political influence. but had failed
to pass the civil service examination or
had never taken one through fear of their
own shortcomings The first examination
held. while Very practical was believed to
be Il little severe. and it was modified
eli of
niaticS.
Since that time. however there has been
no change whatever, and the result has
been an eligible list of upward of 1000
clerks. all of whom may he relied upon to
give a good account of themselves when
called upon With such 4 working force
the director of the census has no doubt az
to the outcome of the twelfth census and
he claims that whatever else of criticism
1t may have, lack of intelligence on the part
of the clerical force Will not be feature.
Practical Questions Asked.
large room on the second floor of the
new census building is devoted to examina-
tions. and there every other day now Ex-
aminer CARRIER has a large class to exam
Inc The applicants are for the most part
women. although of late there has been
quite large percentage of men. 1t is be-
neved that the working force. however
will be largely composed of the fair sex.
The questions asked these days are prac-
teal. and one must reeds be well I'D on the
current topics of the day to be able to pass
The examiner evidently goes upon the pre-
sumption that the people who present them
selves for examination read the newspapers,
for many of the Que sticns asked in history.
geography and governments are upon cur
rent topics. For instance in a recent set
OF questions the applicants were asked TO
locate the Philippines. ard it was astonsh-
ing how few We're able TO do SO. Another
que stion asked was Associate the follow
lis names-A. ]. Beveridge. Chauncey De
pew, Prof. Schurmann ara James B. Hen
dersoH. II " remarkable how few could
answer correctly all of these questions
Mathematics still continues to he the bug
bear Of the examination, but there really
is no excuse for it, because the questions
asked are those which doubtless could be
answered hy a chi d in the fourth grade
public schools. Examiner CARRIER goes to
II finite pains to give proper understand
ing of the methods to be employed before
setting the task. yet fully 6O per cent of
the failures TO attain the necessary 10 per
cent are due To the mathematics. Questions
In simple or difficult percentages are ter
rorizing to the ma jority. and when il
comes to simple mathematical equations
and practical questions i'll percentage there
Is nothing short Of CONSERVATION among
The applicants.
There is still an apparent lack Of care
exercised in the preparation of the answers
and many fail simply through carelessness.
Even in simple addition there many
failures the tendency of the applicants be
ing TO rush the work But. notwithstanding
all this. there is marked improvement, in
the character of the examinations and
many more people get through than did
three months ago.
May Go West Again.
Just how long these examinations will
continue is not definitely known although
it is presumed that they will be carried on
until all who have been recommended are
examined 1t may become necessary after
while for Examiner CARRIER and his CORDS
Of assistants To make another trip west
and examine another batch of applicants
but as Yet this has not been finally deter
mined and il may not be necessary
Notwithstanding the fact that the actual
Work OF taking the census does not be-
gin until July there is a continual pres
sure being brought To bear upon the di-
rector To appoint clerks. The force at
the present time numbers upward of 300
and there Is absolutely need for any
more.
The census force. however Is Thoroughly
organized, and when the time comes for
starting the taking of the census there viii
not be a moments delay. Every denart-
ment Is thoroughly organized and ready
TO commence work
Even now the census Office is a busy
place.