The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-07-06
FEDERAL
POSITIONS
The Quizzes for
Civil Service
Begin.
APPLICANTS
WERE MANY
Chief Examiner Serven Conducts
the Work Assisted by Profs.
Alexander and Ingalls,.

Lest We Forget" was the legend
on the blackboard of the main room in
the High School with which the appli-
cants for positions in the departmental
service of the United States Govern
ment were met when they took their
seats. The maxim was most appropri-
ate for the first Civil Service examina-
tons held in the Hawaiian Islands and
before the days examinations were
done those who were present were con-
WINGED that it was full of wisdom
There were many who did forget the
things that they most should have
known. There We're little rules of
arithmetic, spelling. grammar, dates of
historical events, data concerning the
geography of the world and the United
States in particular that, had they been
remembered, would have caused many
an anxious wrinkled brow to become
serene.
The High School was opened bright
and early yesterday and nearly seventy
persons, male and female, young and
old, were present to begin their task.
Chief Examiner A. r. Server of the
Civil Service Commission was on hand,
accompanied by Prof. A. b. ingalls, and
Secretary Banks of the local board of
examiners. Prof. w. D. Alexander, an
other member of the board, did not
reach the building until later in the
forenoon.
i
ed doorway leading to the main school
room on the first floor, and this was
piled high with the packages contain
ing the information and examination
blanks. The applicants We're assigned
to seats in the large room and also in
an adjoining smaller room The men
who are now customs guards. and who
are compelled by the rules to take the
examinations to hold their positions.
were assigned to the large room. Those
taking the special and higher eXamina-
tions, such as for the Philippines de-
partments immigration inspector and
other positions which require more than
ordinary learning, were placed in ether
rooms. The applicants for positions as
letter carriers were assigned to the
large ROOM while a few looking for
clerkships in the postotfice and custom
house mingled with the wise ones in
the small room.
Chief Examiner Server indicated the
manner in which the examinations
would have to be conducted and then
reminded all of the value of remember
ing the official number given to each
applicant, which was required to be en-
tered upon each paper submitted to the
hos ard ,r,1a
which has been so carefully worked out
by the Civil Service Commission, was
started off well yesterday and little |
trouble was experienced during the day !
in keeping the applicants supplied with |
the examination blanks in their special .
classes The applicants worked steadily |
the day and by o'clock in
the afternoon they began dropping out
Of the building one by one, with their
practically finished There
we're two or three who became convinc- !
I'd early in the day that they could not
make success of the examinations and
hey quit without more ado.
The Chief Examiner had his hands
full at all hours. but despite the fact
hat he was generally surrounded by at /
east half dozen persons each eager to I
PASS III the DieIlhS lIllSQ out anu
20 take new ones, he had a good-natur-
ID way about him which kept the wor-
led applicants in good humor. He was
'eady to listen to any and all questions
procedure, and an adroit
way in turning off an inquiring appIi- t
,ant who wanted to know how this and
hat had to be done. The easy manner
Of Mr.. Server caused many an applf-
MT lose Sioht n hiG
The other members of the board assist
I'd in arranging the papers as they
came in, checking off the applicants
numbers. In one or two instances APP
plicants used several numbers, forget
ting just what number had been as
signed. One young man, a Hawaiian,
passed in three examination papers
with the numbers 1909, 1902, 11O5 re-
spectively. Considerable time was lost
m checking off his papers, which were
finally checked off by a comparison of
The handwritings.
The lack of applicants for the posi-
lions of letter-carriers was commented
IN by Mr.. Server. He said~that the po-
sitfons were good ones and much sought
after in other cities, and the examina
tons could not be considered hard to
take. Only six applicants for these po
sitions came yesterday. AS there are
ten carriers to be appointed for Homo
ulu as soon as possible. there are four
more examinations to be taken Mr..
Server viii hold a second examination
this morning for those who desire to
enter it.
The custom house guards who took
the examinations plunged into their
work with a will, and it is to be hoped
hat these men, who have already done
good service on the waterfront, win be
passed through and allowed TO retain
heir positions.
The last examination of the day was
that for postoff1ce clerks and carriers
n the art of reading addresses on let
.ers. Eight men and women took the
examination. Three of the applicants
we're women, and in proportion these
got through the examination better