Evening star., 1901-11-16
The Census Clerks.

To the Editor Of The Evening Star:
1t has been stated through the public
press that President Roosevelt intends to
a naval training and are now performing
clerical work In the Navy Department be
detailed to active service outside and their
places filled by civilians. If such a step
is in contemplation 1t will necessitate the
appointment of large clerical force. There
is at hand force of over 1000 tried, trained
and valuable employees Of the census bureau.
which, II the proposed Hopkins bill should
become law, could without expense be
transferred to the navy or any other de-
partment. There Is constant demand for
new employees. The civil service commits
sion Is overburdened with work in trying
to find those who are eligible for the vari-
Gus places The last annual report Of that
body says that during the past year 49,
492 persons were examined for entrance
to the classified service. of which number
3O374 were examined for the departmental
service. The number Of persons appointed
from competitive examinations during the
year, including promotions reinstate-
ments and transfers upon certificates. was
10 AIS" This shows that there Is an an
nual demand for many times the number
employed in the census bureau. ,ss
There was no examination held this year
for the departmental service, and it -
stated none will be held next year. The
term of eligibility Is one year from the
date on which the name OF the eligible Is
entered on the register, but their term may
be extended in the discretion OF the COM
mission for a further period Of one year
from the date of the expiration of the first
years eligibility. Even IL the commission
ers exercise this discretion and extend the
time, and no examinations are held this
year, the eligible list will be greatly de-
pleted If not exhausted, and to secure an
other would involve the expenditure Of a
large sum of money. The proposed Hop
kins bill would obviate the necessity of all
this.
The paramount requirement Of the civil
service act Is competitive examination for
testing the fitness OF applicants for the
examinations shall be practical in their
character. and SO far as may be shall re-
late to those matters which will fairly
test the relative capacity and fitness of the
persons examined to discharge the duties
OF the service. The employees Of the CEN
sus office passed such an examination. The
examination prescribed by the director OF
the census was In strict accordance with
the provisions Of the civil service law, and
was as fair test of capacity and inte
gence as any by the civil service commits
sion could be- It was conducted by an
examiner OF ability. without favor to any,
and all had TO attain q percentage as high
as that required by the commission 1t
made no difference IL the applicants had
hundreds Of testimonials and recommended
tions from congressman and other infiuen-
tial people. The successful passage of the
prescribed examination was a condition
precedent to appointment.
In addition to surmounting all preliminary
obstacles the clerks In the census ONCE
have now had nearly two years OF actual
and practical experience In arduous work
OF a, kind that has increased their intelli-