The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-07-09
ADDRESSES The TEACHERS
EXAMINER SERVEN TALKS OF
CIVIL SERVICE.
Normal School Listens to Interesting
Lecture This Morning-History and
Objects of Civil Service.

A most interesting program was
given at the session of the Normal
school in the Fort street school build
ing this morning, when A. Ralph Ser
ven, examiner for the civil service of
the United States addressed the teach
ers of the city-and a number from the
country-on the subject of his import
ant work. Although Mr.. Serven spoke
without notes or preparation he held
his auditors for an hour and fifteen
minutes and at the close of this hong
address there was a round of applause,
showing that no word has been lost
and that all said had been appreciated.
A. T. Atkinson, superintendent of
public instruction, was in charge of the
meeting. With him were Mr.. Gibson,
inspector for Honolulu, and Mr. Bur-
kett inspector for the Island of Kauai
Mr.. Atkinson introduced Mr.. SerVen, at
the same time announcing that civil
service examinations were now being
held in Honolulu and that the visiting
officer would explain to the teachers
just what the service was.
Mr.. SerVen began by saying that
there were now in the competitive civil
service between ninety and ninety-five
thousand persons drawing salaries each
year of something like $4,000, 900.
Heretofore these appointments had
been made from the mainland of the
United States. 1t was now proposed to
draw from the new Territory of Ha-
waii as well for employees and the per-
sons taking examinations here would
stand an equal show with others in the
States of entering some branch of
Uncle Sans service.
The speaker here spoke at length of
what the positions We're and of the
kind of examinations required. He said
that most people had a wrong idea of
the examinations. 1t seemed to be
general impression that man or woman
had to be a scientist or en- expert to
pass the examinations. AS a matter of
fact, ordinary business fitness, moral
character and citizenship were all re-
quired. When examinations were held
a list was made of the persons passing
successfully, according to percentages,
the highest going at the top. The ap-
pointing officers were abliged under the
law to select employees from the three
highest on the lists, thus always secur-
ing the best material. Each applicant
had fourteen appointing officers to
whom to apply, or rather by whom to
be considered, and was entitled to three
refusals from each. which gave the ap-
plicant forty-two chances. No appli-
cant, however, ever exhausted more
than six or seven chances before re-
ceiving a position.
Mr.. Serven then went into the history
of the civil service. Until about 1920
there We're few offices to be filled and
the best of appointments were made.
Immediately before Jacksons admins
tration the appointive power was turn
ed into a channel to catch votes, and
jackson inaugurated the principle ito
the victors belong the spoils." In 1S47
Congress passed a resolution providing
that politics should not influence the
appointment or retention of employees
in the navy yards. During the war the
system went by the board.
During Grants administration the
number of employees became so great
that the president repeatedly requested
Congress to pass a law relieving him
of the responsibility of making appoint
ments. He said that he was beseiged
at every turn by an army of applicants
and that he simply could not attend to
all of them. In 1872 Congress passed
the first law providing for civil service
1t contemplated a commission but this
commission only sat in Washington and
the larger cities. Much dissatisfaction
was expressed with the system and tine
succeeding Congress refused to make
an appropriation for the continuance
of the commission.
After the shooting of Garfield in 1881
public sentiment turned to favor the
civil service idea, and in January, 1888,
the bill putting the present system into
the service has been growing and
broadening until it had now reached
Hawaii.
Statistics had shown that eighty per
cent of the employees of the government
had received their appointments
through merit in the examinations be-
! fore the commissions while only TWEEN.
ty per cent had been employed through
| political, social and other pulls This
went to show that the surest way into
the government service was through
this channel. The speaker urged upon
the teachers to so instruct their pupils
that they might fit themselves for some
branch of the service and that they
might successfully pass the examina-
tions and get at the top of the list.
! Mr. Serven's address was replete with
anecdotes and witticisms that were
heartily enjoyed and applauded. At the
close of his talk he was given a vote of
thanks for the very instructive and in.
/ teresting address.