The Savannah morning news., 1901-03-31

where can fifty men be found who would
be willing to trust each other when it
comes to law-breaking? Besides, on the
Principle expressed in the placard which
the deacon set up over his melon-patch-
Boys, don't touch this fruit God sees
you and its green;"-there is really no
chance for an applicant except upon his
merits. The marking of papers is all done
while the examiners are unaware of the
names of the applicants. They pass upon
the different answers usually in groups of
committees; and many papers must pass
the hands of at least twenty examiners
before their correction is complete.
Charges must always be filed in writing
against questions considered to be incor-
rectly answered. The different opinions of
all the examiners concerned are finally
reconciled as to each point. The general
averages are then recorded on the pa
pers, which are afterwards transferred
to another division having charge of the
sealed envelope containing the names of
applicants. These envelopes are number
ed, so as to Identify them with the num-
bers on the outside of the examination
sheets, which never bear a name, and
these envelopes are never unsealed until
the final mark has been attached.
Nobody outside the Civil Service Com
mission understands all the workings of
the mill that grinds up examination pa
pers and turns out lists of successful ap-
plicants for government positions Tween
~ per cent. of the examiners have been
teachers Others are expert engineers, Ii
brarians, lawyers, doctors, professional
bookkeepers, linguists, etc. One of them
mas been chief engineer in the navy. an
other CHIEF engineer in the patient office
and another chief topographer in the
Postoffice Department. So far as pos
sible, the examination papers are pre-
pared In the Commissions office at Wash
ington; but 1t is sometimes found neces-
sary to go outside the commission for
certain sets of questions. This is not
hard to understand when one considers
that the scientific work in the depart
ments for which clerks are appointed
through examination, includes mechanical
engineering, chart work. photography,
anatomy, ornothology, pomoogy, china
tology, horticulture, astronomy, architec-
ture, civil engineering, and many other
branches. Applications for the scientific
branches are comparatively few, and it
sometimes happens that the commission
has to skirmish around a good deal to
find anybody willing TO be examined The
reason is obvious. Men who are capable
OF filling the places and of passing the
rigorous examination, as a rule are all
ready well-placed and drawing a good deal
bigger salary than Uncle Samuel pays.
In the fish commission last year, there
We're only two applications for fish Gull
turist; both passed and were Immediate
ly appointed. Several persons wanted to
be superintendent OF stations: three OF
them passed and two received appoint
ments which they yet hold.
Many new things have happened of late
in the Civil Service business. The COM
mission has been making an exhaustive
study OF the great business concerns
throughout the country. TO ascertain what
the majority of them consider TO be the
most practical examination to be given
applicants for appointment. Representa-
tives of the commission have visited the
financial institutions. rail.
road companies manufacturing houses
and various similar concerns, and as a
result Of the knowledge thus obtained
have considerably altered the original
civil service requirements. or course.
when the commission asks a girl who Is
going 10 count coupons how Gar Mars is
from the earth, II does NOT care "A straw
about tie correct answer. only as 4 IN
dicates her general knowledge. Nova
days the history OF mans Industrial ife
10 inquired into before he can be eeti-
ned eligible 20 a government position re-
curing qualifications, and less attention
IL given 90 his scholastic education than
formerly To learn exactly what a man
has done in prsyieus Connections some
umes requires eonalderabls detective