The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-05-27

I y
/ teal benefits which would result If the
! work could be properly done fully justi-
! fitS for this purpose. an. amount equal to
I that required for holding examinations:
| that is that there should be available for
| this purpose not less than 5000, or s.. 600
in addition to the balance of S200) left
from The present appropriation after the
examinations are provided for 1t Is re
SVCCtfuIIv urged that the Commission
should use every proper effort to secure
the increase of the present appropriation
of 5000 to $4,000 per anRum-
MORE EXAMINERS NEEDED
The small force provided for the ex-
aiming work of the Commission neces-
states examination tests which often are
not as thoroughly considered as they
Should he. examinations not held with
sufficient promptness. and results not de-
/ teTmined within what should be Il reason
able time after the examinations are held.
New examinations are continually being
prepared. needing careful thought and
study to secure proper results. During
( this report year il was necessary to pre-
pare absolutely new examinations Of an
eNaCtins character averaging considera-
bly, more than one each week. The ina
biIity to do this work carefully and thor
oushIy is unfortunate for the service and
exposes the work Of the Commission to
unavoidable and u1deseryed criticism.
Long delay very frequently occurs in the
marking of the papers and the failure to
promptly furnish suitable eligibles results
in temporary appointments which coca
sion much embarrassment to the service,
and when certifcation is finally made il
frequently happens that because of the
long delay since holding the examinations
the competitors having the best qualifiCa-
tons have engaged IN other pursuits and
consequently decline 70 enter the Govern
meUt service.
While it has been possible. through the
most urgent solicitation, to obtain con-
siderable number Of details from other
departments qualified to aid in perform
ing this work, yet that affords but limit
ed relief. and the chief examiner IS forced
to the conclusion that the long COntinu-
aGcC Of Il system recurring dependence
fOT such u considerable part Of the i'm
porJant work upon persons detailed from
other departments, and subject to fire.
qUent changes, is at best but poor sub
stitute for force with qualifications prop
eTly balanced, under the supervision and
control of the Commission, and is prOba-
bly, the most eNpenSIv. method that could
be 3dODted for the transaction of that
character Of work. However, it is believed
that the examinations have been held and
the work incident to them has been trans
acted as well as the conditions under
which it has been performed would per
nit
The embarrassment occasioned by
these conditions must necessarily be in
creased with the large amount of new
work and the preparations of new exami-
nations which VIII be required for the in
SulaT possessions Of the United States. It
is anticipated that this additional work
which, under the executive order of No
vember 80. 1900 and the Commissions
action Hereunder. viii require the ma in
tenanCe of a force to transact all the
business Of tDe Philippine Civil Service
Board IN the United States, viii probably
increase the duties Of the force in the
chief examiners office by from to per
cent.
made for additional employees in order
that this additional business may be
promptly and satisfactorily performed In
this connection attention should also be
called to the fact that during the past
year u considerable number Of examina-
tons formerly offered twice each year
have been held but once. although there
We're many persons who desired to com
pete in them Unless a larger force can
be provided it will be necessary to still
further reduce the number Of this class
OF examinations as wei as TO more and
more disregard other matters Of great i'm
portance connected with the work eff the
Chief Examiners Office, which merit
more attention than it has been possible
to give them in the past.
EXAMINATIONS FOR EXCEPTED POSITIONS.
Although the Civil Service rules require
that appointments TO most Of the excepted
positions in the customs service and all
of such positions in the Internal Revenue
Service, except in Alaska, should be sub
jeCt TO an examination to be prescribed
by the Secretary of the Treasury. and
held by the Commission, it was impossi-
bic during the report year to arrange for
the examination of most of the persons
who were reported by the department as
appointed TO these positions. At the pres
ent time examinations have been held for
nearly all Of the customs positions, but
for very few Of these appeintees in the
Internal Revenue Service, as required by
the rule, largely because the facilities Of
the Commission were taxed to the utmost
in order TO hold the competitive exanind-
lions which were needed TO furnish the
departments with such assistants as were
E desired
1t has not been possible thus far to de-
wise q way by which many Of the ex-
Cepted positions in the internal revenue
service may he reached for examination
without considerable increase in the aU-
preparation for travelling expenses. as the
department has reported that most Of
these persons will be unable to leave their
assignments IN order to appear before the
Commissions local boards for examina-
ton
1t VIII. therefore. be necessary to send
4 TepTeSeu native of the Commission TO
each of the points where such persons are
employed in order to comply with the pro-
visions Of the rules unless the depart
ment may subsequently be able to direct
such appOiutees to report to the local
boards for examination.
LOCAL BOLRDS OF EXAMINERS.
In addition to the ordinary work re-
quired of the locar boards Of examiners,
an average of about fifty special exsrrni-
nations are being held each month in or
der to supply eIigibles having the redJ1fr-
ed qualifications as requested BY the
heads of the different departments These
special examinations require specific in
structions to be given to from zoe to 500
local boards Of examiners each month. in
order that the examinations may be con-
Quoted with justice and equality to all
competitors There are about 5000 mem
beTs Of these local boards. which number
LII. outside Of Washington This mem
berShip is constantly changing. ard il is
necessary, in order that the new members
may have proper understanding and re-
a!iZatiOn of their duties that the boards
should be carefully instructed as often as
once every three, years. as the changes
during the period amount to a practical
reorganization of each board
Notwithstanding the importance Of
having these boards regularly visited by
some inspector thoroughly qualified to in
Struct them in their duties and to review
their work the Commission is wholly uTi-
able, with its present approximations TO
accomplish this. and is cOInreHed to reIv
upon the unsatisfactory method of print
ed instructions, which frequently leads TO
very unfortunate complications. even with
persons DESTROYS Of performing their duty
IN thoroughly conscientious manner. 1t
IS only in q few of the larger cities which
are visited by the members of the Com
mission force for other purposes. that
any opportunity is had to give the per
Sonal advice and instruction which are so
much needed by all boards
During the past three and one-half
years about 200 of the smaller pOStOfFices
FOR n rguf