Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-05-27

pared, needing careful thought and Study
to secure proper results. During this re-
port year 1t was necessary to prepare alb
solutely new examinations of an exacting
character averaging considerably more
ths e s4sf Efyk and FL a 50 un
fortunate for the service and exposes the
work of the commission to unavoidable
and undeserved criticism Long delay
very frequently occurs IN the marking OF
the papers and the failure to promptly fur
nish suitable eligibles results in tempo
rary appointments which occasion much
embarrassment to the service, and when
certification is finally made it frequently
happens that because of the long delay
since holding the examinations the COM
petitors having the best qualifications have
engaged In other pursuits and consequent
ly decline to enter the government service.
While 1t has been possible, through the
most urgent solicitation, to obtain con-
siderable number of details from other de-
partments qualified to aid in performing
this work. yet that affords but limited re-
lief and the chief examiner is forced to the
conclusion that the long continuance OF
system requiring dependence for such
considerable part Of the important WORK
upon persons detailed from other depart
ments, and subject to frequent changes, is
at best but a poor substitute for a force
with qualifications properly balanced, I'M
der the supervision and control OF the COM
mission, and Is probably the most expen-
s1ve method that could be adopted for the
However, 1t is believed that the examina-
lions have been held and the work incident
to them has been transacted as well as the
conditions under which 1t has been per-
formed would permit. The embarrassment
occasioned by these conditions must neces-
sarly be increased with the large amount
of new work and the preparations of new
examinations which will be required for
the 1nsular possessions OF the Unlteo
States"
Examination for Evcenfed Places.
The report contains the following re-
garding examinations for excepted posi-
tions:
"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 serv-
ice, except in Alaska, should be subject to
an examination to be prescribed by the Sec
rotary or the Treasury and held by the
commission, it was impossible 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 present time examinations
have been held for nearly all OF the GUS
toms positions, but for very few of these
appontees 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
examinations which were needed to fur
nish the departments with such assistants
as were desired. 1t has not been possible
thus far to devise q way by which many
of the excepted positions in the internal
revenue service may be reached for exam
nation without considerable increase in the
appropriation for travelling expenses, as the
department has reported that most of these
persons will be unable to leave their as
signments in order to appear before the
commissions local boards for examination.
1t will, therefore, be necessary to send a
representative of the commission to each
of the points where such persons are en-
ployed, in order to comply with the pro-
vision of the rules, unless the department
may subsequently be able to direct such
appointees to report to the local boards for
examination"
In conclusion Mr.. Server says: I'm con-
appreciation Of the kindly cooperation
which l have received from the represen-
tatives Of the departments and offices for
whom examinations have been held by this
commission. Without the friendly rela-
lions which have been thus continued, the
value OF the examination work would have
been very materially lessened. 1t Is but
just to refer in this connection to the faith
full and conscientious work which has been
performed by the persons who have been
detailed to service under my supervision.
as well as by the secretaries and many Of
the members of the local boards of exam
iners | desire to make special mention of
the ability and energy displayed by the
members of the commissions force who
have been assigned to my office The zeal
in order to carry forward the work in
trusted to them with as little delay as cir
cumstances would permit has been most
commendable"