The Savannah morning news., 1901-03-31
CIVIL SERVICE BUGBEAR.
1T sCARBs THOSE WHO WANT GOV
EMINENT PLACES.

The Age Iimit-It Is vigorously In
fOrced-And the Physical Condition
of Applicants Must Come Up TO the
standard-The Moral Character
Also Must he without Stain-Facts
About Examination Papers-The
Have Been Teachers-New Things
Happening in the Civil Service
Business-Other Matters of General
Interest.
Washington, March 2s.-The announce
ment that the new commissioner who
succeeds the late Mark Brewer is a firm
supporter of all the queer little kinks of
the civil service and will vigorously main
tain the strictest letter of its law has cast
a gloom over some thousands of young
men and women who are studying up"
TO try its examinations. Heavens knows,
1t was hard enough before to get into gov
eminent employ, thought the recent COM
missioner was a liberal-minded man who
made the thorny paths as easy as he could
10 the feet of the deserving. Yet, even
under his mild administration, such a
storm of indignation has been raised by
alleged unfairness of the few who dole
ont appointments as IL they owned the
whole business, that cheerful prospect
has appeared of modifying the civil SER
vice, II not of abolishing 1t altogether.
But now these budding hopes are blast
ed-at least for the next four years.
Strange-isn't it?-that If civil service is
so essential, as some insist, our beloved
country got along tolerably well without
1t almost a hundred years. 1t makes our
favorite American boast look a trifle I'M
consfstent--that ours is government "for
the people and by the people'-when all
its working benefits are so absolutely con-
trolled by commission" that 40 have
any hand in them is more difficult for the
average citizen than for the typical cam
eli to perform his well-known feat How
eyer-though we may not subscribe to the
theory that whatsoever is, is right
II behooves us to understand the unalter-
able is; therefore have been looking up
some facts pertaining to the civil service
bugbear for the benefit of the thousands
scattered all over the country who have
personal interest in its workings.
First, these Is the age requirement; so
that III you are a DAY ABOVE or below the
specified limit, and not willing to lie
about 1t, you would better save yourself
further trouble and seek any other en-
ployment thar chat provided by Uncle
Samuel. For example, in the railway
mail service-the appointee must not be
over So years of age, or under Is. In the
Indian service there is a little more
latitude, 25 being the minimum, ana IS
the maximum. In the departments at
Washington, clerks must not be under
2O--and although there are yet some
elderly men and women in government
employ, who got I'm years ago, before
these "civi" proceedings, they are being
gradually but surely weeded out. Even as
low down In the scale as printers assist
ants. commonly known as devils" IS
years Is the limit In fact, while II Is
mighty inconvenient TO be too young.
though that Is a fault which time will
correct--it is made almost a crime 20 be
aroWing old, among the ranks Of those
who wish 20 earn a living. True, this
does not spply 10 the higher and more
responsible positions hiled BY cabinet min
iatsTs justices u ihe Supreme Court.
nlsnbeFs ~ Congress, etc. --whers gray
hairs are the rude, ana Youth, n hs ever
spocfs1e0 N brsakinE IA, would be looked