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


thus placed upon the Commission the duty
20 find competent persons in nearly every
branch OF scientific research and tnvesti-
cation. In order to be qualified for these
positions persons must he found who
have had good practical experience and
preliminary training for the performance
Of duties Of this character. for the puT-
pose Of these examinations is 10 secure
experts and not mere amateurs The
enormous extent of this class of service
Is well shown by review Of the kinds
OF titles OF examinations held during the
year. and the subjects in which com
petltoTS We're examined, which VIII be
found in the appendix to this report.
Special press announcements are pre-
pared Tor each Of these examinations and
furnished to all Of the news agencies or
periodicals that viii use them Approx
.nately correct mailing lists of the techni-
cal and scientific schools are also kept by
the Commission, and announcements are
sent TO all Of those that are thought to
De at all interested in the line of work
contemplated. OF where members of the
aiHeTent faculties are likely to be &C
qudinted with or 10 have knowledge Of per
sons having the desired ability. During
the past year special effort has been
made to endeaVOr to furnish information
IN conncctiuE with these examinations SUf-
ncleut to indicate as clearly as possible
now prolclent person should be in the
particular Qua -Ificators in order TO rea-
Spndpiy expect to pass the required tests.
As a rule, for most special eXamiDa-
lIohS the Commission Is in receipt Of
much correspondence from persons who
are more OF less familiar with the differ
ent subjects in order to determine whether
II might be profitable for the writers TO
undergo the examinations which have
Deen announced While in most cases 1t
IS difficult to indicate the exact scope of
tlgSc examinations other than by the
subjects themselves. Vet it is believed that
this defect in the examining work is being
slowly overcome. Another reason which
mas prompted extraordinary efforts to ac-
complSh this has been that those who
are not qualified might be discouraged
from using their time and that Of the
commission IN hopeless attempts to pass
examinations of this character The per
centageS OF failure in the Commission
examinations appear to be gradually
growing less. This is taken as good
Indication that the efforts to put the pub
lie III possession Of clearer and more Spe-
cliic Information as to the exact require
nientS Tor the different examinations is
meeting with success.
An Inspection Of the statistics Of ap-
FoIDtmentS from examinations during the
past yeaI in the general departmental
service which includes the entire CLASH
he'd service except postoffices, custom
houses, internal revenue Offices and the
railway mail and Indian services. shows
that / $50 appointments We're made, about
@.l OF which were to comparatively in
significant positions. in which only lin
Ited amount Of general education and in
tr-llSti-ct was required. OF the remain
ing positions, 55G appointments were made
OF persons who had specially qualified
themselves for the work to which they
study of some character beyond the OrCi-
nary school work. and Isl others had
qualified because Of special experience as
miscellaneous work
Thus It is seen that about % per cent
OF all the persons appointed to this large
part Of the classified service were those
who had developed their ability by spe-
Cial, technical. scientific. or professional
instruction and study. Practically all the
responsible positions which were flied by
no pl
ice were filed from this specially trained
and educated class, and the salaries at
tached to these positions were more than
twice the amount OF those appointed TO
the less important positions. The Sala-
TieS of the I5T appointments above refer
red to. and Of the lightweight persons
appointed to professional positions in the
Indian Service during the same period,
aggregated not less than 100000 per an
mum
Attention IS again called to the great
need OF a small consulting library in
connection with the preparation and rat
ing Of these professional, scientific. and
technical examinations. and the recon-
mendatiOn is renewed that Congress be
asked 10 provide an appropriation OF 81,
600 for this purpose As stated IN my last
annual report. the purposes of this item
must be specifically expressed in the ap-
preparation bill in order that money may
be used in purchasing books for this Com
mission. under a decision of the Comp
trOilsT of the Treasury. Because of this
ruling. for the last three years examiners
have been unable 10 secure any books OF
publications of any character whatever 70
assist them in their work, unless paid for
from their private means. and have been
greatly hampered on this account
ATTEMPTS AT FRAUDS N EXAMINATIONS
'.DiIfcen- efforts have continued during
the past year in the direction Of detecting
and Furnishing attempts at fraud in con-
nection with examinations Several in
stances have occurred where applicants
have submitted false statements essen
tally Affecting their possession OF the
quaiihCat tons necessary TO eutltle them 70
enter the examination There have been
some cases $50 in which applicants have
submitted falsely made or forged certifi-
Gates or vouchers. In all cases the ap-
plicatious have been Cancelled and the ap-
plicauts barred from future examinations
until further orders, and those cases
which seemed to warrant such action
have been referred TO the Department of
Justice with view to prosecution under
the provisions Of section 5ilS Of the Re
ViSed Statutes fOrbid(iing the falsely
making or forging a writing for the pUr-
pose Of defraUding the United States
Particular attention has been given 10
the matter OF collision between COMPETE
tors in examinations and especial efforts
have been made both to prevent the oc-
cuTTeuCe Of collision and to detect the
same IN those cases in which 1t does occur
and secure its proper punishment. The
efforts in both these directions have been
very successful, and II IS now well-uigh
impossible for collision to occur without
leaving its earnarks a5.l3 being sooner OF
later detected by the examiners expert in
that direction, and the guilty parties be
ing summarily punished.
THE CASE OF LISTON D. BASS.
During the past year complaint was
made to the Chief Examiners Office that
the Rev I. D Bass D D. representing
himself TO be the president of an alleged
institution known as the Bureau of Civil
Service instruction, had persuaded per
sons desiring appointment in the classified
service to send him the money required
by him as an enrolment fee, upon in
ducements held out as to his ability 10
secure for them such appointments and
promises so 10 do. but that after wing
ton and had not secured appointment
The matter was laid before the proper
authorities OF the POStCfIice Department as
being one coming within the pTOVi5i0ns Of
section 5lsO of the Revised Statutes. pro-
HlDIJnS the use Of the mails for exploit
ing scheme 20 defraud. Upon a hearing
OF the case the Postmaster General ISSUED
q fraud order against Bass ma;l and that
OF ms alleged institution. Through the
proper authorities the matter was also
presented TO the grand jury Of the District
OF Columbia, and he was duly indicted by
that body under the abOye-named section
Of the statutes, and at the date of this re-
port the case Is on the calendar awaiting
trial
EXPENSE OF HOLDING EXAMINATIONS
Because of the great desirabiIitv Of
experienced representatives Of the Com
mission consulting with principal Gov
ernment officials having supervision Of
classified forces outside of Washington
and Nc err5Fa+ Yr-er.,,.r. yF l.-4+...-