Evening star., 1901-12-14
IN THE PHILIPPINES
Mr. Higgins Gives Result Of His
Observations.
CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEES
FiIipinos Enter Into Competitive
Examinations.
LIVING CON TION 8
CIVIL SERVICE EHPLOYES
LIVING CON ONS

returned from the Philippines, where he
was for a year chairman OF the civil ser
vice board. which had charge of establish
ing civil service in those possessions, was
today interviewed by a reporter for The
Evening Star.
Much progress has been made in es-
tablishing the merit system in the Philip
pines,' he said. THE civil service law was
enacted in September of last year, creating
the civil service board and defining its
powers and duties. The board Is given
large discretionary powers. 1t provides
the methods Of entrance to the service,
and Is also required to report upon
salaries to be paid and the need of increase
and decrease in positions. The civil ser
vice rules were formulated in January, and
in March and April the first examinations
were held. when nearly 800 competed
Thus far over 800 persons have been ex-
amined, of which number more than LOO
were Filipinos. They have been appointed
to majority OF the positions as a result
of the examinations"
How do the natives take to the exami-
nations?"
They like the Idea of entering the ser
vice through tests of fitness. and are study
ing hard to qualify themselves for en-
trance to and advancement in the service
Good Prospects for Americans.
who enter the Philippine service?"
THE prospects are good for Americans
with the ability required. OF course. there
will be limited field Of usefulness for
them. as the policy in the Philippines Is to
employ F'flipinos in all positions for which
they are qualified. They now occupy more
than half the positions in the service; in
fact, over half Of the clerical positions are
held by Filipinos. and practically all Of the
minor positions"
Then the progress made by Filipinos
Yes; as the Fiipinos show capacity to
fill positions now held by Americans they
will undoubtedly be placed in such posi-
tions as are vacated. Their lack Of knowl-
edge of the English language and Of Amer
lean methods handicaps them just now In
public employment, but this will be rem
edied in time, as they are taking advan-
tage of the unusual facilities afforded by
the government in providing schools to ac-
Quire a knowledge Of English. The pro-
gress that Is being made in this direction
Is something extraordinary. The day and
night schools in Manila are crowded, and
as the large majority Of Fiipinos are
studyings English it Is safe to say that
within perhaps five years-certainly not
more than ten-the business of the govern
ment will be conducted entirely in the
English language. Americans, however,
will always be needed for administrative
and supervisory offices and for special,
technical and scientific work. There Is at
this time demand for stenographers and
typewriters, civil engineers, medical men
and translators and interpreters. There
will also be need of competent architec-
tural, typographical and mechanical drafts
men. although the Fflipinos can do some
clever. but not very original. work along
these lines.
Many Filipinos Employed.
How many Fnipinos are employed in the
Philippine civil service?
There are at this time between four and
five thousand positions in the service, OF
which majority are held by Filipinos."
"On what classes Of work are they mostly
employed?"
"As have stated. they form majority
Of the employees in the service. They are
employed as clerks. translators and inter
prefers. bookkeepers, messengers, custom
house guards, rangers and assistant for
esters in the forestry bureau. laborers, etc.
They are also employed in the mechanical
trades positions. In the quartermasters
shops, for instance. there are American
foremen in charge OF several hundred Fill
plnes who serve as carpenters black
What are the conditions of living in the
Philippines? Can you tell something Of the
manner and cost Of living Of Americans?"
How Americans Live.
Outside Of Manila the American en-
ployes live in messes and secure their pro-
visions from the commissary. The commits
sary furnishes the best articles of food at
cost or little above cost. OF course, this
Is great advantage to the employees. To
illustrate the difference in prices of food,
when purchased from the commissary as
compared with city prices, might say that
excellent beef is furnished by the commits
sary at seven cents pound, while the
same quality Is sold in the stores Of Ma
nfla for about three times as much. Other
articles sold by the commssary are pro-
portionately cheap, or much below the pre-
yaflfng prices in Manila. I understand that
the army commissary privileges have been
withdrawn from the several employees ex-
cept the teachers. A civil commissary has
been established, however, and I presume
that civil employees will continue to have
matter of purchases as officers of the
army. Those who live outside Of Manila
can live fairly well for $25 a month. In
Manila the cost to employees is determined
largely by the manner of living. Many
who rent rooms and live in messes keep
their living expenses In the neighborhood
of $50 or S35 a month. The cheaper hotels
charge about $50 to $35 month, while the
best hotels are higher in their rates.
might say here that plans have been drawn
for the erection Of houses for the American
civil employees in Manila. The Philippine
government intends to erect large num-
Der of these houses In the near future and
they Will be rented to employees at low
rates. With commtssary privileges and
suitable houses in which to live In q health
full section Of the city. the civil employees
OF Manila will have superior accommoda-
tions. Then. It should be remembered that
American enterprise is at work there, and
improvements are being noted on all sides
II is only a question Of short time before
Manila Will be supplied with good Amert-
can hotels and boarding houses"
Health Generally Good.
How about the health of the American
employes?"
"They are generally in good health. The
climate can hardly be termed invigorating.
but those who take care Of themselves
keep in good health. The idea is not to
expose oneself to the sun during the hot
test part of the day; that is, from to 4.
The mornings and nights are generally very
pleasant throughout the whole year In
fact. the Americans suffer very little from
heat in the Philippines. Last summer.
when the heat was so great in the United
States and scores were dying from its ef-
fects in the large cities, 1t was quite pleas
ant in the Philippines The only difficulty
Is that long residence there in a cline
where 1t Is continuously warm Is somewh hat
facilitating. The American employe can
get along very we'll for two years without
\ n nf ,s-l~k