The Washington times., 1902-08-11
Civil Service Board Fur
niSheS Some Inter
esting Figures.
SWARTHY WARDS AMBITIOUS
Anxious to Participate in Governing the
Islands Now Under Protection of the
American Flag-Table Gives Exam
ination Figures.

The Civil Service Board of the Phil
ippine Islands has complied a table
from the results OF several recent ex-
aminations held in the archipelago,
which gives the comparative standing of
q number of American and Filipino ap-
plicants for Government positions. The
figures. while they show that the Fill
pino is anc probably Will be for years.
somewhat below the Occidental stand
ard of education. are interesting as i
commentary upon his quickness and
adaptability in acquiring American
methods.
The bearing of the examinations upon
the much mooted question as whether
or not the Filiplnos possess intellect
enough TO assist in running the machin-
cry of government is an important one.
In view of the fact that Uncle Sans
swarthy wards have been educated along
altogether different lines from their
American competitors. the showing made
in the tests is very encouraging to the
believers in the Filipino's fitness for
ultimate general participation in gov
erning the islands.
Number About Equal.
The number of Americans and Fill
pinos connected with the central depart
mental service and with the municipal
service of Manila is about equal. but
of the higher and more responsible po-
sitions in the islands the majority are
filled by Americans. Three of the chief
justices of the United States Philippine
Commission and several judges and
heads of bureaus are. however, native
Filipinos. A few confidential and pro-
fessional positions, and the judges and
justices of the peace in ;he service of
the Islands are excepted from examina-
tion by the Philippine Civil Service
Board. All others, except teachers, are
in the classified service.
The appointing officers In the Philip
pine service in making selections from
the eligible list are required. where all
other qualifications are equal, to give
native Filipinos the preference, and sec
ond, honorably discharged soldiers, sail
ors and marines of the United States
services.
American applicants are tested in
Spanish and Filipinos in English This
stimulates on either hand the acquire
ment of the languages.
Filipinos Ambitious.
The Filipinos are very ambitious TO
enter the civil service The examina-
tions of the board have led to the open
ing of night schools. where they may
be prepared for examinations. The ex-
aminers, however, rarely place re-
lance alone on the scholastic tests, but
observe the applicants personally.
It should be remembered in looking
over the results of the examinations
that the Filipino's education has not
been along scientific or practical indus
trial lines. unless medicine or law may
be called such. 1t has followed the old
classical idea.
Their facility in picking up knowledge
of a practical kind in short space of
time is, therefore, only more accentu-
ated by the way they stand in the tables.
Their proficiency in acquiring informa
tion lends color to the belief that they
will one day be able to govern them
selves. The character of the education
of the Filipino. as well as his fitness
at the present time as compared with
the American is fairly well shown in
the tables. His education has not been
such as to enable him to compete sue
cessfully for the position of depart
msnt assistant. which covers a wide
field. nor for those of stenographer and
civil engineer.
Averages Made.