Evening star., 1902-01-28
DENIED BY MR.. HYDE
NO ADVANCE INFORMATION GIVEN
CANDIDATES. 1FoR POSITIONS.
Examination for Special Statistical
Compiler C0heeled by Civil
Service Commission.

celed the examination for special statistl-
cal compiler for the Department of Agri-
culture, held June 1S and 10 last, and has
made public it's report on its investiga-
tfon of the integrity Of that examination.
The report says that employees OF the ol-
vision of statistics were improperly ana
unfairly assisted in their preparation for
this examination by disclosures made by
an employe, in pursuance of instructions
from John Hyde, statistician of the De-
partment of Agriculture, directing her to
give all the help in this examination which
she 'legitimately'' could. The report says
the testimony shows that advance informa-
ton OF more or less definite character
was given out by her covering at least six
questions asked in the examination.
An illusory hope was held out to those
outside the government service" says the
report, while the official who framed the
questions framed them in such manner
that he had not the least expectation they
could pass. Competition practically was
restricted to competitors who had actual
experience in statistical work in govern
ment employ. Unclassified laborers in the
statistical division had a decided and un-
fair advantage through their assignments
of work.
The report calls attention to an apparent
effort by Statistician Hyde to foreStall the
HHStSliSdllOL OI the commission III respect
to one or more of the witnesses examined,
and says threats were made to them. The
report adds:
I'VE are under the very highest moral OBJ
legation to protect all witnesses who, at
our request, have appeared before us and
nave given testimony in regard to this ex-
animation. The commission will exhaust
all It's powers before it will permit any OF
these witnesses to be dismissed or injuri-
ousiy anected In any manner, directly or
indirectly. on account of information which
they have communicated"
MIR. Hyde's Statement.
When seen at his office by a representa-
tive OF The Star this morning Statistfcian
Hyde said the commission had undoubt-
edly done what it believed to be right; but
the case had excited a great deal Of feel
Ing both inside and outside the depart
ment, and testimony had been given be-
fore the commission that was not in all re-
spects accurate.
The primary object of the examination,
said Mr.. Hyde, was not to promote persons
on the departments labor roll, although
that roll undoubtedly contained some of
the most capable and efficient employees the
department possessed, but to establish a
register of persons who had some expe-
rience in statistical work, from which ap-
pointments could be made as required 1t
was his hope and expectation that the ex-
animation would be taken by some of the
bright young men, of the census office.
Two such young men did take the exami-
nation. one of them passing with ten points
TO spare, and the other falling short by
only fraction of one point. No improper
assistance OF any kind was given to any
one, such suggestions as were made as to
lines OF study that, could be advantageously
pursued being of the most general charac-
ter, and really less definite than the sam
pie questions and sample letters published
by the commission itself in advance Of its
regular examination. -
The Six Questions.
With regard to the six questions picked
out by the commission from the forty COM
prised in the examination, and with regard
to which six question persons employed in
the department are alleged to have re-
ceived improper assistance, Mr.. Hyde cited
an analysis made since the commission
rendered its decision.
AS to the first question, according to that
analysis, an employee of the census office
got the highest possible number Of marks,
or ten points above any employe of the de-
partment; as to the second question, a
competitor not in the public service had
marking reached by only two employees of
the department and exceeded by none: as
to the third question, one competitor from
the census office and one not in the public
service got the highest possible number of
marks, and exceeded six of the employees
of the department.; as to question four, two
competitors from the census office had a
marking exceeded by only one other per-
son, and as to question six, one census Of
flee competitor and one outsider got the
highest possible number Of marks. a figure
attained by only two of the employees of
the department who took the examination
Only as to question five did the more in
telligent of the persons not employed in
the department fall behind, and that was
because a certain publication to which the
question had reference was one that is in
almost daily use in the departments work.
and six of the ten office employees who took
the examination answered it correctly.
No Threats Made.
Every effort had been made by the de-
partment to facilitate the work Of the COM
mission, continued the statisticfan There
had been nothing approaching intimidation
Of witnesses. No one had been threatened,
treated unfairly or Disseminated against
in any way. Personal hatreds and Jealous
les had made themselves manifest at al
most every stage of the investigation. but
until the commissions decision was an
nounced Mr.. Hyde had never wavered in
his belief that "the examination wou]d he
sustained and substantial justice be done''
The employees Of the department who
passed the examination We're, in his opin-
ion, among the most capable people in the
bureau, three Of them having had excel
lent records in the eleventh census