Sunday Washington globe., 1902-02-09

n Az - A0N@A
general education) but passed in his office
questions" the answers to which he had
been shown and had memorized-which
made his total average n, barely enough 10
pass He is theieupon put on the pay roll
at $1,000.
Now what oOuJ Brown Well a year
passes by. Brown has done the same work
all this time that Smith has-Brown at 5000
Smith az 81 ,ooo Brown has done il better
than Smith, bat he don't stand in with
the chief, or the ring or clique which con-
trolls the chief Again Smith is recon
mended for promotion by the chief like
wise Mr. Brown-Smith to be promoted to
81 200, Brown to SIooo Again Smith is
shown the office questions" and anSzOeyS
by his chief, but Brown is denied that privi
lege and sees these self same office ques-
tions" the next day in the examining room
for the first time. Smith and Brown side
by side in the examining room. Smith re-
peats his former performance again passes
and is put on the payroll at 81 200 Brown
being bright fellow makes a total of so
on all subjects but the office questions, ~
but as these office questions ask him
about anything and everything except the
work he has been performing for year and
a half and with which he is familiar he fails
in them Just as his chief had anticipated,
and so remains at his desk al the same old
salary at 5000 while his less efficient, but
preferred, !" vis-a-vis returns to his desk at
81, 400 and continues to perform identically
the same work. So II goes on, until one
fine day Smith, the preferred but mediocre,
is made Chief of Division by the operatives
of the ring and these examinations which
don't examine, and Brown, who is much
more efficient but don't stand in is still
at his desk probably drawing 81 600. What
does this prove7 Why several things.
Ist That by means Of this sham exami-
nation, a chief can have the clerks he likes
promoted and those he dislikes kept at
low salary Thus efficiency does not enter
into consideration at all-it is all merely
matter Of good will, friendship and lick
spittleing So the most efficient clerk rs
kept for years at the same desk and the
same salary while the favorite is advanced
end. That the examination itself is a
complete and designed farce and sham, for
the same questions are propounded TO the
clerk who is designated Tor promotion to
81, 600 and ST. 800 that are given to the clerk
who is to be promoted to 81 600, ST. 400 and
81 400 The questions, in other words, are
not graded according to salary.
ard That the questions asked do not
even remotely relate to the work actually
performed by the clerk, and therefore are
absolutely unjust, and his answers 10 them
can under no circumstances be taken as a
criterion of the clerks efficiency, his
knowledge of the work he performs, or his
familiarity with the routine of the office in
which he is employed.
4th That as a method to discover
clerks fitness to perform higher grade work
it is an unqualified and undeniable failure,
for ninety clerks out Of everv hundred that
have been examined for promotion are
doing the same work to-day at 81 600 and
81 500 that they did when they were receiv
ing 5000 and S. 600.
sth That the dishonest methods en-
ployed to acquaint certain clerks with the
answers to office questions" before the ex-
animation completely nullihes the pre-
tended object for which these examinations
are ostensibly instituted.
9th. That these examinations in their
purposes aud workings. constitute an out
/ rage upon manhood, intelligence and JUS
tice, and should be abolished once and for
all. No other department degrades and
humiIiates its employees by a similar in
Fiction
Furthermore, there are numerous cases
on record where clerks who hau the neces.
sary influence or friendship with their
chef or the head OF their bureau were pro-
NOTED TO higher salaries before taking this
fake examnati on, and long afterwards, as a
mere matter Of form, having all the time
drawn their increased salaries, the examina-
ton was given them, and of course they
passed. twas so written in the bond "
AT the same time, though given increased
salaries there was no contemplation what
ever of putting them on higher grade work.
So it happens that the Treasury Department
is filed with clerks performing low grade
work at high salaries while other clerks
much more efficient and doing the same or
a higher grade Of work are drawing the low
salaries
And for the preparation of this vile in
Justice Uncle Sam pays Mr.. De Land 2,ooo,
furnishes him with valuable floor space to
the extent of three rooms and the 'examin-
ing room, together with all necessary
paraphernalia, and the services of two
pretty typewriter girls at - 400 ami PtOoo,
and several clerks at a lesser salary Indeed,
high price to pay for Uncle De Lands pet
hobby Will Secretary Shaw permit this
villainy to continued Besides this think Of
the time lost by clerks while taking this
examination, and for a week before hand
preparing themselves for the ordeal.
SERGEANT BROWNIES DISMISSAL.