Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-09-01

There was a decrease of 327 in the
number of appointments from non
educational examinations. The in
crease in the number of temporary
appointments was large, being 44s
over the previous year. 1t may be
stated, in this connection, that the
rule GOVERNING temporary appoint
ments has since been amended
with a view to combining them more
strictly to persons who have passed
competitive examination. There
appears an increase in the number of
transfers of 1O6, and a decrease in
the number or reinstatements of
1853.
Extent of Classified Service.
brief statement of the extent of
the service subject to the civil ser
vice act and rules is a feature of
the report. From this it appears
that in the entire executive service
of the government there are in
round numbers 235,OOO places, of
which number about 121.OOO are
classified. OF the $4,000 remaining
unclassified, 72,49S are those of
fourth-class postmasters. The an
entire executive service is stated to
be about $13O.OO0,OO0, and of this.
$S5, DOC, 900, or nearly two-thirds. goes
to salaries for positions subject to
the civil service rules.
What Positions Should be Classified.
The view of the commission as to
what positions should properly be
classified appears in the following
.quotation from the report:
substantially all the positions in
the executive service, with exception
of those requiring administrative
ability. those of confidential nature.
and those of mere laborers, can be
properly made subject TO practical
tests of fitness by this commission.
The positions requiring administra-
tive ability or supervisory capacity
should, as a rule, be filed by promo
ton or transfer, and as Il matter of
fact, the positions of confidential
nature, or those which are of Il fiduci-
airy character, could also be better
filled in most cases by the transfer or
promotion of qualified persons al
ready in the service. The number of
positions which can not. with advan-
tage to the service. he made subje
to competitive examination in some
form is very small, and is confined to
that limited class of positions the
occupants of which are required to
originate action involving the general
policy of the administration.
Opportunities for Appointment
Probably the most interesting por-
ton of the report to the general
public will be that part of it headed
Opportunities for Appointment" in
the report of the chief examiner. An
abstract of this is as follows: For
men. the best opportunities are Of
fered through the stenograPhy and
typewriting eXamiHaF ions. which are
given twice a year. For several years
all men who have passed in both of
these branches have been offered APP
pointments. except those who placed
the minimum salary they were will
ing to accept at so large Il figure as
to preclude their appointment.
About 80 per cent of the men passing
the bookkeeper examination receive
appointments. For some time past
all the eligibles from the examination
for aid in the coast and geodetic sur
vey, which examination requires a
fair knowledge of higher mathemat
les. mathematical astronomy, and
physics, surveying. and some knowl-
edge of modern European languages,
have been offered appointment. Those
who have passed the examinations
for topographic craftsman, assistant
tOpographer. and copyist topographic
craftsman, for the last three or four
years, have usually been offered APP
pointment. the salaries ranging from
$40 to $1,000 per annum. Persons
passing the examinations for assist
ant examiner of patents. civil and
electrical. and civil and mechanical
engineer. are reasonably sure of APP
pointment. The entrance salary for
the position of assistant examiner of
patents is $1,000, with a good chance
for promotion. The entrance salary
for the engineer examinations above
mentioned is about 81 800 per annum.
Other examinations for the depart
mental service which offer good OPP
portunities for appointment to men
are that of inspector of meats. in the
bureau of animal industry, and that
for junior civil engineer. In the rail-
way mail service from 700 to 500 APP
pointments year have been made
for the last four or five years. at an
entrance salary of $500 per annum.
Most of the eligibles from the differ
ent teacher examinations for the In
dian service are usually appointed, at
entrance salaries of from 5000 to 5000
lna
examinations for bookbinder, press
man, electrotype finisher, electrotype
molder, and stereotyper. for the gov
eminent printing office, have very
good opportunities for appointment.
The supply of composition eiiglbies'
on the other hand. is usually consid-
erabIy in excess of the demand
Chances for women.