The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-02-26


act creating a permanent cencus office? {?
Sign II. probably, in spite OF it's objec-
tionabe provision for the inclusion Of
the remaining employees In the classified
service and making the eligible TO
transfer. Whether he will accompany
his message announcing the approval of
the act when a statement of his views
regarding this disguised assault upon
the integrity of the merit system will
depend upon circumstances not necessary
To discuss here. The point 10 be borne
In mind is that If Congress defies intel
ligent public sentiment and nouts the
cause of which. 10 its knowledge. Mr.
Roosevelt has been among the most dis
tingulshed exponents. 1t must not be as
tonished If the sequel proves that II has
made a blunder whose consequences will
not be all that IL counted upon. The
whip hand I'm this business remains still
with the executive.
We hear a great deal about the excel
lence OF the examination through which
the census employees were put. a glance
over some OF the questions will therefore
be OF Interest. These were arranged in
groups OF FIVE, with the understanding
that the candidate was at liberty to
skip two of them. altogether, and pass
or fall on the other three. This, 1t is
fair to say was not so very bad a rule
I'm itself; neither were the ques-
tions for most part bad questions to
test the general intelligence and mental
alertness of candidates. but some of them
wear a funny look when IL is remembered
that the foes of civil service reform arc
continually attacking the commissions $
s..aa
bearing upon the duties a clerk is ex-
pected TO perform. For example:
Write a letter of $50 or 200 words 10 the
director of the census, setting forth the
qualifications of some friend and urging
his appointment TO some responsible po-
sition I'm the census office.
III would not take l5o words to say that
the friend has a very strong political
pull, that he Is a nephew OF Senator
Blank and treasurer of the Republican
campaign fund I'm the district where he
resides: but the skill shown I'm padding
out" the rest OF the space would doubt
less count on the total marking. Here is
another:
Write letter OF 200 or 25o words 10
your representative i'm Congress I'm recon-
mendation of a friend for postmaster at
your home
This could describe the friends activity
in caucus and primary work, the fact
that he edits the local newspaper and
carries IS votes in his inside pocket,
which he can throw any way he chooses
at the critical juncture of a preliminary
campaign. Indeed, the question sug-
gests somewhat question as TO the best
mode of cracking" a safe or breaking
into a house: the candidate who has the
most familiarity with the jimmy and the
powder r-bower-experiment acquaint-
ance preferred--is the one who is bound
H.
racy rather than style.
Here are others stilI:
Explain the following terms ''Abol
tionist." ''Carpet-bagger." "Mugwump,"
"Expansionist," "Anti-imperialist"
who wrote the following: ''The Ra-
ven" ''Thanotopsis. RIP Van Winkle,"
"Evangelne." Progress and Poverty"
Who is Charles Il. Littlefeld. Serene
f.. Payne, Edward Atkinson. j. Il. For
aker, M. S. Quay?
Who is Marcus A. Hanna? Chauncey
NJ Depew? George +. Hoar? Henry
Cabot Lodge? Albert J. Beveridge?
Name the largest two islands I'm The
Philippine archipelago. Name also the
capital OF each.
Now, will some one kindly say wherin
any OF these questions bear directly or
otherwise, upon the work a clerk il ex-
pected to perform in the census office?
Nobody will object to the questions on
general principles, ms they test the news
paper reading, at least, OF the candidate
on current topics OF public interest.
hut the person who can point out where
I'm they are superior I'm this respect, or
In respect of what is called practical"
to the questions propounded by the civil
service commission. ought to be awarded
"a medal as a discoverer.
Occasionally. In his desire 10 be cup 90
date" the author OF the census office
questions has evolved one which nobody
can answer 90 the universal satisfaction
or with historic precision: for instance:
who II the Democratic leader OF the
moor OF the House Of Representatives?
IL is easy TO imagine applicants from
Missouri and Tennessee tearing each
others hair outside OF the examination
room II they fell into n discussion over
the answer 70 this.
Or. look at the following: when was
James Monroe president OF the United
states3 What great principle or inter-
national law did he enunciate? Ex-
plain"
Probably nine out OF every ten igno-
rant candidates answered. "The Monroe
doctrine and gave some version OF a.
But those better Informed may have
'nunked'' ingloriously. for they had never
heard OF President Munroe's enunciating
any great principle OF interna tionai law.
the Monroe docsine being merely n state
ment of a policy of the United States
and not having even the color of law. do
nestle or International Perhaps IN this
particular they knew more than the