Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-04-04
THE CIVIL SERVICE
CHARACTER OF EXAMINATIONS
BY THE COMMISSION.
Over Three Hundred Different Kinds
Prepared to Meet the Need Of
Different Positions.

From letter the civil service commission
has recently received from a well-known
western member of Congress 1t appears that
not all of the friends of civil service reform
are familiar with the practical workings OF
that office. This member writes:
Until l read your letter l had no idea
that there were so many different kinds OF
examinations prepared by the commission
to test the ability of applicants seeking
places in the government service. The
opinion prevails with many that the eX.
amlnat1ons provided by the commission are
not practical and are not good test OF
applicants qualifications for the positions
they seek. I believe that much good might
come from a better understanding of the
practical workings of the civil service COM
mission"
The information concerning examinations
referred to by the member showed that over
300 different kinds of examinations were
now prepared by the commission in order
to meet the particular needs Of the multi
tude Of positions subject to the provisions
Of the civil service rules. These examina-
tons were declared in the letter to be d.
vlded into four general classes, as follows:
L. Non-educational examinations, which
are limited to an investigation of the appli-
can't physical ability, experience and skill
workman. These include examinations
for the positions of fireman, carpenter,
blacksmith, &C. and are entirely non
scholastic.
e. Examinations for positions requiring
greater or less amount of general intelli-
gence only. These include tests in the COM
mon educational branches, and are of three
grades or degrees of difficulty. The educa :
ton required to compete successfully in any
of these examinations can be easily acquir-
ed In the Ordinary district schools of the
country. In this class is included examina-
tons for the positions of clerk, railway
mall clerk, messenger, custom house inspec-
tor &C;
telligence tests with those of practical or
technical character pertaining to the par
tlcular duties of the positions to be filled
and frequently combined with experience.
THESE include examinations for the posi-
lions of observer in the weather bureau,
stenographer and compositor in the gov
eminent printing office.
a. Purely technical examinations which
comprise practical and technical questions
and tests, and generally include the con.
sideration of previous training and expert
ence for the particular work to be per-
formed. These include examinations for
the positions of junior civil engineer me-
chanical craftsman, patent office examiner,
&c"
The commission states that In the prepa-
ration of examinations care is taken to
avoid the Introduction of any tests which
are not of value in bringing out the quail
fcations desired for the positions required
to be filled, the simplest tests being given
to those who apply for positions where the
duties require little or no educational ouali-
ncat1ons, and the more difficult eXamina-
tons being given to those who seek posi-
tons requiring higher qualifications. The
commission also invites attention to the
fact that its examinations are but prelimi-
nary to the true practical test, which is the
probationary or trial period after appoint
ment, when the person selected is called
upon to perform the duties of the positions
Ior which he was examined. This is the
final test Of fitness, and if the appointee
passes 1t satisfactorily to his superior Off
Ger ne receives an absolute appointment
AS showing that the examinations Of the
commission as now prepared are suitable
tests of fitness, 1t is pointed out that over
w per cent of those appointed as the result
or examination are found satisfactory and
receive absolute appointment at the end of
the probationary period.
one of the civil service commissioners re-
Gently stated that, with few EXCEPTIONS in
Quiries are rarely made Of the commission
regarding the scope and character Of it's
examinations by those who criticise them
or other features of the merit system and
expressed the belief that If such persons.
especially when they are members of Con-
gress, would avail themselves Of the COM
missions standing invitation to inspect the
papers of the examinations given much of
the existing misunderstanding would no
longer prevail.