Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-29
DEPARTMENTS IN NEED
GOOD MALE STENOGRAPHERS
GREATLY WANTED.
Chief Clerk Howley Discusses the Sit
uation-Thinks Higher Salary
Should Be Provided.

A dearth of good male stenographers pre-
walls in the departments of the govern
mental service. According to different bu-
reau chiefs the need for capable clerks who
can take dictation and write accurately on
the typewriter is the most urgent and por-
tentous demand now felt in the service, but
such clerks are not to be had at the sal
aries now offered. The trouble is so acute
that one bureau chief, the first assistant
postmaster general. has sent to Porto Rico
for two clerks who have qualified as ste
nographers.
1t is stated at the Office of the civil serv-
ice commission that this condition exists
generally throughout the departments. 1t
would be remedied somewhat, say the civil
service commissioners, If the heads of de-
partments were willing to accept woman
Stenographer5. But the demand for men is
insistent, and the commission Is now entire
ly unable to meet it. Within two weeks
the list of eligibleS from the last examlna-
ton will be prepared, and the supply of
male stenographerS and typewr1ters thus
obtained is expected to relieve the situation
greatly. 1t seems to be the general opin-
ion, however, that this relief will be only
temporary, and the commission is now con-
sidering several extraordinary steps for
obtaining adequate supply of such
clerks.
Night Examinations Proposed.
One plan under discussion provides for
examinations to be held at night SO that
stenographers need not lose working time
to qualify for the government service. 1t
is represented to the commission that the
loss of a days work, and the consequent
disclosure to his employer of the stenog
rapher's hope of entering the departments,
now deter many capable men from under
taking the civil service examinations. The
there is much weight in these contentious,
and 1t is thought likely that at least two
three examinations may be held in the
evening, in the hope of obtaining a few
good stenographers
The various phases of this situation were
clearly set forth to a Star reporter this
morning by Mr.. John H. Howley, chief
clerk to the first assistant postmaster gen.
eral.
Never Such a Demand.
ut has always been difficult to obtain
good stenographers for the Post Office De-
partment," said Mr.. Howly. But I never
knew them to be so much in demand as
they are now. We can't get any at all from
the civil service commission without several
weeks delay. When finally one or two
names are certified we find that instead of
obtaining capable workmen We are getting
beginners who have just scraped through
lue tNdIiiLlIdlltilS AS tH6Te are no SOOU
ones to be had we have been trying TO get
along with those who are only half trained,
but 1t is pretty hard not to get even begin
ners.
I'VE have applied for the certfcation of
stenographic eligbles every month for the
past year. Sometimes we have been in
formed there were none to be had. At he,
times we were givn lists of few names,
most CT them being applicants who had just
worked through with the necessary 30 per
EC ora -nrtt, -; ;,-<11y
little to the department. They occa sion the
greatest confusion by taking dictation half
accurately and by writing their letters three
or four times TO get them right. The coca
sionaI good workman disdains the salary
offered by the government. Why should a
man who can earn from 81 200 to 81 800 out
side the department accept $500 for a place
in the postal service? When appointed at
$500 he would find himself in competition
with 11J other clerks in the rural free de-
livery service at the same salary, and all
above him in line of promotion 1t takes
some experience to make stenographer.
No man can learn in a month. Moreover,
he needs a thorough knowledge of English
and much too broad general education to
sell his ability at any such salary as 5000.
Cannot Get Good Workmen.
"All these considerations are operating
now to produce something of a famine Ii
the government service. We simply can
not get good workmen to write our letters.
Here in the first assistants office We are
put to the necessity of sending to Por-o
Rico for two stenographers 1t is no GER
tain thing they VIII come, but we will send
for them just the same. The only other
elglbles are man over sixty years old
and two young men, whose general equip
ment is so meager that they are worthless
to us. If some of the young mea and wo-
men who trying to get into libraries
and other such institutions would only de-
vote themselves to becoming good stenog-
raphers they would find instant employ
ment at good salaries.
Il think the difficulty is largely due to
the low salary paid when the stenogra pher
enters the department. There ought to be
several appointments at not less than
Sl,2D for good men. Then the service
would offer some attraction to the man
really worth having"