The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-04-12
IHB CITY As AN EMPLOYER,
ru.r.pROsPECTS DOEs.IT,0FFER
TO EDUCATED MEM

.. ,,.,e Any Chance Tor q Ceeteiyou 10 the
x.v YORK CIVIL servtce?--One MANS
Exnerience That seenas 20 Answer
Yes-Engineers and Others Wen PAid.
vben Theodore Roosevelt was President
.,,be Police Board he used to invite college
rraduates TO take the examinations for
snnointment to the police force. Not many
sd',ca,ed men have acted on his advice,
bur the other day 1t came out that q young
LAWYER named Raymond had passed ex-
.minations for plumbing inspector and
ether places In the service ofithe city, not
With any intention OF accepting an APP
,ointment, but merely to show how easily
K could be done by an educated man.
INQUIRY suggested by his case proves that
not a few men OF good schooling have en-
tered the civil service through the medium
n competitive tests and that some OF, them
have made good progress In their special
employments.
The recent elevation Of George B. Cortel-
YOU 10 a place In the Presidents Cabipet
as Secretary OF the new Department Of
Commerce and Labor has brought his case
into especial prominence. Mr.. Cortelyou
was appointed to the national civil service
in 1859 and after serving as private secre-
tary to several public officers was made
.enographer to President Oeyeland In 1895.
His subsequent rise through the Offices
af executive clerk at the White House.
Assistant Secretary to the President and
secretary to the President to that Of iCabi-
net member has been rapid. Undoubtedly
Mr.. Cortelyou, at the age OF 20. Is the bright
est and most shining example Of the possi-
biities Of the national civil service.
And as he is a college graduate his case
may also be cited In Qualification OF their
views by persons who hold that Govern
peut work is a good profession for edu-
Gated young men, .r.'7
There is another example Of the same
sort of progress in the employ Of the city
of New York-S. William Brscoe, secretary
Of the Municipal Civil Service Commission.
Mr.. Briscoe, then q graduate OF Johns
Hopkins University, won IN appointment
as labor clerk at q salary Of only so a
month less than ten years ago. He has
gone up through various grades until he
Is now secretary Of the commission, and his
pay Is IS, 900 a year.
Those who know Mr.. Cortelyou and Mr..
Rriscoe have no doubt that whether they
remain in the service OF the national and
city governments or engage In private
enterprises they will keep going ahead.
They are successful men.
The question that has arisen In more
than one thoughtful mind Is: Do these
instances indicate that II would be wise for
any considerable number Of young men Of
more than average intelligence and educa-
ton to choose public service as a career OF
profession? There are not many states
young men to this course.
The limitations at the top are too obvious
Go as high as you may and the rewards
arc still vastly inferior to those which arr
open to men in mercantile and professional
life.
It Is o fact. however that only few per
sons ever win the big prizes. For thost
who are seeking only comfortable living
steady employment and comparative free
dom from care. the prospect which the
city Of New York holds out Ii not bad.
In the competitive class Of the municipal
civil service, which means the class that
Is recruited by competitive examination
a diligent and intelligent young man may
well hope in the course Of not too long q
time to be advanced to a place that will
pay him from 81 500 to 5000 year. Sup
pose he takes the examination under Seized
ule B. which includes clerks and account
snts He may enter a. junior clerk al
from $3.50 to $500 year, or as clerk at $3.50
and the gradations will run it up from that
figure TO 5000.
The policy and. indeed. the mandate o.