The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-28
LARGE ARMY EXAMINED
FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE
Eighty Per Cent. of Those Elk
amined in 1903 Passed, of Whom
40 Per Cent. Were Placed.
A REAL POSTAL LUXURY
Free Delivery Not Thought of
Forty Years Ago, but Is NeCeS-
sary, Even if Expensive

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON. Dec. A.-An army Of
men and women were examined by
the Civll-service Commission and its
constituent boards during the fiscal
year 1903. OF all those examined nearly so
per cent. passed. and 46 per cent. of those
who passed were appointed; so that sc per
cent. of all examined were placed,
showing that the examining work
is greatly diversified and that the
information concerning examinations Is
such as to distribute the applicants accord
ing to the needs of the service. A recent
report of the commission states that an
experience of twenty years has enabled the
examining branch of the commission to re-
duce the examinations to essential tests of
fitness. In some examinations the element
of experience and training in similar work
is considered and rated as a part of the
examination, with excellent results. The
suggestion is made that the element of time
consumed by competitors be considered to
some extent in the ratings of clerical ex-
aminati0ns, this suggestion being based on
inquiries that clerks who finish their exam
nations are, as rule, more rapid and
efficient in their work after appointment
than those who consume more time in the
examinations.
Some difficulty has been experienced in
securing sufficient eligibles from certain
professions, technical and scientific exam
nations, to meet the needs of the service.
The inadequate entrance salaries offered
deter many competent persons from enter
ing the examinations except for positions
where ordinary clerical qualifications are
required, the prosperous conditions pre-
vailing throughout the country enable tech
meal and professional men 70 do better.
a rule, in outside employment than in the
| government service.
| Free delivery is, at least to an extent, a
| luxury" says Fourth Assistant Postmas-
| ter General BristOw Forty years ago
everybody went or sent word to the post
| office for his mall now it is delivered sew
eral times daily TO the homes and places
of business of the residents OF more than a
thousand cities. The service however adds
| appreciably to postal revenue by facilitat-
ing correspondence, but consumes over one
| fifth OF the gross receipts of the postoffices
where it exists, and the cost per carrier is
gradually increasing. Unnecessary deliv-
| cries are extravaganza and careful scrutiny
| should DE made of the same in all of the
| large ofnceS OF the country. There is in
some OF the more populOus cities a great
/ diversity in the number of deliveries.
| "A careful inquiry will be made during
/ the present fiscal year as TO the cause of
such diversity, with a view to economizng
| the expenditures without disturbing the
| efficiency of the service Business delly-
| cries should, of course, be as frequent as
circumstances demand, and the same rule
! applies TO collections in both business and
residential districts. 1t is impracticable.
! perhaps to lay down infiexible rules on
| these matters for universal enforcement,
! but the disparities between the service in
| different cities ought not TO be as pro-
nounced as they are. This matter is being
given special attention, with a view 10 cor
| rectlng inequalities"
An additional sum of $4,000 will be re-
quired to conduct the rural free delivery
service until June 80, when the current
| fiscal year will end. There are now in oper-
alton about 10000 routes. On July l it is
estimated that the number of routes will
be increased to about $1,000. 1t will take
S15,0o0,OO0 to maintain the service in the
next fiscal year. With the number of
| agents now employed il will require about
| S3,0OO,OOO additional TO enable the depart
ment to establish the service during the
fiscal year lSO4-5 as rapidly routes are
examined. Should Congress provide for an
| Increased number Of agents as recon-
mended by Fourth Assistant Bristow III
| $l9,O0O,OO0 to maintain and install the service
during the next fiscal year
Should the maximum salary Of the car
riers be increased from 5000 to $3.50 per
annum, as recommended in Mr.. BristoW $
annual report, il will necessitate an in
crease in the above estimates of about 25
per cent. This is one of the problems with
which the committee on postoffices OF
which Representative Overstreet is chair
man, will have to deal at this session.
The annual report of George E. Roberts
director of the mint, will show that during
the past year the government made a good
profit on the manufacture Of silver dollars
halves, quarters. dimes, nickels and pennies
In fact, the clear earnings of the minis
more than paid the expenses of runnins
them last year, indicating that the mint
service is one OF the very few branches OF
the government that is self-supporting
The total expenditures for the minis i'm.
GLIDING the salaries of the director and the
numerous employees, were $l,SO5,COO last year
Of something like $6S00,0O0. The great hill
of the surplus came from the seigniorag,
on the coming of silver dollars, amounting
to nearly $5500,000. This is the profit ma
Uncle Sam makes in purchasing the crud,
silver and coming it into dollars Thi:
source OF income Will cease in few weeks
however, as the stock of silver bullion il
the treasury is practically exhausted anG
mo- authority exists for the secretary of tn,
treasury TO buy more. 1t also means tina
the coinage of silver dollars is soon I,
come to an end.
Many of the South American countrie
depend on the minis of the United State
TO produce their gold and silver coins. 4
slight charge is made for this service, tn,
!; profits last year amounting to $l59OO a.
the result of turning out batch of coin,
for Colombia and Venezuela.
The War Department has practically
completed the work of equipping the stat
militia organizations with Krag-Jorgensel
rifles. The transfer of the old Springfield
for the newer Krags has been going OF
steadily for year and in a few weeks NOR
the last of the Springfelds will have beei
~ turned in.
General CroZier says the government viii
keep these old guns as a reserve for an I'm
definite period of time. Eventually the wa
! Department Will issue the new arm
= carbine TO take the place of the Krags
which have just been distributed Whel
: this is done, which, however, will not b
! for many years 10 come. a reserve stoc
of the Krags will be accumulated larg
: enough to equip the largest volunteer arm
that might be called into the field
f JOHN f. MONK.
! IMMENSE DEAL IN
/ KENTUCKY BOTJRRON