Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1904-07-27
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GOSSIP
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A bulletin issued by the census bu-
reau gives the total number of en-
ployes in the executive civil service of
the United States as 150.3S3. These
figures include only those employees
who are required TO take an examina-
ton, so that about 5000 postmasters
and employees of small postoflices are
excluded, as are about 1900 employees
with small salaries in the field branch
es of the War Department, about To-
600 employees at navy yards, who are
classified, but appointed under navy
yard regulations, and few thousands
in other parts of the service. OF the
150,5S3 given, 25,675 are employed in
the District of Columbia; 137,O61 are
males, 1865 are native born and
1924 are engaged in clerical work.
OF the entire number, As, 162 are be-
tween the ages OF 30 and 40 years;
39,21S between 20 and 30, and 3O394
between 40 and 80. One hundred and
one are over 50, and 1922 below 20
years of age. More than one-third Of
the number have beer employed for
less than five years. and more than a
fifth for less than year. Only 1928
have occupied places for more than
forty years. Those who receive SAL
aries of $500 or more number S51;
less than S72O, 50,o01-
-
The new salary schedule for rural
mail carriers has been completed, to
apply from July l. The last Congress
raised the maximum salary from 5000
to $720 a year. 1t was found that the
maximum route was "A miles long and
to carriers on routes of this length,
numbering about 1900, the maximum
salary Will be paid. The salaries Of
for each mile less than twenty-four.
carriers on routes shorter than the
maximum was fixed by deductlng SIS
The net result has been that slightly
over two-thirds of the whole force of
"A, 800 rural carriers have received in
creases of 800 a year in their salaries.
The remaining carriers have received
increases Of less than this amount.
This schedule takes into considera ton
the expenses for equipment, and makes
what is stated to BE Il liberal allow
routes less than the maximum length.
Ii leaves about the same appropriation
available for new service during the
coming year that the department had
during the last fiscal wear
-
The eagerness with which men seek
appointive positions under the govern
ment almost amounts TO craze, and
like all craZes it IS not readily eX-
plainable. In Boston, for example,
where examinations for custom house
employees are about to begin, there are
1889 applicants for 80 possible APP
pointments. These figures are some
what exceptional, TO be sure, but in
other large cities there is always
marked disproportion of applicants to
places. The Isthmian Canal Commits
sion has already had a hundred appli-
cations for every position it is author
lied to fill. Yet the salaries are not
large, rarely exceeding $1,000 a year;
give some assurance of permanency of
tenure, there is little assurance of pro-
motion. Thu. there should be such
eagerness for the appointments is not
creditable 10 the seekers. Men with
even an average equipment of ability
-. = Il,
promising careers.
-
The National Civil Service Commits
sion has recently arranged to open
branch headquarters in Boston. New
York, Philadelphia, Washington, At
lanta, Cincinnati, Chicago, St Paai,
ST Louis, New Orleans, Denver, Port
land and San Francisco. Each of
these tn rteen cities will be the CEN
ter to which the civil service boards
in the districts surrounding them will
refer all matters which they cannot
decide for themselves. Heretofore it
has been necessary to communicate
directly with Washington when vacan-
cies were to be filled in the classified
service. THIS las occasioned delay,
especially in cities distant from the
capital Under the new system the
washington office will be relieved of
practically all the detail of preparing
for examinations, and the national
commissioners will be able to devote
themselves more fully to the enforce
ment of the spirit of the civil service
reform laws.
-
1t is probable that the attention of
the British government will be direct.
ed to a movement conducted officially
by the Canadian government to induce
lmmigrat ton from the United States to
the Northwest Territory. There can be
no objection to such efforts on the part
Of private emigration agencies, but
when, as in this case, the government
itself seeks to attract citizens of other
countries the matter calls for official
remonstrance. 1t appears that the Do
minion Department of the Interior,
through one of its assistant secretaries,
has been sending broadcast Throughout
the Northwestern States circular let
ters. principally addressed TO clergy
men, professional men and persons Of
influence. describing In glowing terms
the splendid resources of the Canadian
Northwest and inviting immigrants by
the offer of 100 acres of land for each