The Republican journal., 1905-01-26
Letter From Washington.
Civil Service Examinations. The Swayne
Case. Maine Men in Congress- The
Maine COLONY

Correspondence of The journal
WASHINGTON, d. c., Jan. %. The gov
eminent authorities here have just fixed the
dates for civil service examinations in
Maine. These examinations afford an OPP
portunity for the young men and women
who are ambitious to serve the government
in clerical places. 1t is hard road to
travel to secure one of those appointments
and many think the same effort in other
channels bring better and surer rewards.
Nevertheless thousands take the examina-
lions annually and strive to make such
good percentage that they will be given APP
pointments. The examinations in Maine
for places in the Departmental service will
be held March 18th and April 10Th in Ban
gor, Houlton, Machias and Portland. There
will be an additional examination in Ban
gor, March 22d, and in Portland April 18th.
1t is now pretty generally understood that
those who succeed in passing go upon an
eligible list and are then appointed, If at all,
in the order of the percentage they make in
those examinations The pay at the start
is small-about $500 Or $1,000 annually.
Promotion is slow and it requires years for
a government clerk to reach a salary of ST.
800 or $1,000 which, with few exceptions, is
the maximum. Large as those sums may
seem to many ambitious young people in
Maine they are really small for those who
have any real ability. Living in Washington
is tWOOr three times as expensive a. lnMalne
and one finds his individuality lost here IN
the multitude, while he might be regarded
of considerable Importance in his own
little community. The hours Of work are
few and the incentives to industry are not
great, neither of which conditions are al
together favorable for young men of edu.
cation and good attainmentS For young
women the government service undoubted-
ly offers splendid openings, because the
compensation is good as compared with
what women are paid in other fields.
The expansion of the Departments here in
recent years has led to very large increase
in the number of clerks employed. Names
quota has generally been pretty we'll filled,
but every year few get here through the
civil service and undoubtedly a number
will qualify at the examinations to be held
this spring. Influence, Congressional or
other wise, cuts absolutely 10 figure i'll Sc
curing these positions. Merit and fitness
are the sole tests
Names two eX-gOvernorS in Congress,
Representatives Burleigh and Powers,
have been cooperating to aid several visitors
here from the coast of the Pine Tree State
seeking the adoption of patent life boat
State Representative Newcomb of East
port, came at the head of the delegation,
which included Mr. Pike and Mr.. Myers
of lubec, and Mr.. Capen of Eastport.
They sought a hearing before the proper
authorities about their appliance and Sc
cured it promptly. When two such men as
Gov, Burleigh and Gov. Powers touch elbows
and Join in pushing any particular cause
here in Washington things in front of them
are apt to g i've way. They know how to go
about a task. With them every Stroke
counts. Both are excellent business men
and both have the confidence Of the House.
The two We're sitting at the entrance of the
House today. going over batch of papers
together, tn papers affecting public
business. The members passing in and out
Of the hall stopped to exchange greetings
and some remarked upon The fact that two
governors from one State are rarely in con-
gresS together. In fact There are but few
eX-s0ytin0fs in the member ship of the
House, although there are many ex-
governors in the Senate. HAT particular
day ever! body was discussing The features
al the NNa!He impeachmelt case and the
mastery argument that representative
L,utletield had delivered
Il think the House has made muss of
this case SWayne never ought to have
been lnpeachAd on such slight evidence"
observed Gov Powers. 81 am going to
vote against the whole business"
"That's just what l am going to do,"
said Gov. Burleigh. 81 am going to cast
my vote SO as to express my dsapproval of
that proceeding in just as emphatic a way
as possibly cam
They separated and Gov. Bil. leigh walked
along the corridor to ii window recess to
discuss matters with another gentleman.
He encountered Representative Stevens of
st. Paul, who has spent good part of his
life along the Maine coast
81 think the House has handled that
Swayne case in a shameful manner, govern
or, said MIR. Stevens. 81 an going to vote
against the articles of impeachment" All of
which goes to show how Maine men who
get to Congress are much the same way of
thinking about important public questions
There is lot of fraternal feeling among
Maine men in Congress, no matter where
they come from. They gravitate together
more or less, exchange "reminiscences of
their younger days, and if one has some
thing he is trying to get through the House
the others are pretty likely to help him In
the next Congress there will be recruit
to the Maine ranks in Representative Loren
Fletcher of Minneapolis. He came from
kennebec County. but lived for many years
IN Bangor and was engaged in business
there. He went to Minneapolis and &C.
Quired fortune. He served in the House
several terms but was defeated two wears
ago, only to be reelected last fall. As
rule the Maine men elected to the House
from other States have not been as success
full as their colleagues from the home State
III rising to emnence in legislative councils. |
But this has been due IN some part to the |
more uncertain tenure OF these Maine men !
coming from other States. Representative