Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-06

Increase Is expected, as there were never
before so many places under the classified
service. But when this figure is compared
with the 1000 or 5000 applications that
were filed for similar examinations one
year ago the enormous increase can be
realized
What Brings the Increase.
1t Is not hard times that are bringing new
applicants for government places, because
the people of the country were never more
fully employed than they are today 1t is not
the payment of high salaries by the govern
ment that Is bringing about this eager chase
for government jobs because while wages
in every branch of industry have been in
creased during the past several years the
tendency in the service of the government
is for wages to come down. Some years
ago there were no clerks under 81 200. Now
there are many working for the govern
ment for salaries less than that figure.
There must be some reason for the excess
Sive increase in the number of applicants,
and people who have studied conditions In
the civil service commission have come to
the conclusion that there are just two
causes for it. One is the fact that all over
the country there is a vast amount of con-
hdence that under Roosevelt the civil SER
vice will be run strictly ION the square,"
and that square DEAL will await every
one who enters the lists as applicant.
The other reason Is merely the fact that
this feature of the situation has been
widely advertised by civil service institutes
all over the country
AS a matter of fact the commission is be-
Ing run now just about as it has for many
years in the past. There is no change.
But many people living in remote localities
have known but little Of the commission
and Its methods. and some of them have
felt that somehow or other a man or wo-
man must have a pull in order to land in
government job. With Roosevelt reelected
there is a conviction that he would see that
every one has a good show. There is also
the feeling that is shown on the occasion
of every change Of administration. The
people believe that when a change of ad-
ministration is made there will ha many
removals from Office
An Applicant for Every Two Places.
These applications. numbering IA ,4O6 and
estimated to run to $4,000 are for about
| 1000 places, or an average of nearly one
| applicant for every two places to be filed
| 1t Is not likely that there will this year be
| more than 5000 places vacated under the
| government in the list of places that are to
| be filled by the spring examinations. These
are positions under the government in this
city numbering 23.o00, under the railway
mail service numbering 1900 under the
indian service and in the service in the
Philippines
The large number of applications for gov
eminent places is regarded as very de-
sirable thing for the government because
of the many people who are annually leav-
ing the service. 1t is said that the changes
under the government are numerous I'M
der civil service reform they were under
the spoils system. People go out not when
they are bounced. but because they are
seeking more salary. They go in the serv-
fee for short time and become hopeless of
rising to any important position. Then
they get out and try their fortunes csc
where. They frequently take these places
to be located in this city long enough to
carry out some scheme of education and
then go out into the world.
Men Stenographers Needed.
Under the government service more men
stenographers are constantly needed. Last
year there were examined S2S stenographers
and typewriters, of which number 427
passed. The government service needed all
that passed the examinations, but when
the places were actually offered to the men
it was found that of 427 men who had
shown themselves to be qualified only 267
were ready to accept places. Government
officials found that they couldn't induce
men to go into the service for $720 or $40
per annum although they held forth the
prospect of prompt promotion. The same
condition to some extent existed in rela-
ton to the women, although the demand is
greater for men than for women Stenogra-
pliers.
INSPECTION BEGUN.