The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-08-04
WHY NEGROES GET
FAT u. S POSITIONS
III Civil Service Whites Will Not
Take the Examita-
tons.
PLAN TO KEEP OUT NEGRO

Especial to Tho Times-Dispatch.l
WASHINGTON, D. c., August b.
rho Civil Service Commission Is hav-
Ing troubles OF It's own with the
race question, and how to stop the
negroes OF the South from taking the
examination Is problem that IS
causing some OF them slecpless nights.
7, The situation that confronts the
commission lis something like this:
Most OF the Southern States have less
than their quota OF civil service en-
ployes. BY law the commission Is
compelled to apportlon the appointees
az nearly as can be In proportion to
the population. In order that the quota
OF the Southern States may be 1illed
examinations are being held through
out the South. In discussing the dit
ficulties OF tho situation one familiar
with 1t said to The Tlmes-4.lspatch
correspondent to-day:
Want tho Positions.
you see, the South has been going
on educating the negro. giving him
almost equal advantages with the
white children, AS soon as negro
gets a little education he gets above
manual labor. and begins looking
around for something better. Hotel
Jobs, Pullman porter places and the
like do not supply enough snaps, and
there is little else for them to do.
"E,xcept for the comparatively few
| positions as school teachers In col
ored schools there IS not much chance
for the educated negro in the South.
He cannot be q steno grapher, nor is he
eligible to other clerical positions.
whites Have to Work.
Besides, the Southern negro has
1t in his head that the United States
will always see to it that he has his
equality guaranteed him when he
! gets into the Federal service. The
result is that when he sees al ex-
| animation under the civil service sche-
! duled. he is there to take 1t. While he
1 has been having nothing to do but
60 to school, most Of the white boys
! and young men who take the exmaina-
ton have had to work, and have not
really enjoyed as good school advan-
ltages as the negro because OF that
fact. and when the denominations are
over 1t is found that In great many
cases the negro gets the higher per-
centage. and the appointment when
| there Is vacancy Another thing that
|
\ Is that comparatively few white peo-
pie in the South are taking the ex-
aminations.
i Appeal to White Men.
j s1rhe commission has been appealing
i to eligible young white men to take
/ the examination, but the campaign TO
I get more OF them to take the exam
'lirations has not been very successful.
And then, when the negro gets the job,
the Southern people decry against It.
i In a measure they are at fault. IT Is
J, an undeniable fact that ninety nine
officials out Of a hundred IN wash.
Iington would rather see the white
. race I'LL the positions under Civil Ser
vice, but.if the South educates the
| negro up to the point where he car car
!, white man-and then the South falls
to send her white men to the eXamlna-
:. tions-how can 1t expect anything else
than that the negro Will get the job;
Plan to Keep then, Out.
However. there is q plan going the
rounds rather by taclt consent don er "a
lerable measure. The people who have
I 1.-THE filling of positions under the civil
Service have no option in the matter
7 certifled is that Of a black man or b
5 They have to appoint from the
J, names the commission certify, and tne
= commission mas no d1leludI ~ y -
, certify the highest standing eliglbles
But there is one loophole, and tina,
! comes at the expiration OF the SIX
j Imcnths probationary period. II the
j newly appointed applicant fails, 70,
! any reason, to measure up to the stand
: ard set by the official who appoints
he may certify to the commission thai
| the appointee has not been satisfactory
!, and he is. accordingly, dismissed. Here
is the one loophole from which the
uninviting situation may be escaped
:. and this is loophole that will be
taken advantage OF as the negro ell
!. gibles increase.
) North Don't Want Negro.
1T is pretty generally believed that
I. the time is not far distant when this
: matter is going to be changed lor
may be sure that 1t will be IL the
!, lDemocrats come back into power. II
is significant that the government EN-.
ploye hailing from Massachusetts is
s even less inclined to stand for the
!; negro who comes in by the Civil Ser
|yice route than the white employe from
: Virginia or elsewhere Most OF the
negroes now being appointed from the
Civil Service rolls are from the South
I and they are the ones that give the
most trouble."
| ~