Evening star., 1909-05-01
USE THEIR. CLUBS
Have q Hard Time Keeping Appli-
cants in Line.
THREE THOUSAND GET BLANKS
Examinations Are to Be for Un-
skilled Laborers, Charwomen, Etc,
and Are Held Annually.

I'VE want to work for Uncle Sam;
To brush and sweep and scrub;
To keep the corridors spick and span,
And earn our daily grub.
We don't care what sort of work we get
Just SO our mouths are filled.
We're after any old job. you bet.
To be got by one unskilled.'
This was the slogan of about 1000
wouldbe servitors of Uncle Sam who
massed in front of the offices of the civil
service commission this morning, march
ed. countermarched, stormed the building
and would have put the whole commits
sion to rout but for the timely appearance
of allies in the shape Of police reserves
from the first precinct station. under the
command of Capt. Hollinberger.
The occasion was the annual distribu-
ton Of application blanks for positions
under the civil service as unskilled la
borers. These places are for charwomen.
cleaners, laborers, etc, in the various de-
partments in Washington. That there
would be such a distribution had been
advertised, and long before anybody but
the watchmen was on duty at the civil
service commissions offices, at the cor
ner of 9Th and E streets. a wild mob
had gathered in Sth street, prepared to
get in early.
The 9Th street entrance was their OBJ
jective point. until somebody gave the
from the steps at the E street entrance.
Then the rush. The two policemen on
duty were quite unable to handle the
crowd. and DR.. ]. 8. Jameson, medical
examiner of the commission. who had the
performance in charge. telephoned to the
station for assistance.
Iron Railing Gives Way.
In the meantime there was such con-
gestion of applicants at the street
steps that they broke down the iron rail-
ing around the area, and those who had
been pressed against the railings went
sprawling against the basement walls.
Fortunately the area is shallow and no.
body was hurt. The fallen were too eager
to get up and get back into line to do
anything but swear at those who had
pushed them over and through the rail-
ing.
1t was at this juncture that Capt. Hol-
linberger and his assistants arrived in a
patrol wagon. They did a little charging
on their own account. and welded their
clubs to sucn good effect that the crowS
was soon put in order. The applicants
were formed into line, which extended
along Sth street and came to end on
near 9th.
DIR. Jameson began handing out appi-
cations at a few minutes after O. clock.
he stood on top Of the steps and the ap-
plcants passed by him from east to west.
It was after 10 o'clock before the last Of
the 5000 blanks he had were disposed of.
The line reached to F street at that time.
and there were still hundreds standing
around considering the advisa bility of
joini-- in.
Majority Will Never Return.
"Of the 1900 blanks passed out not
more than 500 will be returned properly
filled out" said DR.. Jameson, when he
had completed his task and stood on the
E street steps watching the crowd dis
perse. Last year we gave out 5000
blanks and only a little more than 300
we're turned in. Crowds like this are
composed chiefly Of the sheeplike element
of humanity. OF course, some Of them
got up early with the purpose of coming
here, but the majority are idlerS who.
when they saw the crowd gathering. fell
into line and took application blanks just
to be taking them.
1T is certainty that many of these
applications will be sold or traded for
drinks or bags Of tobacco within an hour:
The performance is one of the annual
shows of Washington"
Gen. John C.. Black, chairman of the
civil service commission. was the first
member of that body 10 reach his Office
this morning. and he became so interested
in what was going on out In the street
that he stood on a fire escape and
watched the fun. The windows on the
9Th street side Of the land Office building
were filled with clerks. who became SO
absorbed in the exciting scenes that they
quit work and looked on until 1t was all
over.
Big Crowd of Spectators.
The front steps of the Interior Depart
ment furnished a fine grandstand and
were crowded for an hour or more with
interested spectators. Passersby stopped
and formed gallery along the opposite
curbstones until there were almost as
many spectators as participants.
The positions that are to be filled are
those that pay from $50 to $500 a year
for the women and from $3.50 to 5000 for
the men. There is no set number of
positions but vacancies occurring during
the coming year will be filled from the
list OF eligibes prepared from the appli-