The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1911-11-01
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
Little Tale Of the First Days Of
clvIIt Service.
Ore Of the Earliest Examinations Un-
der the System In the New York
Post ONCE Described BY
4. G. Pearson.
By Z. j. EDWARDS.


ONCE. IN IS, that the first attempt
was made to establish IN this country
a genuine civil servtce. The attempt
was purely voluntary. in the sense
that II was not commanded by law.
But we thought that. If civil service
could be shown to be entirely feasible
In SO large an Office as thar Of New
York. It would be found feasible IN
every department OF the government" 4"
said the late Henry G. Pearson. who
was postmaster OF New York under
Garfield. Arthur and Cleveland. Mr..
Pearson was assistant postmaster al
tho time Postmaster Thomas L.
James established civil service in the
New York post office. and the scope
and plan Of the system were worked
out by Mr.. Pearson.
AT first. We met with a good many
embarrassments," Mr.. Pearson con-
tinued. but all OF them were over
come with no great dificulfy. except
Ing one. That. in fact. was finally
overcome BY ignoring IL It had It's
very humorous side. and think that
Ia the entire history OF civil service
there Is not to be found another incl
dent 80 deliciously funny as was this
~One day not long after the service
had been esta4lished. there entered
the room which had been set apart
Tor the civil service examiners. very
lolly-faced German, blueeyed. blonde
Whiskered and Of powerful physique.
As he entered he said cheerily This
a the place where they send me,
heyr
-He was told to take a seat for
few moments. and wait until our med
lcal examiner could be called In. He
waited patiently. should say for 20
minutes. Then the medical examiner
came IN and. beckoning to the wait.
Ing German, led the way TO a place
which had been partitioned on by
means Of portiere. The doctor said
10 the German, Now you must take
on your clothes. The German re-
piled. I take on my clothes already,
heys' and the doctor said it was
necessary. since he would have to
submit to a physical examination
The German obeyed and stood per-
lectly nude before the doctor. He
submitted patiently and cheerfully to
he humping OF his chest, to the tax
ing OF his pulse, and to the test OF his
ung capacity. and. in fact went
through very thorough physical ex-
animation. Then the doctor told him
10 put on his clothes and go out into
the main room and wait for further
examination. The doctor also told the
German that he was one Of the best
physical specimens he had ever exam
med. adding that II he passed as well
IN other lines as be had the physical
sxarasnation. there was no dcubt
aboIt his success
The German, after he was dressed, |
went out into the main room and
look his seat, still waiting patiently.
One Of the examiners came In after
a while and said to him: want you
10 make out an application
~'Veli.' replied the German, after
do that. do ] get my letter. He
handed the examiner a card 1t was
he customary notification card. tell \
ng him that q registered letter await
ID him.
Veil. he said again. wen do get
ny letter.
The examiner was very quick with
lin. He carefully and soiemnly read
he card.
Well.' he said at last. you have
low passed the examination properly.
Z you step into ne next room and
,resent this card. you viii get your
etter' And do you know" continued
w. Pearson. that man. who had
leen stripped. punched and pummell-
d By q doctor. enduring the torture
II a physical examination with per
ect patience because he thought It
vas part OF the regulations that
we're necessary In the New York post
dice before registered letter could
'e handed out. went away perfectly
lappy. came back In a few moments.
hrust his head in at the door and
aid. Veil. ] get my letter all right.
That was almost the hrst examina-
los under the new civil service sys-
en- when It was established in the
lew York post Office. We took pains
hat there should not be another mis-
AXE CT that kind
Copyright 1871 By T. ] Edwar6s All
Rights Reserved)