Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1913-06-11
HOW APPOINTMENTS T
FOURTH CLASS POST OF
FICES ARE SECURED.

By Congressman Clyde H. Tavenner.
Members of Congress- have little
to do in connection with the fill
ing Of fourth class post offices.
FsGivil Service examinations will be
held for the filling OF each fourth
class office, and these examinations
will be open to all including the
present postmaster. %
1t would not appear from the copy
OF the Civil Service Commissions
Instructions to applicants for the
fourth class postmaster examinations
that tests are very severe, and yet
experience shows that there are not
a few who fail to pass. The subject
covered by the examination and the
credits given are: a@.
Q) Elementary arithmetic and &C.
counts (simple tests in addition, sub
traction, multiplication, and division
o. whole numbers and common and
decimal fractions and statements OF
postmaster's accounts), 40 credits;
~ Penmanship (the leg1blllty,
neatness. and general appearance OF
the competitors handwriting in the
subject OF letter writing), 10 ere
dts; .<
(3) Letter writing "a letter of not
less than 125 words on one of two
subjects furnished), 10 credits;
az Copying manuscript addresses "a
simple test in copying accurately al
dresses given), 10 credits;
(5) Facilities for transacting post
al business Chased on the location OF
the post office site, the convenience
OF office arrangements, etc. 80 ere
dts; total 100 credits.
Y The examination in the first sub
iect consists OF five questions a
long the following lines:
In question 1 the competitor. is given
eight whole numbers to and from
their sum he is required to subtract
another given whole number.
In question 2 the competitor Is
given the value Of the stamps cancel
ed at a certain post office; the a
mount of money received for news
paper and periodical postage, anc
from the sale of waste paper, Irvine
etc.; also the box rents collected
He is rquired to enter the figures II
a given form, and to compute the sal
AIRY Of the postmaster for the guar
ter in accordance with the directions
given in the form.
Question consists of mIpltipicat
ion and division OF decimals, and alst
the reduction Of a fraction to de
cimal. ID
Question 4 is a practical applicat
ion Of measurements, such as finding
how man postofice boxes Of q give1
size can be put in certain space
or how many yards Of linoleum of {
given width are required to to cover
a 'oor OF a given size, etc.
In question the competitor IS give1
the amount and Tee of each money
order issued and the amount OF eacf
money order paid at q given pos
office for a certain month. From this
data he is to make q statement o.
the postmaster's account with tn
Government in prescribed form ant
to balance the statement.
All persons securing an average O.
20 will get their names on the elig
ible list, and from the three highes
the acknowledgement will select the
postmaster. In the case OF persons
|honorably discharged from the milit
airy or naval service by reason OF dis
ability from wounds received o.
sickness incurred in the line of duty
an average OF IS will be sufficient
and such applicant will be given pre-
ference over all others in appoint
ment.
Where the office pays more thai
$500 persons over IS years are made
ineligible. Where women are declared
by statue OF full age for all purposes
at 10, they are eligible to examinatio
and appointment. The examination Il
each case will be held at the mos
convenient point and will be conduct
ed when possible, by local examining
boards. Marking Of the papers vii
be done by the commission.
1t will be necessary for every ap
plicant to fill out an application
blank which may be obtained from
the postmaster, and notice OF time
Of the examination will be served a
few days before it is held. In every
case the character and record Of The
applicant must be good and the ap'
plicant be vouched for by at least
five persons.