The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1913-06-11
CIVIL SERVICE
EXAMINATIONS
For Filling of the Fourth
Class Post-Offices.
INSTRUCTIONS IN PREMISES
Subjects Covered BY the Ex-
aminatiOnS and Cred.
its Awarded.
NOT so EASY AS 1T LOOKS

(By Congressman C. II. Vavenner.
Washington, June members
of Congress have little to do in con-
nection with the filling of fourth
class post-offices.
Civil Service examinations will be
held for the filling of each fourth.
class Office, and these examinations
will be open to all, including the
present postmasters.
1t would not appear from the
copy sof the Civil Service Commits
sion's instructions to applicants for
the --feHrth-eiass postmaster exami-
nations that the tests are very Sc
we're, and yet, experience shows
that there are not a few who fail to
pass. The subjects covered by the
examination and the credits given
are:
l. Elementary arithmetic and &C
counts (simple tests in addition,
subtraction, multiplication and di-
vision OF whole numbers and COM
mon and decimal fractions and
statements OF postmaster's ac-
counts), 40 credits.
2. Penmanship (the legibility,
neatness and general appearance of
the competitors handwriting in the
subject of letter writing), 10 cred
its.
8. Letter writing Ga letter of
not lens than 125 words on one of
two subjects furnished), ten cred
it's.
A. Copying manuscript address,
es "a simple test in copying accu-
rately addresses given), ten cred
it's.
5. Facilities for transacting pos
tai business (based on the location
of the post-ofiice site. the conve-
nience of Office arrangements. etc) +,
thirty credits; total 100 credits.
The examination in the first sub
ject consists of five questions along
the following lines:
In question the competitor is
given eight whole numbers to add
and from their sum he is required
to subtract another given whole
number.
In question the competitor is
given the value of the stamps can
celed at a certain post-oilice; the
amount of money received for news
paper and periodical postage. and
from the sale of waste paper, Irvine.
etc.; also the box rents collected.
He is required to enter the figures
in given form, and to compute
the salary of the postmaster for the
quarter in accordance with the di-
rections given in the form.
Question 3 consists of multiple
cation and division of decimals, and
also the reduction of a fraction to
a decimal.
Question 4 is practical applica-
tion of measurements, such as find
ing how many post-oflice boxes of
a given size can be put in a cer-
tain space. or how many yards of
linoleum of a given width are re-
quired to cover a floor of given
size, etc.
In question the competitor Is
given the amount and fee of each
money-order paid at given post
office for a certain month. From
this data he Is to make a state
ment of the postmaster's account
with the Government In q prescrib-
ed form and to balance the state
ment.
All persons securing an average
Of 20 will get their names on tsSk
eligible list. and from the three
highest the Postmaster-General will
select the postmaster. In the case
Of persons honorably discharged
from the military or naval service
by reason of disability from wounds
received or sickness incurred in the
line of duty. an average OF 65 will
be sufficient and such applicant will
be given preference over all others
In appointment.
Where the Office pays more than
$500 persons over IS years are
made ineligible. Where women are
declared by statute OF full age for
all purposes at IS. they are eligible
for examination and appointment.