The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1913-06-03
POSTMASTERS TO
APPROXIMATIONS.
New Law Provides That All Fourth
Glass Offices Must Be Provided
With Civil Service Men.
MUST SECURE 20 PER CENT
Men, Women and Persons Over 65
Years Of Age are Qualified to
Take Government Tests.
CONSIDER APPLICANTS RECORD
Only Three Offices n Beltrami Not
Under Act, Being Bemidji,
Blackjack and Baudette.

Under Act, Being Bemidji,
Blackduck and Baudette.
With but three exceptions, every
postotf1ce in Beltrami county will
soon have civil service men at their
heads. This is provided for by new
government law. The three are Benz.
idji of the second class and Black
duck and Baudette of the third.
In the past it has been up to mem
bers of congress to name or recon-
mend persons for the different post
Offices but in the future they will
have little connection with it, that
is among fourth class 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
of the Civil Service Commissions in
structions to applicants for the
fourth class postmaster examinations
that the tests are very severe, and
yet, experience shows that there are
not few who fail to pass. The sub
jects covered by the examination
and the credits given are:
/. Elementary arithmetic and ac-
counts (simple tests in addition, sub
traction, multiplication, and division
of whole numbers and common and
decimal fractions and statements of
a postmatser's accounts), 40 credits.
2. Penmanship (the legibility,
neatness, and general appearance of
the competitors handwriting in the
subject of letter writing), 10 credits.
3. Letter writing Ca letter of not
less than 1926 words on one of two
subjects furnished), ten credits.
4. Copying manuscript addresses
"a simple test in copying accurately
addresses given) ten credits.
S. Facilities for transacting pos
tai business (based on the location
of the postoftice site, the convenience
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 num-
ber.
In question 2 the competitor is
given the value of the stamps can
celed at a certain postofice; the
amount of money received for news
paper and periodical postage, and
from the sale of waste paper, twine,
etc.; also the box rents collected. He
is required to enter the figures in a
given form, and to compute the sal
ary of the postmaster for the quarter
in accordance with the directions
given in the form.
Question consists of multiplica-
tion and division of decimals, and
also the reduction of fraction to
a decimal.
Question 4 is a practical applica-
tion of measurements, such as find
ing how many postoffice. boxes OF
given size can be put in a certain
space. or how many yards of hnol-
cum of given width are required
to cover a floor of given size, etc
3 In question. 5 the competitor Is
given the amount and fee OF eacI
money order issued and the amount
of each money order paid at a given
nostoffice for certain month. From
this data he is to make statement o.
the postmaster's account with tnt
government in prescribed form ant
to balance the statement. 4
All persons securing an average u
70 Will get CAcAI AoAAoS o =
pible list, and from the three hlgnes'
tha postmaster general will select tn
nostmaster. In the case OF persons
honorably dischargd from the mll'
tary or naval service by reason o.
disability from wounds received o.
sickness incurred in the line OF dut!
an average of 65 will be sufficient am
such applicant will be given prefer
ence over all. others in appointment flt1l
Where the Office pays more tnal
$500 persons over 65 years are mad'
ineligible. Where women are ue !.
clared by statute of full age 1or a. a.
purposes at 18, they are ellg1Dle =
examination and appointment IN
examination IN each case will o
held at the most convenient pom
and will be conductd when posslDie
by local examining boards. Mark1nt NJ
of the papers will be done by tn
Commission. 81.
It will be necessary for every ap
- 1Coaunusd o. last pags).
81 y y q e. 4