davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-10

making appointments only on Demon
strated efficiency without regard tc
political considerations The principle
is being more and more recognized
that the public. as an employer. is en-.
titled to the very best services, and
that such services cannot be obtained
on any system which holds political
affiliations and political activity higher
than ability to do the work"
But do your tests secure the highest
character of employees possible for the
compensation paid?"
when l answer you in the affirma-
tive 1 am not merely stating my own
opinion, but / am quoting from the
record. 1t is a popular error that the
civil service commission makes all ap-
pointments in the classified service. II
does nothing of the sort. save as re-
lates to its own force. Let me outline
the procedure:
"A department makes requisition on
the commission for persons to I'LL GER
tain positions. 1t sets forth it's re-
quirements-in full, asking, we will say
qualifications or technical training
Then follows conference between the
commission and the officer making the
requisition, in which the requirements
or specifications. and also the character
OF the examination, are agreed to.
tises the examinations, the examina-
lions are held, the papers are marked
and the commission certifes to the Of
ficer making requisition the names OF
the three highest eligibles. From these
three the officer. not the commission
makes the selection. And that selec-
ton is for probationary period of six
months only. To become permanent
the appointee must make good and be
satisfactory to his appointing officer.
You will observe that the officer
has much to do with determining the
requirements and character of the ex-
animation. Also he alone is the Judge
of the efficiency of the probationary
appointee. The part of the commits
son Is to conduct the examinations
fairly and justly. but the commission
does not select. Its certification of the
three names is purely impersonal.
And now as to the results. Actual
statistics show that not more than Q
good, to the satisfaction of the officer
over them, in the six months proba-
tional periods of appointment. In
other words. 9S per cent secure perma-
nent appointments
That is high percentage of making
good. i doubt that any department
stores or other large employer of
labor can show SO good a record in the
matter of hiring new help.
Now as to the tests or examination"
went on Mr.. Craven, judiciously, for he
Is man of judicial temperament. 1T
would be absurd to say that any sys-
tenn of tests that can be devised to
determine qualifications for the vary
ing character Of government service
can be perfect. Some of the tests re-
quired are sometimes ridiculed, but
generally ridcule comes only from
those who do not know what the tests
are.
But I take it, some system is neces-
sary under the law. 1 take II also that
the many years of experience this
commission has had has not been un-
profitable to 1T and that 1t has applied
the lessons that ii has learned And
when the system in vogue produces
only per cent Of bad material. does
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-10
Perverted.

NOHN BRISBEN WALKER, editor and
~ president OF. the Friends Of Peace,
said, in New York:
THE man who sees beauty in war. the
man whose eye flashes at the roar Of
cannon, seems to me to have q sense
of beauty as perverted as the tourists.
"A tourist on a ship gazed. with eyes
filed with tears. at a spouting whale.
"'Ah,' he said, in tremulous tones
isn't that beautiful. thoughT
Curious, perhaps said q school
teacher. Hardly beautiful
ITO me it's beautiful said the tour
list. For I'm a plumber. am. and
them spouts remind me irresistibly OF
magnificent line Of busted water
pipeG'"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-10

not that indicate that the system has
demonstrated its worth?
For each of the many classes of gov
eminent work there lie of course diff
of these tests, as l have indicated. is
determined in conference between the
head of the department involved and
the commission. The variety of tests
is constantly becoming greater be-
cause of the growth of the technical
and scientific services of the govern
ment.
IN formulating the tests for highly
of the papers the commission is some
times assisted by experts from the
government departments and by highly
trained specialists in the faculties of
the best educational institutions.
The. creation of the valuation divis-
ion of the interstate commerce COM
mission is an instance in point illus
tratfng the establishments of tests for
securing employees of special qualinca-
tions. By act of March 1. 1913. the
interstate commerce commission was
required to put a value on the property
Of all the common carriers of the
country. Engineers. real estate ap-
praisers, expert accountants and many
other specialists were needed for this
great work. Under the law these ap-
pointments had to be made on the
merit system, through examination by
civil service commission.
1T is interesting to observe that the
interstate commerce commission. In its
annual report. referring to the kind OF
men secured by the competitive exam
inations; said: The engineering and &C.
counting force finally assembled under
the competitive system will be more
efficient than would have otherwise
been obtained
1T would appear from this that the
system Of tests devised for these high
ly specialized positions has proven sat
isfactory.
The civil service act provides for
selections according to grade from
among those graded highest in the ex-
aminationB and requires that appoint
ments In the departments in Washing
ton shall be apportioned among the
states and territories according to
population. These two provisions are
coordinate and the observance of each
Is required as early as the conditions
OF good administration will warrant.
AS a rule persons living in the far
west are not keen to secure clerical en-
ployment in this city at the salaries
paid. For example, let us take the
record of the Pacific coast states. Under
the apportionment, California is en-
titled to 313 places in the departments
at washington, but she has filled only
1856; Oregon 10 entitled to So and holds
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-10

two provisions of the law. a resident
of the middle Atlantic region, taking
an examination for. we will say, q
clerical position, would have small
chance for appointment against a west.
ern candidate. even though the western
candidates examination rating was
slightly lower.
The fact is that the District OF
far above their quotas in the matter
of appointments in the departmental
service at Washington. With the law
as 1t is, and with conditions as they
are. this cannot be otherwise.
Continually arguments are being
brought forward for a change of the
law, on the ground that. since this is all
one nation. considerations of residence
should give way entirely to qualifica-
tons as determined by examination.
not be considered. Only in this way,
1t is argued, can the very best material
be obtained for the federal service.
ION the other hand, the suggestion
is advanced that the spirit of democ-
racy requires that the army of govern
ment employees at Washington should
be truly representative of the whole
country. and that only by the retention
of this residential provision can it be
so representative. Abolish it, so the
section Immediately adjacent to Wash
ington practically the entire personnel
of the classified service.
But all of these arguments for and
against the abolition of the apportion-
ment provision are rather for the con-
sideration of Congress. Our business
is to administer the law as it is, and to
procure for the government service the
best list of eligibles that we can obtain.
Another very considerable activity
of the commission is in the protection
of persons within the classified service
from unjust discrimination because of
politics and other considerations, and
also to exact from those persons a rigid
compliance with the law and reguIa-
tions prohibiting pernicious political
ae arhis is a delicate and arduous task.
requiring careful and painstaking in
vestigation. Under the act of August
"a, 1912, the provisions of the civil
service rules bearing upon removals
were, in part. made statutory. 1t was
provided that no person in the CLASH
fed civil service of the United States
shall be removed therefrom except for
such cause as will promote the eff
cheney of said service, and for reasons
given in writing. and the person whose
removal Is sought shall have notice of
the same and of any charges preferred
against him, and be furnished with q
copy thereof. and also be allowed
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-10
INDIAN BACH
ROBERT F. WILSON

IN OLIVIA is also asking for her
~ place in the sun of American
DN trade. The United States has
q neglected Bolivia. Why, it is
hard to understand, for the United
States is the chief con sunrer of Bolivia's
most important product tin; yet the
United States permits England to act
as middleman in this transaction, TAX
ing the middIeman's profit
Bolivia is a growing consumer of the
sort of goods made in the United
States, yet the United States has made
little effort to keep this trade away
from Europe. The situation can be
seen at a glance in the last Bolivian
foreign trade figures Bolivian ex-
ports amounted to nearly s37.o0OO00
in 1913: of this the United States di-
rectly took just SO. Bolivian imports
were s2o.soo.ooO; the United States sup
piled s1.145.555.
Out of total foreign trade of $751;
100000 the United States has approx
mately 100000 True Bolivia's for
eign trade Is not large yet, but sucn
as it is 1t is worth cultivating. Bolivia
internal expansion ranking with any
of her South American sisters. But she
is almost entirely neglected by the
United States. She is the third largest
OF the South American republics; but
American foreign trade is Of smaller
volume in Just one other South Ameri-
can country-Paraguay. Even in Dutch
and British Guiana. both European de-
tendencies. the American foreign trade
exceeds that in Bolivia.
X
One who has visited Bolivia finds 1t
harder than ever to explain this indif-
ference on the part of our exporters.
Bolivia inspires the visitor with en-
thusiasm. Her resources are practi-
cally untouched. Her agricultural
lands are as fertile as any on earth,
but they are not utilized to any ex-
tent She is very friendly to the
United States Her people are like our
people. Except for the bizarre Indian
population crowding the streets of her
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-10

Only with such an institution can trade
be successfully financed. The lack of
banking facilities only recently proved
an embarrassment to an American tin
project in Bolivia.
"A few weeks ago an agent Of the
Guggenheim interests in the United
States was here to inquire about the
possibility of getting tin ore for
smelling in the United States. He
wished to make a contract with exist
ing mines for the delivery of 700 tons
of tin a month to start the enterprise
in the United States. But he has ex-
perienced great difficulty in making
such a contract. and the negotiations
have not yet been completed. The mines
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-10

most important cities. a visitor in
them can imagine himself within the
United States.
The Spanish population is urbane. So
phisticated and above all possessed of
that hustle which we call pep" b.
livians in their characteristics more
nearly resemble Chileans than the in
habi1ants of any other country in South
America. 1t does not please your b.
livian, however. to be told this. Chile
is very nearly the hereditary enemy Of
Bolivia.
Bolivia as a small square Of mountain
plateau cut off from everything by
wars and external politics of South
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-10
IN THE ENvIRONs OF La PAz.

duties at La Paz to superintend the
work on his estate in the rich province
OF Cochabamba on the eastern slope of
the mountains. He cannot be called an
amateur farmer. for he makes his es-
tate pay dividends. incidentally he is
a close reader of the bulletins of the
American Department of Agriculture
He Is an enthusiast on the subject of
Bolivia's agricultural development
Since my interview with him he has re-
signed his post in La Paz to take the
governorship of Cochabamba province.
There is great future in the sale
of agricultural implements in Bolivia"
he said. I'VE have vast areas of agri-
cultural lands yet to be developed.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-10

atmosphere of the school or university.
The character of the commissions work
is both pedagogical and official.
Perhaps that is why Commissioner
Craven finds his labor on the commits
sion so congenial, for he has had ex-
perience both as an educator and as a
public official before coming to Wash
ington as civil service commissioner
under the appointment which he re-
ceived from President Wilson July 8,
1913. He is the republican member of
this bipartisan commission, his asso-
clates being John A McIlhenny, demo-
crat OF Louisiana, the commissions
president, who has served as commits
sioner since his original appointment
in November, 1906; and Charles NJ. CAL
loway, democrat, of South Carolina, ap-
pointed by President Wilson June Is,
1913.
Commissioner Craven is native NJ
Indiana. that incubator of public off,
Gals no less than of literary lights.
He was born at Lancaster, Jefferson
county. where his father. John G. Crav-
en-, was both a preacher and teacher.
Commissioner Craven was brought up
in Iowa, where he worked his way
through college through employment
Variously as farm hand. carpenter
and school teacher. He was gradu-
eilSu nun Tue arts school OF
the state university in 1855, and
period of school teaching intervening,
from the law school five years later
This teaching embraced one year in
the Iowa City high school and three
years in the Burlington high school,
teaching political economy, ancient
history and Latin.
On receiving his diploma in law he
removed to Seattle, Wash, and began
practice, a practice which has steadily
grown. Being from Indiana. il was
natural that he should get into politics
early and take an active part. In
1896 he wrote a political controversial
pamphlet, Errors of Populism," which
was used as a republican campaign
text book in several states. But while
in politics Mr.. Craven avoided being a
Always his work was for
others.
For several years. however. he served
as deputy prosecuting attorney of his
and then, for a period of years
preceding his appointment in the fed
eral service, he served as a member of
the Seattle board of education, his
interest in education being revived with
the growing up of his four children.
for, in January, 1897, he married Miss
Fanelia Lewis of Roseville. Ill.
ASHMUN BROWN.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-10

Starting in Cochabamba. these fine
lands run to the eastward and north
ward. The chief farming difficulty is
a scarcity of water. Irrigation projects
now in mind contemplate boring for
water: Bolivian lands are now cheap,
but with water on them they will dou-
Bile or triple in value. There is a
plentiful and inexhaustible supply of
artesian water. have bored five wells
on my lands with complete success, and
my experience is being duplicated in
many regions.
I'VE believe there is a fine future
for Bolivia in the production of pc
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-10

American trade a future for herself
made possible by American capital.
American trade would follow such in
vestment. and for that reason Bolivia
the American trade movement, al
though as yet she has had scarcely any
actual experience with that trade.
In Bolivia I heard great deal OF
good. common sense in discussions OF
trade. An interview with Rafael Tor.
foreign relations of Bolivia. was very
informative. Senior Lemoine was edu-
Gated at German universities. and his
diplomatic services to his country have
caused him to live many years in Ger
many, England and elsewhere in Eu-
rope. He has also Travelled in the
United States. and knows this country
more thoroughly than most foreigners
do.
He is an ardent admirer of Germany.
this attitude being common in Bolivia
Nevertheless Senior Lemoine is one who
would see American capital and trade
break the commercial bonds which
now tie his country to Europe. He
speaks English almost without accent.
and in the following quotations
quote him almost exactly:
AT present trade between the United
portant as it might or could be-" said
Senior Lemoine. That is because your
country produces and then consumes
it's own products, SO that you have had
little or no interest in pushing bust
ness here. Because of this condition
best in the competition with Europe.
and especially in the competition with
Germany.
"Germany's richness is almost purely
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-10

~ nee upon a time civil service
III ~ reform was a political issue
u ~ in the United States. That
~ time has passed. The civil
service system. so called,
otherwise the competitive system in
making appointments. is a recognized
Institution. And so it attracts no par
ticular notice.
"As matter of fact" said Hermon
W. Craven, one of the three members
Of the United States civil service COM
mission. recently. the public, aside
from that portion of it which is seek
ing positions and that other portion
which has the appointing power, gives
very little attention to the workings of
the civil service system in the govern,
ment."
And that fact. in a way. is a tribute
to the efficiency o fine system.
But among those two portions of the
public mentioned by Mr.. Craven widely
varying opinions are held as to the
civil service. For example, one day
last December Representative Rucker
OF Missouri, in a speech on the floor
OF the House of Representatives., de-
nounced that Internal humbug. civil
service. and asserted that il was sim
ply a means of keeping republicans in
onices that democrats ought to be FILL
ing. for the ancient belief that ito
the victors belong the spoils" and that
patronage is essential to political
success has not quite disappeared
On the other hand. both in Congress
and In the executive departments are
many who bless the civil service con-
tinually for taking so many positions
out of the realm of patronage" Such
q one Is Senator Gore of Oklahoma In
a public speech some time ago he ex-
pressed the view that while war is
all that Sherman said 1T was, patronage
is even worse.
For" said he, "in war you simply
kill of your enemies. while in the dis
tribution of patronage the distributor
invariably kills off his friends"
But even those who. like Representa-
tive Rucker. have no love for the
merit system. as opposed to the patron
age system, realize that any objection
they may make is merely Kicking
against the pricks." The merit system
10 growing not only in the federal
service, but in state and municipal
services as well. Nine states have
adopted II in their executive depart
ments. and II is incorporated in the
charters of $50 cities.
The growth of the merit system in
the federal service is shown by the
following table, giving the approx
mate number of positions filled by
competitive examinations on the re-
spective dates named:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-10

western terminus Of this relatively
short road is on the Bolivian border of
Brazil.
One could go on indefinitely relating
the wonders of Bolivia. The scenic
magnificence of the country alone is
worth much description, while the pos
sibilities of mineral and agricultural
development fire the Imagination. Bo-
livia has suffered chiefly from the lack
of capital. Even England, which has
her finger in nearly every South Amer
lean pie, has not invested in Bolivia
to any large extent. although she is
the chief investor in Bolivia.
Therefore the mountain republic sees
in the new American interest in South
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-10
.DoNKEYs BoLIvIAs FREIGHTING CIT,

industrial. and so she is forced to look
outside of her own country for bust
ness. That accounts for the fact that
she is willing to give foreign custom
ers better terms than your manufac-
turers have been willing to give. Ger
many gives customers in Bolivia from
nine months to year Of direct credit
your manufacturer ships to Bolivia he
simultaneously draws on the Bolivian
customer with thirtyday drafts. and
that is the most important reason why
you cannot compete with Germans here
But it is the German rule in South
American trade to push her manufac-
lures only and to take only a small
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-10

ERMON W. CRAVEN Civil Service Commissioner Explains
System Federal
picants Classified Service Examined
Growth the Technical and Scientific Of the
More Specialized Population Basis of Appointment.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-10
Asks Share of ". S. South American Trade

BUT Little Effort Has Been Made by the United States Secure Bolivian ad-Nw
- That Country the Third Largest the South American Republics Seeking Place
the Sun American ade1e Resources Are Practically Jnuhed-Couny
Fifth the Size of the United States Needs American Cn With
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-10

'Of course. all positions in the fed
eral service are not classified" said
Commissioner Craven. for the total
number of positions is nearly half a
million. but the tendency is in the
direction Of extending the system Of