Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-10-16
LOCAL ELIGIBLES IGNORED.
Colored People Who Can Serve the
Government Not Appointed.

To the Editor of The Star.
Apropos of The Stars recent edi-
torial suggestion that in the present
| congested conditions in Washington
local persons. already domiciIed and
accommodated. should be named to
government positions, I desire to call
attention to the persistent discrimina-
ton practiced against colored resi-
dents of this city in the matter of
public service appointments. 1 submit
the following specific cases:
Mrs. Sltka d. Thomas, 1884 18th
street northwest. graduate NJ Street
High School, this city, was certified
to the War Department in October
last year for clerical appointment
and rejected. She was finally sent to
a subclerical position in the bureau of
engraving and printing, where she is
still employed.
Miss Taylor (whose initials I can
not recalD, graduate of the Howard
University, further identified as the
daughter of the science teacher at the
Manassas Industrial School, was GER
titled one hundred and sixty-three
G63) times to various bureaus in this
clty-rejected 162 times and finally
on personal appeal from her father
she was given a clerkship at S72O per
annum, when s1.10O appointments are
literally searching TOT el1SlDleS.
Mrs Roberts, 800 T street northwest
graduate of the Boston Latin School
now employed in a subclerical capac-
lily at the bureau of engraving and
printing, has been certified five times
to different bureaus and five times re-
| jected. Mrs. Roberts taught School at
the south for many years and was
former postmistress at Jackson, N. c.
Mr.. Thompson. now employed in the
Department of Justice in a subcler-
ical position, was certified to the ord
nance bureau, war department, and
was told that colored clerks were not
wanted.
| Mrs. Aurelia Ferguson passed the
examination with an approximate
| average of so per cent, certified to the
War Department. refused appointment
| on the ground that She was already
| employed in the civil service and could
| not be appointed to a position at a
higher salary, which was paid from a
lump sum appropriation.
She was again certified to the War
| Trade Board, and. when she presented
her telegram. was told that some mis-
| take had been made, as her card could
| not be found. Last April she was again
! notified by telegram that she had been
| appointed clerk in the bureau of war
risk at a salary of $1,000. and that her
| services were urgently needed" She
! reported as directed and was told that
iASi SaiN Nouio Iiol NC 1ouiiu. one lhSii
| took up the matter through one of
the senators from New Hampshire and
the reply received from him indicated
that nothing could be done, as it
seemed to be the policy of the bureau
| not to appoint colored clerks.
Mrs. Ferguson taught school for five
years in the public schools of Ports
| mouth, n. H.
can give many other cases. but
| the above are typical of the treat
ment highly qualified and efficient COL
ored men and women are receiving
from the federal government at the
| very time when that government has
drafted over a quarter million col
| ored soldiers for military service, and
when colored men and women are sub
scribing to liberty loans.
THOMAS H. r. Clarke.