Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-05-25
4 Needlessly Uneasy.

CINCE the passage of the civil serv.
~ ice law in 1883 the Civil Service
Commission has been the butt for
much good-natured chatting about
its examination questions. The Sat-
urday Evening Post was the vehicle
for the Preparation of this one:
On train approaching Philadelphia
one of the passengers attracted the
attention of another by his evident
depression. On being asked the cause
OF his woe he replied: whats the
matter! Matter enough. I'm going
TO Philadelphia to take a civil service
examination for a job ais boiler in
spector In. the steamboat inspection
service. Do you think they'll ask mo
any questions about boilers? Not on
your life. They'll stand me I'D, look
me In the eye and say. Who was
Uncas"" ,..... o.. ~ ........ -
Unfortunately and due no, doubt in
measure to these, harmlessly in
tended jibes, a considerable humber
OF persons, actually believe that
questions in civil service examina.
lions have to do with the distance to
the moon, the fourth dimension, the
location OF Goofusburg and Squee.
dunk and the. age Of Anne. Also MANY
nave the idea that all civil service
examinations are substantially alike
and are heard to refer to the" civil
service examination. @ ..-
The, facts are that the Civil Service
commission gives examinations of sew
eral hundred different kinds, and
that each examination, as the result
OF careful study, Is practical and is
designed to test the qualifications Of
the applicant for the particular kind
OF work for which the examination
is held.
The United States government ia
the largest employer in the world.
The limits of its activities are those
OF the field of human endeavor. The
vast range Of the operations of the
government require employees in
many parts Of the country and the
insular possessions and with widely
differing qualifications. Examinations.
are held by the Civil Service Commits
sion for all kinds and classes Of posi-
tions, from mere unskilled Iaborer to
the highest grades Of technical, pro-
fessional and scientific positions.
Where, in the opinion of the Civil
Service Commission, such an exam
nation is practicable and desirable.
applicants are assembled in 'examina--
ton rooms In certain specified places,
conveniently located throughout the
country, for written scholastic tests.
In many cases, however the COM
petitors are not required to assemble
for written examination, but are
graded upon their training and ex-
perience and. where necessary, upOn
their physical condition. These So
called non-assembled examinations
are given for two general classes of
positions, viz: "a Mechanical trades
and similar positions, and (2) High
grade technical, professional and
scientific positions, and administra-
tive positions which cannot adequate
ly be filled by promotion and for
which the government requires men
whose fitness Is demonstrated in a
record OF successful experience In
such examinations competitors are
rated upon the sworn statements in
their applications and upon corrobO-
rative evidence gathered by the Civil
Service Commission. In some exam
nations of. this character, theses,
published writings Of the applican,
ard the like are considered. Appli.
cants for positions of mere .unskiIled
are given q physical exRmiua.