Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-06-29
U. S. UNABLE TO FIND
JOBS FOR CLERKS
discharged soldiers on its waiting
lists.
CONTINUED from First Page.)

discharged soldiers on its waiting
lists.
Exodus to Continue.
A greater exodus from Washington
OF discharged government clerks will
take place from now until the work
Of cutting down all forces has been
completed than has taken place at
any one time, excepting the period
imm ediately following the afmistice,
when thousands of volunteer workers
and others outside the government
left the capital at the completion Of
their wartime services.
The need for skilled help. type
writer's and stenographers, still con-
tinues, and those who filled these
positions in one department probably
will have little difficulty in obtaining
work in others. But the majority OF
those discharged are unable. to pass
the examinations required for such
positions.
1t develops from inquiry at the Civil
Service Commission that a large
number Of employees have taken no
steps through the commission to find
other employment in the government.
and. having lost theft places, are
ready to leave Washington and return
to their homes throughout the coun-
try. When the War Department let it
be known that a number Of clerks
would be discharged the Civil Serv
ice Commission notified them through
circulars that 5000 positions were
open in the census bureau.
Few Take Census Jobs.
Few took advantage of the offers, 1T
is stated, and the commission was
compelled to offer the positions to
candidates outside of Washington. The
reluctance on the part of the War De-
partment clerks to take other posi-
tiohs Is explained by. the salary in
hA nf
help. The pay is $1,000 per year. In
GLIDING the bonus, while the clerks In
the war Department have been draw
ing a salary of $1,440 a year. or $40
more q month.
There are many employees more than
fifty years of age, who are being
dropped from the rolls, and in many
cases there are resulting instances OF
hardship and real suffering. There
follows an authentic instance OF TINS
of what some of the released em-
nloves are 'up against" The names
Of course, are withheld.
some Likely to suffer.
Washington woman, a widow, with
three little children to support, found
employment during the war in the war
Department. Within the last few
nonths unable to stand an increase in
rent for the small apartment she main
tanned. she was compelled to leave her
lodging. A long search for another
APARTMENT where she could live with
her children resulted in the necessity
forced upon her, to buy home.
With her savings to
ahoi,t s5OO-she made the first pay
ment on small home in washington.
believing she could make the monthly
nayThents from her salary. House
lust bought, she was notified last week
| thaf Juiv / her services would no
| longer be required at the War Depart
ment. Thursday she Will be without
| a Job, with three children on her hands
| and with no money with which to meet
| the next installment on her cottage.
A number of such cases have come
before the Civil Service Commission,
and though the applicants are given
! "a reful consideration. the new stand
| ard of Increased efficiency among gov
| eminent workers often bars the can
! didate.
| Transfers Cause Handicap.
| A handicap to workers who came to
| Washington during the war is the
| restriction Congress has placed upon
| the transfers of employees. from one
| department to another. The law re-
ouires an employee TO have served
three years In an executive depart
ment. classified service. before he is
| eligible for transfer to another de-
partment This, of codfse, bars the
| employes who came to Washington
during the war. The evil, for such il
has been termed, would be abolished
If Congress should adopt the recon-
mendations made by the reclassifica-
ton commission.
Lifting this ban on Unemployment
is a step contemplated in reclassifica-
ton legislation.