Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-01-19
STEWART WILSON
On Employment. and Civil Service


DHILADELpIIIA'S employment condi-
L tions nre accurately reflected In the
Department of Civil Service, according TO
Stewart Wilson. secretary Of the Third
United States Civil Service District, which
includes Pennsylvania, Delaware and part
Of New Jersey.
"Thc scarcity of applicants for positions
in the civil Scrvice,' said Mr.. Wilson, is
not unusual since the war. l attribute IT
largely to the salaries which are offered and.
in many cases, the disinclination on the part
Of the applicants to leave the vicinity OF
their homes. This is especially the case IN
such positions as teacher in the lndiah
Service and added TO this particular posi-
ton is the environment inseparable from
such work.
Effect Of War Wages
The high compensation paid to all classes
Of employees whether skilled or unsRilled,
undoubtedly has much to do with the re-
luctance of workers now to take positions
which were eagerly sought only few years
ago. These persons became accustomed 10
high salaries during that period and are now
unwilling to work for what, under present
economic conditions is a fair salary.
Then again the Government has to com
pete with private enterprises in certain lines,
such as those of dietitian and photographic
and topographic draughtsmen. The former
require a high technical training and the
selves. Applicants for these positions are
naturally scarce at all times The dietitinns
can get more money locally for their serv-
ices and the drnughtsmen are used by snip.
yard and engineering concerns to make rellef
maps and do other technical work, and can
command larger salaries than the Govern
ment pays.
Nevertheless the market for skilled labor
has eased up very much. There isastill a
very large number Of applicants Tor the
positions to be filled by what we call the
popular examinations These include rail
way mail clerk, department clerks, female
stenosraphers and typists and first grade
clerks. IL we were to announce today that
an examination for these positions was to
be held ten days later we would have sew
eral hundred applicants for each class.
Male Stenographers Scarce
''One of the most difficult positions 10 fill
is that of male stenographer and typist, and
it Is a scarcity that l am somewhat at a
loss to understand. II young men only real
better q place of this kind Is, there would
be more of them. IL a young man has any
brains he will not be content to remain long
in such position, and under the same
conditions, no employer would let him he
would be promoted at the first opportunity.
1.-The demand for male stenographers and
typists Is double that for female. We have
to hold an examination for male stenog-
raphers once a month, whereas those for fe-
male stenographers have been discontinued
for Philadelphia until further notice.
"To illustrate how the market for semi =
skilled labor has been breaking, with ap-
proximately twenty one days advance no
tice, it was necessary TO examine applicants
for positions of clerk and carrier in the
PHILADELPHIA Postoffce in twenty five ses =
sIons, there being just a few short Of 100
for each session.
Appointments Tightening
Appointments, as a rule, are tightening
up and they are being made now only for
requirements that IL, to fill vacancies caused
by death, resignation or dismissal Very
few new projects are being started, and
where they are the preference in employment
is given 10 former employees who were laid
of owing to reduction of the force
''The state of labor conditions is repre .
Eented accurately In our Office in the uunI-
ity as well ~ the number Of the applicants.
During periods Of great unemployment this
Office would be oyercrowded II an cxamlna
ton were 10 be announced But our ex-
amnations are held only when the demands
Of the service make them necessary. While
they are held whenever required to take on re
| of the needs Of the service, at the same time
| consideration Ia given to the matter of so
! conserving the appropriation to make il last
| out the fiscal year. and also with the view
| Of procuring persons who can qualify for
| thu respective positions, Much as we would
| hkl 10 do so, we cannot hold examinations
simply because labor Is plentiful 10 do SO