The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-10-06
$4,000 GIVE n
U.s.. JOBS
IN YEAR
Washington Posts Prove
Favorites With 125, 900
Civil Service Applicants.

approximately $4,000 persons
were given positions in the Coy
eminent during the past year.
Washington posts proved the IA
vorite. positions with a vast ma
jority of the applicants seeking
Federal employment. More than
125,OQ0 persons taking the civil
service examinations passed the
tests and were listed by the COM
mission as eligible for appoint
nnent. These facts will be brought
out in the Forthcoming report of
the United States Civil Service
Commission.
Capital Appeals to An.
Life in the National Capital pos
sesses lure that appeals irresisti.
bly, to thousands of workers in all
sections of the country. The APP
peal is not confined to the clerical
class but extends to the professions
and scientific circles. As a result
rarely are vacancies left untitled in
the Government departments with
the exception Of stenogtaphers.
In connection with the difficulty
Of the Government in securing an
ample staff.of the latter is it pointed
out that the barrier is salary.
stenographers in the Government
employ are divided into two classes.
One class carries an annual salary
OF $1.240, the other rates at lao,
including the bonus. Civil Service
OFFICIALS declare competent stenog-
rapherf are drawing larger salaries
IN commercial and industrial cir
cies, and while the prospect Of liv-
ing In the National Capital appeals
strongly to them yet pecuniary
reasons prevent their seeking such
appointments.
Efficiency System.
In this connection it is understood
that when the proposed efficiency
system is put into operation DOS
ntbility may develop of increasing
the remuneration of stenograph
The efficiency system, it is also
pointed OUT, viii aid in wedding out
deadwood. Contrary to the opinion
generally held appointment under
e1vI service does not insure the
individual immunity against dis
charge. and, furthermore, action
can be taken by the executive of
the department resulting in the dis
charge of an employee without re-
sort to g formal hearing of charges. |
When for the good OF the service |
II Is deemed advisable to dispense |
with an employees service the latter
- notified IN writing OF the pro-
posed discharge. The reasons are |
ct forth and a limited time given |
IN which a reply in writing may be /
He'd. Whether q hearing of the /
case will occur rests entirely with |
the executive.
In one direction, civil service I
operates to protect the employed
against summary discharge. This |
cannot be effected at political sug-
gestien. Politicians have learned |
that to secure the discharge of a |
Government employe does not |
mean favorfte applicant can bel
landed in the position thus va
Gated. The successor to the dis
charged employe is picked from a |
list of persons eligible on the Civil /
Service register. and no amount Of |
sspull. 1t is declared, will result /
in q tfavorite" being jumped over
those leading on the list OF appli-
cants.
$500 Examining Boards.
In obtaining government employees
3.5O0 examining boards were employ
ed the past year. Notices of civil |
service examinations were posted in
1880 public libraries Appeals were
made to 27S State, county and city
civil service, commissions. One thou
sand sixNhundred educational institu-
tons were appealed to when profes.
elonaI men and women were re-
Quired. Examination notices were
nled with 225 employment agcenies
and 100 scientific societies. Special
edVlce sheets were mailed 500 col
leges and universities in the United
States The result of this wide
spread and intensified drive to Sc.
cure competent workers in carry on
the business of the country has re-
suited in the compilation of a list Of
@pglbies numbering more than so. 600
men and women.
Commenting on the results of com.
petftive examinations in selecting
government employees, John Hays /
Hammond, chairman of the recentIv
disbanded United States Coal Com. |
mission, in retiring, said:
The Coal Commission believed |
the best results could be obtained |
0y securing qualified personnel from
the eligible registers of your com.
mission