The Glenwood post., 1924-05-08
uacle Tets Bed Time Stories
Current Events for the ohildr0
and 0rown-ups, Too
UNCLE SANS VOORHEES,
SELECTION AND RETIREMENT

SELECTION AND RETIREMENT
"But 1 don't want to play that
game" said Jack. "We've been play
ing Indian, house, fireman, and good
ness knows what all. Now you want
to play house again. I'm sick of it.
1 want to play something new"
"wen, said Freddie, "if you want
to play something new why don't you
think of something yourself. You
never suggest anything new. We al
ways have to plan the things we play
and then after we get all started you
dom want to play whatever it is"
e'That isn't so and you know IT,"
answered Jack.
ooh, why do you boys always wsH
to fight about everything you doi'
asked Ruth. "I'm sure that all Of ~
girls will be willing to play somethi==-.
new. Suppose you tell us something
new, Jack"
can right, 1 WILL" said Jack.
"Let's play office. don't mean just
a little office. Let's fix up so we can
have lots of desks and everybody will
work in that office. 1 mean like the
people who work for the government
in Washington. You know, Ruth, we
saw them at work when we were there
with Uncle Ted"
"Sure,'' commented Ruth, "let's
play that. 1 think it would really be
lots of fun.''
So it wasn't long before a great
government office was under way
through the suggestion and manage
ment of Jack.
"This is the latest, ehi" said Uncle
Ted, cheeri1y, as he appeared on the
scene. "What is it, the treasury or
the postoffice department"
'We haven't decided yet," said
Ruth.
"Well," continued Uncle Ted, "It
is almost bed time and so I'll tell you
all story about our government work
ers at Washington, and not only at
Washington but all over the country,
for Uncle Sam has people on his pay
roll everywhere. There are about $780,
900 people working for him and they
come under what is called the civil
service. That is, they are men and
women in most cases who have passed
the civil service examination and who
have been assigned to some particular
work for the government. The sala-
ries paid these people amount to be-
tweet six and seven hundred million
dollars each year! A great many Of
them are appointed by the president
and they do not have to take any ex-
animation. There are about 10000 in
this class. The number of those who
get their positions through examina-
tion is about 100000. There are also
some who get their positions without
an examination or appointment.
"The civil service law has made pos
sible the placing of worthy people in
the various positions, people who are
trained and who have proved their
training through civil service exam
nation. Before the civil service COM
mission was established there was
what is known as the spoils system.
That is, the political party in power
could fill all positions to favor those
who had helped during the campaign.
These people might be fit for the work
and they might not. The civil service
law was passed to do away with favor
itism and to put in its place a merit
system.
The civil service commission is made
up of three mmissoners-two men
and one woman at the present time.
They are assisted, in addition to the
office force at Washington, by $500
local examination boards with nearly
II 900 members. Examinations are
held at frequent intervals so that
list of suitable people will be ready to
fill all vacancies. We get some idea
of the great amount of work required
of the commission when we learn that
about 900 different kinds of examina.
tons are given every year.
"We also have what is known as the
United States Personnel classification
board, established only a short time
ago during the present administration.
AvYy vvyvy