Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1924-05-01
UNCLE SANS WORKERsSE-
LECTION AND RETIRE31ENT

LENAk0N AMI hEA A$Azf44zksA
"But don't want to play that
game" said Jack We've been play
ing Indian house, fireman IN I'D
ness knows what all. Now YOU want
to play house again. I'm aisk Of it.
I want to play something ne#"
WELL" said Freddie, @if you want
to play something new why don't
you think Of something yourself z gu
never suggest anything new We al
ways have to plan the things we play
and then after we get started you
don't want to play whatever it .is.,"
That isn't SO and you know It,
answered Jack.
"Oh,why3 do you boys always want
to fight about Everything yon do M
asked Ruth. "Pm sure that iii ii
the giris will be willing to play sonea
thing new Suppose you D tell us
something new,sJack."
"A1I u right. l will said Jack.
Less play Office. don't mean just
a little Office Let's fix things up so
we can have lots of desks and every
body will work in that Office. j 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. Z
!, Sure commended Ruth, lets
play that. ! think it would really
be lots of fun
So it wasn't long before a great
government Office Yves under way.
through the suggestion. and tanagee
ment of Jack. Il gs*
This is the latest, eaf?,' said
Uncle Ted cheerly as he s appeared on.
the scene. What Il 1T TIE Trsas
sufsr the Post Office Depaf tnsn,t n.
We haven't decided JET, said.
Ruth.
"Wen,y continued Uncle-Fed, ct
is almost bedtime and SO; III tell
you q story abouo our Government
workers at Washington, and not only
at Washington but al over the counl
try, for Uncle Sam has people on
his payroll everywhere. There are
about $50, 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 examin-
alton and who have been assigned to
some particular work for the Govern
ment. The salaries paid these people
amount to between 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 examination. There are
about 10000 in this class. The num-
Der of those. who get their positions
through examination is about 49,
600. There are also some who get
their positions without an examin-
alton or appointment.
"The Civil Service Law has made
possible the placing of worthy peo-
pie in the various positions, people
who are trained and who have prov
ed their training through a evil SER
vice examination. Before the Civil
Service Commission was established
there was what was known as the
spoils system. That is, the political
party in power could fill all positions
to favor those who had helped dur
ing the campaign. These people
might be fit for the work and they
might not. The Civil Service Law
was passed to do away with favorit
ism and to put in its place a merit
system
The Civil Service Commission. is
made up of three commissioners -
two men and one woman at the Of
flee at the present time. They are
assisted in addition to the Office
force at Washington, by $500. local
examination boards with nearly H.
GOO members. Examinations are
held at frequent intervals 80 that
list of suitable people will be ready
to fill all vacancies. We get, some
idea of the great amount of work re-
qulred of the Commission when we
learn that about 900 different kinds
OF examinations are given every
year.
We also have what is known as
the United States Personnel CLASH