Evening star., 1927-04-26

NeftlS6d special training 10 applicants
in advance Of the examinations for
$500 jobs under the Bureau of Pro
hibition for which the Civil Service
Commission has announced open COM
petitive examinations.
Announcement of it's organization,
the commission stated today, ere
ated a situation fraught with more
danger to the maintenance of public
confidence in the merit system than
has any similar situation in the e&-
perience of the commission
The commission announced today it
has positive knowledge that app11-
cants for instruction in the school,
which is located at 56 West Forty
fifth street, New York, were given the
information that Judge John A. Bolles,
who is named as chairman of the
committee on curriculum, would use
his influence in securing their appoint
ment under the Bureau of Prohibition
if they enrolled for the course of in
struction offered by the school. Pros
pective students of the school. the
commission said, We're informed that
after a competitor had passed the civil
service examination it was still neces-
sary for him to have political backing
before he could hope to be appointed
and that Judge Bolles was prepared to
supply that backing for students of
the school.
Deception Is Alleged.
Repeating its warning against mis-
leading advertising and other ''un-
warranted" statements of large num-
bers of civil service coaching schools,
the commission said that naanys such
schools, through newspapers, maga-
zines, circulars and correspondence,
advertise "the most alluring and de-
ceptive prospects of employment In
the civil service OF the United States;
that some of them seek to give and
do give the impression that they have
governmental connection or have in
side information on examination ques-
tions, and that the commission re-
ceives numerous letters from disap-
pointed Students of civil service
schools, who ask the aid of the COM
mission in their effort to secure the
return OF money paid for tuition.
The commission reiterated today
that it has no connection whatever
with any such school, nor has any
branch of the Government.
That no school can give advance
information regarding examination
questions.
Information Called NaIueless.
That no school can furnish infor-
nation of value regarding examina-
ttons held by the commission which
cannot be obtained without cost from
the commissions office in Washington
or from its representatives at post
offices or customhouses in about 1900
cities.
That no school can guarantee
appointment in the classified service
of the United States.
The commission statement added
that appointment can be secured only
through open competitive exanina ton
under the civil service rules. and that
no school can cause a competitor to be
certified for appointment out of the
regular order as determined by his
examination rating. Amy statement
that political influence is necessary as
a means OF appointment to positions
in the classified service or that the
influence of any person or organiza-
ton can aid in such appointment is
misrepresentation Of the most corrupt
character"
The statement added further the
large numbers Of applications for
examinations received at its Office in
dicate that many civil service schools
accept as clients and take money from
practically illiterate persons who could
not pass any kind of examination.
Frequent Complaints Made.
From time to time the Civil Sefv-
ice Commission has complained TO
the Federal Trade Commission against
civil service schools, which engage in
interstate business. The action of the
latter commission has resulted in
stopping the unfair methods of the
schools against which complaint had
been made. Through agents scatter
ed through the United States, the
civil service body is watching the ad-
yertising of civil service schools gem
orally and will make, officials said,
| every effort within its power TO stop
all practices of civil service schools
which are found 10 be unlawful or
misleading to the public. Every Gov
ernment agency was said by the
commission TO be back of 1t in its
| fight to protect the merit system, TO-
| gether with better business bureaus
scattered throughout the Nation.
| Examinations for the posts under
| the prohibition bureau. for which
| tests have been announced, Will be
/ of such character that special 1nstruc-
| ton in preparation for the examina-
| tions viii be of little, If any, value to
applicants, Commissioner Wales said
Examinations to Be Rigid.
The examinations, he declared, will
be rigidly conducted and win include
rating on character and experience, a
| searching oral test and a careful
| character investigation made by the
! Civil Service Commission with the aid
| of other ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS To in
| sure that no convicts enter the sery.
| ice, f1ngerprints of applicants will be
| compared with the flngerprint records
of penal institutions throughout the