Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-06-15
JOBLESS WARNED
AGAINST RACKET
IN CIVIL SERVICE
Commission Starts Campaign
to Break Up Schools
Throughout US.
ADVERTISE PROMISES
IN COACHING COURSES
False Hope of Employment Alleged
in Indictment of Iowa
Man.
A warming to the unemployed against

A warning to the unemployed against
q new depression racket'-the effort
Of schools and individuals to sell
"coaching" courses in preparation for
Federal Civil Service examinations for
positions which do not exist or for
which the chances Of appointment are
virtually hopeless-was issued today by
the Civil Service Commission.
The warming was issued sinful
taneouSly with announcement OF Ma
tion-wide campaign to break up schools
of this character. In this campaign,
waged by so field agents OF the COM
mission, with the assistance OF the
Justice Department. the commission
already has obtained one indictment
fn Iowa and is preparing other cases
for prosecution.
It is the practice of schools and in
idividuals engaging in the Federal
S'coaching racket" to advertise in sec
Iond-class magazines, holding out prom
ises of Federal jobs to those who take
the coaching course offered. OFFICIALS
believe hundreds Of persons who can Ill
afford to throw money away are oeng
yictimized by such schools.
False Pretense Charged.
Tn the case of the Iowa man the COM
mission explained the indictment was
based ON false representation. The
promise was held out that those taxing
the course would qualify themselves for
Appointments as forest rangers In Iowa
under the Forest Service, Department
of Agriculture. The Forest Service has
no rangers in Iowa and there Is no
prospect for creation of such posts, the
Civil Service Commission explained. Inc
same man also offered courses winch
would qualify students for appolntment
as immigration inspectors in Iowa, II
was explained.
other schools are offering training FOR
examinations for appointments as rail-
way mail clerks. Apparently they are
taking money from many students de-
spite the fact that. since January l
only seven railway mail clerk appoint
ments have been made and there Is
waiting list which makes chances Tor
appointment of any newcomer less
officials of the Civil Service Commis-
sion.
Commissions Warning.
The warning of the commission Is
being broadcast throughout the Nation,
copies being sent to hundreds OF pub
locations, to radio broadcasting stations,
to all post Offices and TO other agencies
and public officials. The text of the
warning points out:
Very few appointments are being
made in the Federal civil service. Va
cancies which must be filled are filled
by the transfer of those In the service
or the reinstatement of those who have
been in the service, Wherever practl-
cable.
1T is seldom necessary 10 announce
an examination. In most cases, registers
nations held during the past year. When
an examination is announced, the ap-
plicantS are usually hundreds OF times
in excess of the need.
Money paid for civil service coach
ing courses at this time might almost
as we'll be thrown to the four winds"
Quote From Advertisement.
A typical advertisement of the type
the commission is seeking to ban was
shown in the latest issue of q l0-cent
magazine specializing in detective sto-
ries The advertisement, In the form OF
a series Of cartoons is headed: Rail
way Mall Pete tells a friend how to get
Government job"
Pete" is shown in conversation with
q respondent friend who has just had
his pay cut and is afraid Of losing his
job Pete" offers to show him how to
get real job.
you'll have the worlds best boss
the U. S. Government" says Pete. No
strikes, no layoffs, good steady pay, va
cations with pay, and if you're sick,
they don't dock you. Yearly raises,
too"
boy! That sounds good to me,
Pete" replies the worried one. But
do you need any pull to get Gov
eminent job?"
Not bit. And what's more, there
are all kinds Of jobs. Take your pick"
Pete replies. He describes the many
types of work Uncle Sam has to offer.
The advertisement closes with blank,
to be filled out by the applicant for in
formation as to how to obtain "a posi-
ton with the U. S. Government paying
me $3.50 to $1,000 a year, with excel
lent chance for rapid advancement"