Evening star., 1933-11-01

ton of age limits and has had no con-
slderation of that. 1t is true that it
reduced the maximum age limit for
the entrance examination for stenog-
rapher and typist from so years to 40
years, except in the case of veterans.
to whom age limits do not apply. 1t
made the reduction after consultation
with the personnel officers of all the
departments. who were practically
unanimous that 40 years should be the
maximum. and some of them suggested
lower age as maximum
This does not mean that people are
through at 49," as some of the papers
have phrased it. It merely means that
people are beginning at not over 40.
AS matter Of fact, the age limits
for many Of the examinations have been
under this for a long period of years.
For instance, the age limit for railway
postal clerks. which is one Of the largest
examinations held by the commission,
has been IS for many years, and there
are many other instances where the
age limit in the past has been 40 or
below.
Generally the low age limits are set
lor beginners. For example, the limit
Is not over 40 for the junior grade of
chemists, engineers and other technical
and professional positions. 1t goes
until a limit of SO or higher is reached
for the upper levels Of such positions,
Tor which experienced appointees are
sought The commission has announced
numerous examinations this year
which specified maximum age limits
ranging from SO to so years.
The stenographer-typist examination
was considered by the commission in
dependent of other examinations In
deciding to reduce the age limit, the
members Of the commission gave first
consideration to improvement in the
civil service. All the personnel officers
Of the departments and independent
establishments appeared to agree that
younger stenographers and typists
worked into the governmental system
much better than older persons
Secondly. We were led to this de
cision out of consideration for the older
persons who would take this examina-
ton. We knew from our experience
that the taking Of the examination by
persons over 40 raised hopes of an
pointment which seldom were realized
AS evidence of this, it is pointed out
that since August l, 1882, the date on
which the present stenographer-typist
registers were established. only eight
persons over 40 years of age who were
not entitled to veteran preference have
been appointed out of a total of 393
appointments. Sixteen veterans over 40
were appointed.
The third factor that entered into
the matter was the increased cost of
examinations by maintaining the age
limit at so. We were informed by the
cost accountant Of the commission that
this would mean an increase in cost. be-
cause OF the increase in the number
VINO who would take the examination. of
possibly $4,000, with little, IL any.
benefit to the older persons included.
Some examinations have been an
nounced recently for operators of
machines, with the maximum age
limit for entrance set at 35. think
no one will question the wisdom of
the departments in employing young
people as beginners on such work
Reductions in the age limit have been
made In one or two other instances
where the work calls for young persons
as beginners.
I'm conclusion let me make it clear
that the Civil Service Commission has
decided on no general policy as to age
limits but merely has decided that in
the interest of all concerned 1t is best
that for stenographer-typist examina-
tions 40 years be the maximum, and
that for certain arduous occupations
low age limits should be fixed"