The Washington times., 1935-11-04
D.EGR EE NEED
/: MARKED IN
EXAMS
Nv ]. EARLE MOsER

Despite dentalS from certain
quarters that college degrees have
not been made a prerequisite to
entrance in the Government serV-
ice, today marks the close Of ap-
plications for a civil service test
bearing out charges OF those VINO
say the "brain trust" influence
has become predominant
The test for varied grades Of
special writer and exhibits design
er at the Children'S Bureau, De
partment Of Labor, paying from
$1,000 UP to $4,000, close today
and requires that every applicant
have had at least three years OF
collegiate study, they being al
lowed to substitute one year OF ex'
perience If they didn't finish col
lege.
This, it is obvious, completely
bars from a chance at a very de-
sirable post any person, regardless
of proven ability and long expert
ence, who for one reason or an
other failed to achieve a "rah
Tah" status. ,.... 49,
On the other hand, however,
another examination closing to-
day is for various types Of ento-
mologist and physiologist at the
Department Of Agriculture, and
as almost nobody enters such sci
entific endeavor without first pre-
narino via college, It is doubtful
If unfairnesS can result from the
requirement.
In the meantime the AFGE has
continued its drive asking revision
of the present scholarly trend by
issuing a chart showing educa-
tional qualifications and salaries
Of 102,326 workers, data which
was gathered when Representative
Sirovich, of New York, undertook
to place a questionnaire on every
desk.
The chart serves to bring out
definitely the advantages Of col
legiate education to workers, re-
vealing that those with only a
grade school education do not rise
as high in the service as those
with better educational back
ground. It also shows that col
lege folk have an advantage over
mere high school graduates and
those who undertook short
course" business training.
Above all, however, the chart
reveals that there are great differ
ences in the capabilities Of EN-.
ployes, regardless Of educational
training, and points out that it is
possible for many men and women
who haven't gone to college to
equip themselves for the highest
position in the Federal service.
In q total Of 1886 college
graduate employees, 2,767 were re.
vealed in the $150-$174 monthly
salary group, 2,483 in the SITS.
$199 class, and 2,407 in the $125-
$149 division. It is shown that
the higher one probes in the
salary scale the greater the pro-
portion Of college people COM
pared with noncollege, although
many high school and business
school students are found in the
highest grades.
AFGE officials said their aim
Is to keep open the door Of free
competition 80 that exceptionally
gifted men and women may not
be barred from attaining the
heights to which their energy,
ability and determination entitle
them"
Many and varied are the rul-
1ngs handed down from Comp
troller General McCarl'S private
study at the Old Pension Office
Building, where no press confer
ence has ever been held. Most of
them come to light in the big,
black binders in Chief Clerk Mar
tins office, where reporters, fea.
ture writers and Government Off
cialE from all over the country
search daily for stories or facts.
One of the latest allows EN-.
ployes Of WPA and FERA working
between St. Paul, MINI, Pierre S.
OAK, Bismarck, N. OAK, and Des
Moines, Iowa, to use airplanes for
night travel because Pullman Serv.
ice was discontinued between
those points. But, says the comp
troller general, travel by air.
planes at cost in excess of the
cost by rail-pluS Pullman-is not
authorized" Then he tells the
FERA and WPA folk to glance
over the Standardized Govern
ment Travel Regulations.
In another ruling a U. S. Com
missioner loses $131.90 in fees for
services rendered because he didn't
bill the Government within a year
after the services were rendered.