The Washington times., 1936-02-25
J0BPROCEDURE
EXPLAINED BY
MITCHELL
BY J. EARLE MOsER

recent magazine article by Presi-
dent Harry B. Mitchell, Of the Civil
Service Commission, comprises the
principal interest Of the public in
Civil Service.
Mr.. Mitchell states he has ar.
rived at that opinion through ask
ing questions, particularly of news
papermen, and through experience
in watching actions of the public
at the commission, where daily
throng scans bulletin boards in
hope Of finding a forthcoming test
they can pass.
Pointing out that the recent
trend Of Congress and the ex-
pressed attitude of the President
indicates that the Government
service is to be extended and that
more positions under Civil Service
are likely for the future, he gives
a word Of advice to the person
hopeful Of Government employ
ment that contains meat. He says:
''TOO often, persons who want
Government positions stop with
the wanting process. Instead,
they should study the situation
intelligentIy, determine the sort
Of position for which they are
fitted, and which they would
Ike TO have. Then they should
prepare to take that particular
examination when it Is next held.
It Is essential that the cOmpeti-
tors preparation be thorough.
He must compete not with .
handful OF applicants, but with
men and women from every
State in the Union. The higher
his grade in the examination,
the better the chance Of appoint.
ment. It must be kept in mind
that, generally speaking, the
proportion Of those who make .
passing grade in an exsmina-
tiOn, and who secure D position
as . result, is relatively small"
The civil service mogul dwellS
particularly on the value Of stenog-
raphy to a prospective Federal
worker, pointing out the need Of
every agency for such personnel,
and declares many persons now
high in the service entered the
charmed portals via a steno
graphic or tipping test. He also
cites the value Of experience in
operating the various calculating
machines as a potent Qualifica-
tion for jobs Of the lower-salaried
type.
With the doors of expanding
agencies closed in the faces Of ap-
plicantS without civil service
status, such as at Social Security
and on bonus payment work, Mr..
Mitchell's advice-though Of value
only to the person willing or able
to wait patiently for an opportu-
nity-would seem timely. But to
those without q status and fl
nancially unable to wait, the Situ-
alton grows more crucial each
day.
Real Need
Government personnel expo
nents are anxiouSly hoping the
conference on the leave bills will
see Q liberalization Of the cumu-
lative section Of the sick leave
document. A clause allowing at
least 90 days accumulation is be-
lieved imperative, though the 60
day limit of vacation time is
beginning to be seen as fairly
satisfactory" AS for sick leave,
statistics have shown that EN-.
ployes as a whole average about
seven days yearly, but sick leave
Is usually taken heavily by but
one-fourth of the service. And
this onefourth averages more
than 20 days yearly.
In regard to overtime, one COM
mentator yesterday pointed out it
could be well taken care Of by
executive order, without the
bother of passing complicated
laws that must of necessity be
complicated because they would
have to apply to the entire
service.
The Lafayette Hotel tonight will
be the scene Of a dance staged by
the Louisiana State Society, num-
bering many Government workers.
Also, at 8 O'Clock, the Federal
Bridge League will resume tourna-
ment play at 2400 Sixteenth st.
N. W., the District government
team continuing to lead the race
for the Luther C. Steward trophy
with "a victories, Al defeats and a
percentage Of .671. The D. c. shut
flers won the first half of the
league race also.
Joint Effort
Mary Van Kleek, director of the
department Of industrial studies
of the Russell Sage Foundation, is
scheduled to address Labor De-
partment members Of both the
N. F. F.. e. and A. F. G.. E. today
at 4::30 p. m, on the subject of
white collar organiZationin hearing
room B, Interstate Commerce Com
mission. One of the organizers and
the first director Of the Labor De-
partment's Wonen's Bureau, Miss
Van Kleeck is to give the second Of
q series Of lectures jointly ar.
ranged by the rival Government
unions. The public is invited to
attend.
- VvA