Evening star., 1936-07-06
$1,000 lin CAPITAL
WILL SEEK POSTS
IN STENOGRAPHY
Talk of Extending Program
to Emergency Units
SWeIIS List.
DISTRICT TESTS HELD
AT M'KINLEY HIGH
Small Army of Assistants Aid Ex.
aminerS in Passing Out
Papers.

The largest class ever to apply for
civil service ratings as stenographers
and typists in the SO years the COM
mission has been in existence bcg2n
taking examinations throughout the
country this morning.
All told, the applicants numbe. ed
1000. and approximately $1,000, or
20 per cent, will take the examinations
in Washington.
Increasing talk during the last ses-
sion of Congress of extending civil
service to the emergency agencies was
given by Civil Service Commission Of
ficials as one of the reasons for the
unusually large number of applicants
this year, fully $4,000 more than took
the last examination two years ago.
That was an all-time record up to that
time, although during the 18 months
of the World War examinations had
to be held weekly and for part of that
time daily, to accommodate the de-
mand for skilled typists and stenog-
raphers.
Examinations Were DELAYED.
So large was the number Of appli-
cantS this year that the examinations
had to be postponed for about
month, until schools were dismissed
throughout the country and the school
buildings made available for the tests.
Usually, the examinations are set for
three or four weeks after the closing
date for applications. which this year
was May 4, and held in post Offices or
rented quarters.
At Mckinley High School, where
the Washington applicants are being
examined. the tests are being held in
the gymnasium, the armory and the
cafeteria, the only rooms large enough
to accommodate the large classes, each
numbering about 400. At the rate of
300 a day, l3 days will be required
10 examine all the applicants here.
Civil service officials are not wor-
ried, however. about a possible over
supply of either typists or Stenog-
raphers. OF the many who are called
when the examiners whistle blows
but relatively few answer when the
list Of successful candidates is read.
Out of the 66 900 who took the ex-
animation in 1884 only 5000 passed
the examination for junior typist
and 3,400 for junior stenographer;
only 3.400 passed the test for senior
typist and 765 for senior stenographer.
Small Percentage Pass.
So small is the proportion Of those
passing the examination, even for
Junior typist and stenographer that
all those who do will probzb bly, be
able to find places on being placed
on the civil service list. During the
last several months the commission
has been unable to supply the de-
mand for Stenographers and typists
with civil service ratings because all
those rated after the 1884 examin2-
tion have either been placed or left
the service, officials explained
The examiner in charge Of each
room was aided by battalion Of as
sistants in passing out and collecting
papers and questions, while crew of
typewriter repairmen hovered near to
fix any machine not in hair-trigger
working order
Although the whole day is required
for a full examination for typist and
stenographer, only about 40 minutes
are actually spent in tipping or taking
shorthand. The remainder of the time
is spent in passing out questions and
collecting the handiwork of the hope
full applicants.
Tests Are Varied.
The examination for typist. given
during the morning, consists of a
three minute test period, principally to
permit the applicant to become famil-
lar with the individual machine, the
particular make of which each person
is permitted to choose. 1t also serves
to discover machines not in perfect
working order. Then follows a 10
minute test on general reading mat
ter, this mornings on an aviation topic
containing no technical terms. Eras-
ing is permitted, but cuts down speed.
The final tipping test it to type out
rough draft" copy which has been
corrected by hand, and lasts for 20
minutes. A grade of 70 qualities the
applicant for junior typist. Those
making sufficiently high grade, based
on speed and accuracy, are qualified
as senior typist.
The stenography test consists of one
brief test dictation, and two regular
dictation periods of q. minutes each
for the junior stenographers and 2
minutes each for the senior typists.
The dictation for the junior stenog-
raphers is given at the rate of "a
words a minute. that for senior STEM
ographers at 100 words a minute. The
candidate must type one Of these reg
ular dictation tests, but may choose
which one he can transcribe better.
Heading the staff Of examiners is Mrs.
Jessie w. Cowles, examiner in charge
Of the Examination Board.