The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1936-05-04
LOWEST SALARY
" TEST QUERY
UNFAIR ]
By J. EARLE MOsER

r20k-aOQ-Ille GOVSEI1u1c1L CHI
ployeS, one particular habit Of
the Civil Service Commission in
connection with its periodical ex-
aminations needs complete over
hauling.
This habit is the custom, well
protected by years of use, by
which folk striving to pass Civil
Service tests are required to state
the Lowest entrance salary you
will accept" in case a job is Of
fered.
Inasmuch as there have been
few, If any, kicks to the COM
mission over this clause, surprise
is expressed there at criticisms
against the question. However,
Federal folk in various spots have
definitely grumbled, failing to
make any official complaint be-
cause they know there would be
no use in such move.
Examination takers protest that
asking them to state the most
puny salary they can live on Is
definitely unfair. They say the
question produces the feeling that
If you rate yourself too lowly the
appointing officer will also. so
that you're off to a bad mental
start before you even begin work.
At the Civil Service CommiS-
sion the query is defended on the
grounds that a person who Is
qualified as q senior Stenographer,
for instance, holds q far better
chance to get work if he at the
same time expresses a willingness
to accept the lower pay Of q
junior Stenographer.
This, it is explained, allows the
highly qualified person who Is out
Of work and needs job Of any
sort a better chance to get one.
The person who asks for the
senior stenog'S salary is assumed
to already possess a job that Is
presumably paying almost as
much.
Nothing is said, however, in re-
gard to the person-probably more
numerous than would be SuS-
pected-who is ignorant Of Gov
eminent conditions and methods
and writes in good faith that he
win take only the higher stipend
to which his senior" ability en-
titles him. This gentleman will
never-or almost never-receive a
call, because Federal departments
desire to have "unexpended bal
anceS" in their appropriations and
almost invariably request Civil
Service for those who ask low
salaries. Their personnel officers
reason, quite correctly. that there
win be large number Of seniors"
available whose superior ability
can be utilized gainfully at o
profit. a>.
...a Sh-Sh-sh!
And here is where the rub comes
in, a rub that draws whispers
wherever it is revealed. While
those seniors" who have asked for
the proper salary cool their heels
on eligible registers" many Of
the less able juniors" rise to the
higher paid senior posts despite
their inability to pass such an ex-
animation.
Such a condition occurs when
the departments exhaust the lower
salary acceptance ranks first. The
juniors are taken on, given work
of higher type than that for which
they were tested, eventually re.
classified by Civil Service and
there they are. The party who
honestly demanded the salary
stated at the top of his examina-
ton announcement remains in
Peoria wondering why the Govern.
ment is so hard to enter.
The foremost solution would
seem to be elimination of varia.
tionS Of grades in most tests, as
sumption that the candidate will
accept the salary stated, and al
lowing the more able workers to
rise by displaying their ability
after they have served their pro
baton period. 1t is doubtful, how.
ever, that this will be done in the
near future.