The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-09-17
scIvIL SERVICE racket
Ediisr The Citizen;

Ition, especially in reference to
the Navy Yard, has long reached
the point where it is gross
| injustice. One would think from
watching the office employees that
it was purely family affair."
Only relatives and friends of in
cumbents have an opportunity
| for employment, You might no
tice in one office after another,
two, three and even four MEM
bers Of one family; lie. brothers,
sisters, sisters-in-law, brothers.
in-law, close friends, tenants, etc.
even extending to the yard per-
sonnet When one inquiries how
| it is possible to obtain employ
ment there, the answer is inva-
Iriably, .You must have some
one that knows you and pull for
you. 1t appears that they have
mo notion of the merit system
land don't care.
/. ! know of a case where an in
Etelligent young lady has made
application for existing vacan-
| ries-ir some instances even an
interview has been refused, in
ieonly two instances was even the
pretense made of taking her
name, and in no instance was a
test given. There was no at
tempt made to learn her ability,
and in the meantime relatives
and friends Of incumbents con-
tinued to be employed, and
have personal knowledge that no
test was previously given. Can
it be possible that all the in
telligent and capable persons in
our fair city belong to the same
family? Or that they alone have
the experience, / think not
when some of the persons en-
ployed have not even had high
school education or ever before
performed clerical work. Surely
they were not employed to pro-
mote efficiency! It does not
make us feel "over Democratic"
to learn that in order to obtain
employment in our Government
one must have someone that
knows you or can pull for you.
It is not my belief that jobs
should be given just because an
application is made All that
any rational and fair person does
expect is that an opportunity be
given to demonstrate their abil-
lily by competing with others in
fair examination and that the
vacancy be given to the most
capable one. Are the ones now
in office the most capable?---
they are not. Ask how many of
those holding positions have
failed to pass the civil service
examination? And how many
times? It should be interesting
to those who should be interest
ed. Then surely relatives and
friends are not the most cap
able.
The country at present is going
through great difficulties be-
cause of internal dissatisfaction
with home problems. 1t appears
that the first aim of the Govern
ment is to unite the people in
our great common cause to save
Democracy Does the local
/ Navy Yard feel that they are
contributing to bring about this
| feeling of justice and equality
lit would seem. that to be VIC
| torious in our external struggles,
lit would be necessary to first
conquer our internal difficult,
ties. Certainly the present man
ner of sharing the profits to
Our Friends only is not con-
tributory to spreading confidence
| in our Government and those APP
pointed to carry out these. poll
cies.
There are persons that are on
the register, residents of Key
West, some have veterans pref
erence, some civil service ex-
perience, and yet they cannot
obtain a position, while others
without any experience whatso-
ever are employed. Why?
1t would seem that those who
have been unsuccessful in OBJ
tanning employment because of
the partial way of distribution in
force, would raise their voices in
protest. 1t is not democratic, it
I is not fair, it is not even excus-
able. Why not write to those
who arc. in position to change
this condition. Your senator,
your representatives, the Civil
Service. Commission would be
interested in learning of your
Experience.
A CITIZEN,
Who is not seeking job but
who would not stand by and
watch the injustice without
protest
Key West, Fla,
Sept. 16, 1871