GOVERNMENT PRINTING SERVICE.

The following questions have been prepared in order to enable the Commission to properly consider the subject of experience of applicants for trades positions in the Government Printing Office, and were used in the fall examinations of 1897:

Common to all trades positions in Government Printing Office.—1. How long did you serve as an apprentice? 2. How long have you served as a journeyman? 3. Give the names and locations of the offices in which, or the names of the firms with which, you learned your trade. 4. Give the names and locations of the offices or firms where you have been employed as a journeyman. 5. Give the length of time you were employed by each office or firm as a journeyman, including only those where you were employed not less than six months. 6. Give the exact character of the work you have been engaged upon while employed by each office or firm. (Be careful to specify every branch or kind of work on which you have been employed.) 7. Give any additional information which you may desire bearing upon your trade qualifications and experience.

Supplementary for press feeder.—8. How long have you been feeding presses? 9. With what class of work are you most familiar? (Name the work-as book, job, or color work.) 10. Give the kinds and names of the presses you have fed (cylinder or platen). 11. What is the size in inches of the largest sheet that you have fed? Supplementary for pressman.-8. On what kinds of presses have you worked? 9. What class of work do you consider yourself most capable of handling (book, color, or cut work)? 10. Have you ever run a web press? If so, state whether you did book or newspaper work. 11. How should a pressman proceed to get a cylinder press ready for printing after the press has been set up, if it has never before been used? 12. Is hard or soft packing most desirable for good work?. Why? 13. If the feeding has been correct, and yet there has been faulty register, where would you look for the defect? 14. What material do you consider best suited for cleaning new rollers? 15. When is lye beneficial for cleaning rollers? 16. (a) How would you make purple ink? (b) How would you make green ink? 17. In making forms ready (a) when should an overlay be made and (b) when an underlay? 18. In running presses what do you consider your duty toward your employer? 19. State briefly how to run presses so as to obtain the best results. 20. Impose a 16-page form.

Supplementary for bookbinder.—8. Into what principal classes or branches of work is bookbinding divided? 9. With what branch are you most familiar?

Ruling.-10. Is ruling subdivided into minor branches? If so, name them. 11. How are pens classified? 12. With what kind of faint-line ink are you most familiar? 13. Supposing the machine to be adjusted, describe how you would set the pens for a pattern for ruling. 14. Describe the course of the paper from guide to box on a double-cloth ruling machine. 15. Give, as near as you can, a list of the sizes and weights of paper, with the names used to designate the different sizes. 16. What is "registering?" 17. What knowledge should a good ruler have of ruling machines and inks?

Forwarding.-18. What do you understand by the term "forwarding?" 19. Describe the particular branch of forwarding with which you are most familiar. 20. Give as complete a list as you can of the various materials used in forwarding. 21. What is (a) the "joint” on a printed book; (b) on a blank book? 22. What are the "squares" on a book? 23. What is a "rod" used for in forwarding? 24. What is a "round" and how is it made? 25. What is "strapping" a book? 26. Name the different styles of forwarding.

Finishing.-27. Name the principal branches of finishing. 28. Describe the particular branch of finishing with which you are most familiar. 29. State (a) which glair you prefer for blank work and (b) which for job work; and state the reasons for your preferences. 30. Is it necessary to let glaired books become hard and dry before finishing? Give the reasons for your answer. 31. Describe fully the operation of stamping. 32. Which leather, russia or morocco, requires the greater

heat for lettering? Give the reasons for your answer. 33. Describe the various stages in finishing a russia ends and bands blank book from forwarder to its delivery. 34. In indexing a blank book for which no scale is given, how would you decide which letters of the alphabet should be given the most leaves?

Compositors, electrotype finishers, and electrotype molders have other practical questions designed to test their experience and ability included as a part of the examination.

PREREQUISITES TO EXAMINATIONS.

The Commission has been advised by the departments that in a number of branches of the service the employees must be able to meet certain necessary physical tests. It will be seen at a glance that physical endurance must necessarily be one of the principal qualifications for the life-saving and railway-mail services. Consequently applicants for those services are required to pass a rigid physical examination. Many other branches of the service might be mentioned where special physical qualifications are required. In fact there appears to be a growing sentiment in the departments to the effect that employees, in order to perform the most satisfactory service, must possess what are considered as the physical requirements necessary to "a sound mind in a sound body." In this they are simply following the lead of the prominent business corporations of the country. Some branches of the service require a certain amount of experience in particular lines, as, for example, officers of steam vessels, practicing physicians and attorneys, pharmacists, veterinarians, draftsmen, etc. In some cases licenses are required, while in one service the applicant must be capable of passing through an elliptical opening 9 by 15 inches. All of these preliminary requirements are necessary to comply with the demands of the different departments, in order that no competitors may enter such examinations who do not first make out a prima facie case of fitness for the positions which they seek. Evidence of such experience is accepted, provided it be in any line of work either in or out of the public service which may be fairly regarded as similar in character and requirements to that for which he applies.

SUGGESTIONS INVITED.

In this connection it should be said that it is impossible for the limited number of examiners on the force of the Commission to thoroughly understand many of the practical requirements exacted in the classified service. Consequently the purely practical side of the examinations has developed somewhat slowly, depending upon the experience gathered from time to time as the work of the Commission has been advanced. Many extremely valuable suggestions in this direction have recently been offered, and the chief examiner wishes to acknowledge the great assistance he has received from such suggestions and from consultation with those who have been kind enough to assist with their friendly advice. If those persons, either in or out of the public service, whose experience or business training qualifies them to properly weigh the tests employed in practical examinations would be kind enough to volunteer such assistance as they may be able to render, their courtesy will be thoroughly appreciated. During the past year perhaps one hundred of the prominent business men in Washington and elsewhere have been consulted in reference to the different varieties of practical tests, and their advice has been found of the greatest value. If all persons interested in the betterment of the public service would feel perfectly free to present their ideas as to how the system of examinations now employed by the Commission may be improved, they may be assured that such suggestions as they offer will be gladly received and carefully considered.

SUPERVISION OF EXAMINATIONS.

It seems proper in this connection to endeavor to correct a misapprehension which appears to be very general. In conducting examinations it should be understood that all of the questions to be answered are prepared by the expert examiners under

the immediate direction of the Commission. While many of the technical and complicated examinations are held at points throughout the country convenient to the competitors, experts are not required at these places, as the work of the local board members consists simply in providing such accommodations as are necessary, and furnishing competitors with the printed questions prepared by the Commission. All information needed by the competitors for any of these examinations is furnished through the medium of printed instructions. Hence it will be seen that the principal qualifications needed for the local boards are integrity and fair clerical ability. In all examinations, as soon as the competitors have completed their answers, the local boards at once forward them to the Commission in sealed packages and have no further connection with the examinations. In the engineer districts, the ordnance establishments, and the navy-yards, where the trades examinations are used, which consist of simply filing the necessary papers, the local boards complete the ratings of the applicants. In all other examinations the marking is done by examiners under the direct supervision of the Commission.

ATTEMPT AT FRAUD IN EXAMINATIONS.

At the post-office examination held in Philadelphia August 5 last an attempt at impersonation was discovered by the members of the local board who were conducting the examination. The matter was immediately communicated to the Commission and promptly laid before the Department of Justice, with the result that the United States attorney was instructed to apprehend the offenders. The impersonator was arrested before leaving the examination room and the applicant for examination was taken into custody a few days later. The impersonator was indicted under section 5418, Revised Statutes, for attempting to perpetrate a fraud upon the United States, and both were indicted under section 5440 for conspiracy to commit the fraud. During the September term of the court they were found guilty and sentenced to be punished. This case is important because the first in which it has been held that an attempt to fraudulently enter the Government service comes within the provisions of these sections of the statutes. While it is hoped that few cases of this kind may arise in the future, it is believed that every case of this character should be promptly investigated and brought to an issue, as an attempt at fraud of any character in civil-service examinations strikes at the very integrity of the whole system adopted for securing efficient Government employees. From time to time evidences of collusion in examinations are detected. In such cases a careful investigation is made, and if the facts warrant it the competitors who are concerned in the matter are promptly reexamined. In several instances examinations have been canceled and the suspected competitors have been debarred from the privileges of further examination by the Commission.

EFFORTS TO PROMOTE THE WORK IN CONNECTION

EXAMINATIONS.

WITH

In anticipation of the large increase in the number of competitors in examinations during the past spring strenuous efforts were made to so arrange the plan of examinations and the disposition of the force under the supervision of the chief examiner as to furnish the greatest possible assistance in facilitating this branch of the work. In pursuance of this object, after much investigation, the plan of basis and auxiliary examinations was adopted, as it appeared to be the most economical of the suggestions under consideration. This method provides for tests of uniform difficulty for determining the general ability of competitors, as already described, and such supplementary practical questions or other tests as would tend to best develop special ability where it is desired. The adoption of this course enables the use of one set of basis questions in all concurrent examinations where a corresponding degree of general intelligence is desired, thus relieving the examining division of the preparation of many additional series of questions, and also facilitating to a considerable extent the markings of this part of the examination papers.

H. Doc. 314-6

During the month of February the force of the Commission was redistributed by the establishment in the chief examiner's office of an application division, which has charge of all business relating to the dissemination of information concerning the character and scope of examinations, and the dates and places at which they are to be held, thus providing for the reasonably prompt disposition of the enormous correspondence in relation to these matters. The plan also included the establishment of an examining division, the special duty of which was to prepare practical examination questions, in accordance with the provisions of the law, and to ascertain the value of the answers as submitted by the competitors. A small part of the chief examiner's force was also assigned to the preparation of examination records under the immediate supervision of the chief of the certification division, in order to relieve the examiners of this work.

A comparison of the results of these changes with the record of the work heretofore performed in the chief examiner's office appears to justify the statement that the efficiency of the force under his supervision has been largely increased by the changes mentioned, and the general work of the Commission expedited to a corresponding degree.

I desire to bear testimony to the zeal and faithfulness which have characterized the force under my supervision during the past year. Notwithstanding the great increase in the work of the office, they have cheerfully put aside their own plans in order to give much more than the regular hours to advance the work intrusted to them. Their efforts have been exercised with the most intelligent and conscientious industry and fidelity.

• Mention should also be made of the faithful services of the local board members during the year. Owing to the many special examinations found necessary they have frequently been called upon to conduct such examinations with little or no previous notice, and under decidedly unfavorable conditions. Many of them are also expected to perform their full quota of service in connection with their regular work in addition to the duties imposed upon them because of their membership on the boards representing the Commission. In many cases they have frequently sacrificed their personal interest and pleasure in order to properly transact the work of the Commission.

This opportunity is taken to acknowledge the indebtedness both to the employees serving on detail with the Commission and to the departments and offices detailing them for the faithful service and material assistance rendered.

Attached to this report will be found the following appendices:

APPENDIX A.

1. The questions used in the general application for examination.

2. Supplementary certificate for professional, scientific, or technical positions.

3. Supplementary certificate for the examination of applicants for the trades and skilled occupations.

4. Questions used for examining applicants for surfman in the Life-Saving Service.

APPENDIX B.

1. Examinations which include experience and tests of general or special information.

2. Examinations which include only experience and physical ability.

APPENDIX C.

1. Examinations requiring special prerequisites.

2. Examinations for which special physical tests are required.

APPENDIX D.

The usual tables furnishing information concerning examinations held during the past year and the statistics regarding competitors in such examinations. All of which is respectfully submitted.

NOVEMBER 17, 1897.

APPENDIX A.

A. R. SERVEN,

Chief Examiner.

1. GENERAL APPLICATION FOR EXAMINATION.

N. B. This blank is for all examinations except for the Life-Saving, Post-Office, Custom-House, and Internal Revenue Services. All answers must be in ink, the application in the handwriting of the applicant, and each voucher in the handwriting of the signer thereof. There must be no discrepancy in the name of the applicant in any part of the application or in the vouchers. Applications or vouchers which are executed or dated more than thirty days before the date of filing will not be accepted. For all ordinary clerical positions this blank is all that is required, but applicants for mechanical trade positions, or skilled occupations, and applicants for positions requiring professional, technical, or scientific knowledge or skill, will be required to file supplementary statements on a blank which will be furnished for that purpose. An applicant for a position for which no educational examination is required may, if he can not write, have his application executed in the handwriting of some other person.

To the United States Civil Service Commission:

I, the undersigned, hereby apply to be admitted to the examination named below, intending to accept the position for which examined if selected for appointment.

1. Fill in the following blanks with the utmost care, indicating the title of the service and of the examination and the place and date of the examination selected by you; an error may delay your

examination.

For places and dates of regular examinations, see Sec. 9 or 10, Instructions to Applicants.

(City.)

(State.)

189..

2. Answer the inquiries in the following table as to citizenship, place and date of birth, and age. [If a naturalized citizen, your certificate of naturalization, or the certificate of naturalization of one of your parents (if such parent was naturalized while you were a minor), with sworn statements of two disinterested citizens as to the reputed relationship, must be forwarded with the application. The certificate will be returned to you.]

Are you a citizen of the United States?

Place of birth.

Date of birth (give month, Age on last birthday. day, and year).

18..

years

3. Of what State or Territory and county or parish are you now an actual, bona fide (legal) resident, and how long have you been such resident thereof! (Continuous residence to exact date of the oath to this application must be shown.)