Vouchers.
The following is a sample of the two vouchers; all answers made by vouchers must be in their own handwriting.
1. What is your own age? Age of voucher, not applicant, is wanted. If you so prefer, the statement that you are over 21 years of age is sufficient.
2. What is your occupation?
3. What is your business address in full?
4. What is your actual bona fide (legal) residence? City and State?
5. How long have you been such resident thereof?
6. How long have you been acquainted with the applicant?
7. Is the applicant addicted to the use of intoxicating beverages, tobacco, morphine, or opium? If so, to which?
8. Has the applicant ever been addicted to the use of intoxicating beverages, tobacco, morphine, or opium? If so, to which?
9. Is the applicant a person of good moral character, and of good repute?
10. Are you related to the applicant? If so, what is the relationship?
11. Are you aware of any circumstances tending to disqualify the applicant for the public service?
12. Would you yourself trust the applicant with employment requiring undoubted honesty?
13. What is the name of the applicant for whom you furnish this certificate? First name, middle initial, or initials, if there be any, and last name, should be correctly given.
The above questions are answered to the best of my knowledge and belief.
(Signature of voucher) ......................
(P. O. address) .........................
Date, ............... 190 .
(Applicant will NOT fill the following blank.)
Final certificate of naturalization of ............. issued by the ............. Court of .............. on ............ I ............., was filed with this application by the applicant, and was found by me to be in due form in all respects. The certificate was returned to the applicant on ....... ........., 190....
(Initials) .................
CHAPTER VII.
MEDICAL CERTIFICATE.
All applicants for the Postal Service must have this certificate executed.
Questions 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, and the parenthetical part of question 13, are not required in the case of female applicants.
This certificate need not be executed for examinations at second and third class post offices. When the result of examinations at such offices is determined, the highest four eligibles will be required to furnish the certificate.
Applicants for the Postal Service (male and female) who are defective in any of the following-named particulars will not be appointed by that Department: Deaf-mutes, hunchbacks, persons having defective hearing, sight, or speech; persons totally blind or blind in one eye; one-armed, one-handed, or one-legged persons, or those having crippled arms or legs, and those suffering from asthma, consumption, or hernia. The applications of such persons will, therefore, not be accepted.
1. What is the applicant’s exact height in his bare feet? (The physician must himself measure and weigh the applicant.)
2. What is the applicant’s exact weight in his ordinary clothing, without overcoat or hat?
3. Did you yourself weigh and measure the applicant?
4. What is the condition of the applicant’s sight? (If possible, the test should be made with Snelen’s cards, and expressed in twentieths.)
If the applicant has any defect of sight in either eye, describe fully.
Is the defect in sight corrected by the use of glasses?
5. What is the condition of the applicant’s hearing? (State the distance, in feet, at which he can hear the ticking of a closed watch held in the open hand, testing each ear with the other plugged.)
If he has any defect of hearing of either ear describe fully.
6. What is the condition of the applicant’s speech? If he has any defect of speech describe fully.
7. What is the condition of the applicant’s limbs?
If he has any defect in either arm or in either leg describe fully, and state to what extent it interferes with the proper function of the limb.
(Varicose veins, ulcers, or any deformity should be specially reported.)
8. Has the applicant any rupture?
9. Has the applicant varicocele, hydrocele, internal or external piles, fistula in ano, or any cutaneous disease?
If so, describe the disease, and state to what extent the applicant is afflicted.
10. Has the applicant any defect in the functions of the brain or nervous system?
If so, describe the disease, and state to what extent the applicant is affected.
Has the applicant ever had an epileptic fit?
Is he subject to these attacks?
11. Give the measurements of the applicant’s chest:
At rest.
At full inspiration.
At full expiration.
12. Is the applicant’s respiration full, free, and unobstructed in both lungs?
If not, state to what extent obstructed.
13. State the frequency of the action of the applicant’s heart:
When sitting.
When standing.
When standing after brief exercise. (The applicant should be required to hop on one foot the distance of about 12 feet.)
14. Are there indications in the heart’s action of organic, muscular, or nervous derangement?
If so, describe fully.
15. Are there indications that the applicant is addicted to the excessive use of intoxicating beverages, tobacco, or narcotics in any form.
If so, describe fully.
16. Has the applicant any form of disease or disability which is likely to unfit him for the performance of the work of the position for which he applies?
17. State whether the applicant is capable of prolonged, severe, mental and physical exertion, and equal to the demands of a very exhausting occupation.
18. Are you a regularly licensed physician, and duly authorized by the laws of your State to practice medicine?
19. Of what medical institution are you a graduate?
This space is to be filled out by the applicant in his own handwriting, in the presence of the physician.
(Signature of applicant) ................
I certify that I have made a thorough examination of the above-named applicant, that each and all of the above answers are in my own handwriting and are true, and that the applicant wrote his signature just above in my presence.
(Signature of physician) ....................
(P. O. address of physician) ................
Date, ............., 190..
CHAPTER VIII.
THE EDUCATIONAL TEST.
Subjects and Weights and Specimens of Previous
Questions Asked.
Examinations for the Postal Service are of the second grade. Any person with a common school education should have no trouble in passing them. The average candidate, however, has been some years out of school and is very apt to be what we call “rusty.” In other words, to have forgotten much that he was taught at school concerning the subjects required. The wise thing for him to do, when he has made up his mind to take the examination, no matter whether the date of it is one month or six months away, the longer the better, is to improve his knowledge of each subject as much and as far as is possible. He must not content himself with just getting on the list, many of which are cancelled while yet there remain many names not reached for appointment, but do his utmost to win the highest possible rating.
The government service to-day, particularly the postal branch, is no place for indifferent, sluggish, or inefficient men. Though 70 per cent. is the passing mark to obtain a place on the list, it is a poor recommendation of a man’s intelligence and efficiency, or of his possible growth in these attainments. And really there is no excuse for a man who can read and write getting so low a percentage. It shows, more or less convincingly, that he was not diligent, that there was little or no earnestness in his purpose, and the average postmaster will not be over-eager to find a place for him.
The questions in each subject are simple, and any man of ordinary education can, unaided by outside instructors, fit himself to obtain 90 per cent. with ease. A few simple text books, and steady, pains-taking study during leisure hours are all that are necessary. A postal card to THE CHIEF will promptly bring to you a list of books covering each subject, each book prepared by an expert on civil service.
Applicants are notified of the date and place of an examination at least two weeks in advance of the time set.