Portland observer., June 28, 1973, Page 2, Image 2

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Paga 2
Portland/Obaarvar
Thuraday Juna 28, 1973
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WE SEE THE WORLD
THROUGH BLACK EYES.
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Published ovary Thuraday by t x le Publishing Company, 2201
N . Kllllngsworth, Portland, Oregon 97217, Mailing address,
P.O. Box 3137, Portland, Oregon 97208
Subscriptions >5.25 per year - Tri-County area. >b,00 per year
- Outside Portland.
Telephone, 283-2486.
Second Class Postage Paid -at P o rtla n d , O re q o n
EDITORIAL FOCUS
Theory and practice
Civil Service:
C iv il S e rvice w a s d e s ig n e d to e lim in a te fa v o r­
itism a n d p a tro n a g e fro m g o v e rn m e n t e m p lo y ­
m en t. It is th e o re tic a lly a m e th o d to o b je c tiv e ly
select e m p lo y e e s , w ith o b je c tiv e tests a n d the
w in n e r p ic k e d fro m a m o n g th e to p th re e co nte st­
ants. H o w e v e r, it d o e s n 't w o rk th a t w a y .
First o f a ll, th e tests h a ve b e e n p ro v e n to h ave a
c u ltu ra l b ia s, te stin g those c u ltu re tra its th a t a re
le a rn e d by m id d le a n d u p p e r class C aucasians but
a re n ot as lik e ly to be le a rn e d by lo w e r class w h ite s
a n d m in o ritie s . The test o fte n has no re la tio n s h ip
to th e jo b so u g h t.
A lso, tests a re frig h te n in g to
so m e persons w h o c o u ld d o a g o o d jo b a lth o u g h
th e y d o n o t d o w e ll on tests.
The test is n o t th e o n ly p ro b le m . There is a lso
th e in te rv ie w
-- or th e o ra l test -- w h ic h can
c o u n t fro m 30 to 100 p e rc e n t o f th e score.
This
in te rv ie w or o ra l test is scored c o m p le te ly a t the
d is c re tio n o f th e in te rv ie w e r or th e in te rv ie w p a n e l,
a n d if th e a p p lic a n t gets a lo w score, this w ip e s
h im o u t, e v e n th o u g h he m ig h t h ave h ad a h ig h
test score.
The g re a te st h a n d ic a p is the fa v o ritis m th a t is
p ra c tic e d by c iv il se rvice o ffic ia ls a n d a g e n c y
p e rso n n e l. A lth o u g h n e w e m p lo y e e s a re supposed
to co m e fro m th e to p th re e scorers on th e e lig ib le
list, th is o fte n does n ot h a p p e n . It is a w e ll k n o w n
fa ct th a t the a g e n c y d ire c to r can h ire a n y o n e he
w a n ts a n d th e n a rra n g e it w ith th e c iv il se rvice
He can e lim in a te th e persons a t th e to p o f th e list
fo r w h a te v e r reason a n d g o d o w n th e list u n til he
fin d s th e person he w ants. These tactics can be
used to g e t th e e m p lo y e e th e a g e n c y w ants, a n d
th e y can b e used to e lim in a te the less d e s ira b le .
The co u n ty has a p a rtic u la rly fa s c in a tin g m e th o d
o f f illin g va can cie s.
M a n y co u n ty e x a m in a tio n s
a re g iv e n o n ly o n ce a y e a r a nd those n ot p la c e d
on th e e lig ib ility list a t th a t tim e m ust w a it u n til
n e xt ye a r. These tests a re n o t w e ll p u b lic iz e d a n d
a re n o t g iv e n a t a n y p a rtic u la r tim e .
A person
c o u ld d e c id e to a p p ly to be a c o u n s e llo r a t the
J u v e n ile C ou rt, fo r e x a m p le , a n d fin d th e e x a m
w as g iv e n a m o n th b e fo re a n d w ill n o t be g iv e n
fo r a n o th e r ye ar.
S h o u ld a va ca n cy o ccur b e fo re th e ye a r ends,
h o w e v e r, th e y w ill fin d so m e o n e to f i l l the
va can cy te m p o ra rily — u s u a lly a frie n d o f an
e m p lo y e e w h o is fo rtu n a te e n o u g h to k n o w a
va can cy exist, since va ca n cie s a re a d v e rtis e d o n ly
w h e n th e test is to b e g iv e n . O n ce th is te m p o ra ry
e m p lo y e e w o rk s on th e jo b fo r se ve ra l m onths,
th e n ta kes a n d passes th e e x a m
— in th is case
a n in te rv ie w o n ly -- it is n a tu ra l th a t he w ill
p ro b a b ly g e t th e p e rm a n e n t jo b . Is th is w h y th e re
a re n o Black co u n s e llo rs a t th e J u v e n ile C ourt?
In m ost se ction s o f th e n a tio n — e ve n in the
South — y o u w ill fin d a h ig h p e rc e n ta g e o f
Blacks in c iv il se rvice jobs. This is because, in spite
o f it's in e q u itie s , c iv il se rvice has s till p ro v id e d a
m o re e q u a l o p p o rtu n ity th a n p riv a te e m p lo y e rs .
But in O re g o n , y o u w ili n o t fin d this to be true .
M in o rity e m p lo y m e n t by g o v e rn m e n ta l a g e n c ie s in
O re g o n is a t a d is g ra c e fu l le v e l a n d th e reason fo r
th is is th a t c iv il se rvice ru le s a n d p ro ce d u re s can
be m a n ip u la te d by th e persons w h o use th e m . So
in a state w h e re th e re has b e e n system atic d is ­
c rim in a tio n a g a in s t Blacks, w e fin d c iv il service
p ra ctices used to k e e p Blacks o u t o f g o v e rn m e n t
e m p lo y m e n t.
Goldschmidt:
The first six months
The OBSERVER'S o ffic ia l p o s itio n is expressed
o n ly in it's P ublishers C o lu m n (W e See The W o rld
T hrough Black Eyes). A n y o th e r m a te ria l th ro u g h
o ut the p a p e r is the o p in io n o f the in d iv id u a l w rite r
or s u b m itte r a n d does n ot n ece ssarily re fle c t the
o p in io n o f th e OBSERVER
■
MEMBER
H IL m
Oregon
Newspaper
Publishers
Association
Hl
MEMBER
NêWAL
PER
N e il G o ld s c h m id t has n o w b e e n th e M a y o r o f
P o rtlan d fo r six m on ths a n d it is tim e to lo o k a t his
Association Foundad 1885
re co rd on m in o rity e m p lo y m e n t.
W h e n s e e k in g
th e Black vo te, G o ld s c h m id t p ro m is e d to see th a t
Blacks w e re h ire d a t a ll le v e ls in c ity g o v e rn m e n t.
Has M a y o r G o ld s c h m id t m a d e a n y a d v a n c e in his
first six m onths? O r w ill he, as o th e r a ro u n d h im
a re d o in g , s till be m a k in g p ro m ise s as his a d ­
m in is tra tio n fa d e s in to history?
O f 1,223 e m p lo y e e s re s p o n s ib le to the M a y o r's
F inance a n d A d m in is tra tio n D e p a rtm e n t, 21 are
K e nn e th L. Sm ith, g e n e ra l m a n a g e r o f the C o n ­
Black. These in c lu d e 2 in th e M a y o r's o ffic e , 1 in
fe
d
e ra te d Tribes o f the W arm Springs In d ia n Reser­
P ersonnel, 6 in th e P olice D e p a rtm e n t (o u t o f 726
v a tio n , w as a p p o in te d by G o v e rn o r M cC a ll to the
u n ifo rm e d o ffic e rs ) a n d 2 in Justice P la n n in g a nd
State B oard o f E ducation. As fa r as is k n o w n , he is
C o o rd in a tio n .
O th e r th a n the tw o Blacks in the
the o n ly In d ia n to serve on a state b o a rd or c o m ­
M a y o r's o ffic e , th ese persons a re h o ld -o v e rs from
m ission in th e h isto ry o f th e state
Som e m ig h t
th e Schrunk a d m in is tra tio n .
p ra ise th e G o v e rn o r fo r this h is to ric a p p o in tm e n t,
In the P ublic A ffa irs D e p a rtm e n t th e re a re 4
but w e can o n ly ask w h y it to ok so lo n g
Black e m p lo y e e s o u t o f 19, o u ts id e o f the M o d e l
The In d ia n s w e re the o rig in a l o w n e rs o f O re g o n .
C ities A g e n c y .
This in clu d e s 2 in M a n p o w e r
W hen th e w h ite m a n ca m e , th e y w e re w ip e d out
P la n n in g a n d 2 in H u m a n R elations.
The M o d e l
by d ise ase , m u rd e re d , d riv e n fro m th e ir la n d ,
C ities p ro g ra m has 61 e m p lo y e e s , o f w h ic h 31 are
h e rd e d in to re s e rv a tio n s a n d ro b b e d o f th e ir cut
Black. The M o d e l C ities e m p lo y e e s , h o w e v e r are
tu re Their tre a tie s w e re b ro k e n a n d a re s till b e in g
n o t c ity c iv il service e m p lo y e e s a n d a re h ire d
in d e p e n d e n tly o f th e city.
b ro k e n , a n d
th e y
have
been
s y s te m a tic a lly
c h e a te d , d e p riv e d a n d is o la te d
The P ublic S a fe ty D e p a rtm e n t, w h ic h in clu d e s the
N o w th e In d ia n s h a v e a re p re s e n ta tiv e on the
Fire a n d Parks B ureaus, has 4 Black fire m e n a n d 34
Board o f E ducation. But d id it ta k e six years fo r
in Parks, o u t o f a to ta l o f 1,284.
the G o v e rn o r to fin d a q u a lifie d In d ia n ?
A t this
Public U tilitie s has 7 Black e m p lo y e e s o u t o f a
pace w e can n e v e r e x p e c t e q u a lity to a rriv e .
to ta l o f 172. P ublic w o rks has 56 Black e m p lo y e e s
H ow lo n g m ust w e w a it M r M c C a ll? W e w e re
o u t o f a to ta l o f 1,243.
to ld se v e ra l m o n th s a g o th a t th e re w ill be a Black
This g iv e s us a to ta l o f 168 Black c ity e m p lo y e e s
on the g o v e rn o r's s ta ff
H ow m a n y m o re m on ths
o u t o f a to ta l o f 4,081 e m p lo y e e s , in c lu d in g M o d e l
must w e w a it? W e w e re to ld th a t yo u h a v e lo n g
C ities e m p lo y e e s , or 137 Black e m p lo y e e s o ut o f
w o rk e d fo r c iv il rig h ts
W e w e re to ld th a t yo u r
4,020 e m p lo y e e s e x c lu s iv e o f th e M o d e l C ities
a d m in is tra tio n w o u ld be “ d if fe r e n t"
W e w e re
Program . This g iv e s a to ta l o f 3.3 p e rce n t Black
to ld th a t you w o u ld use yo u r p o w e rs fo r the
e m p lo y m e n t.
N o m o re th a n 20 o f these persons
p e o p le .
You h a v e o n ly e ig h te e n m on ths le ft
a re in p ro fe s s io n a l c a te g o rie s , the rest b e in g in
tim e is ru n n in g o u t!
la b o r p o sitio n s.
M ost o f these Block e m p lo y e e s w e re a lre a d y
w ith the c ity w h e n M a y o r G o ld s c h m id t took o ffic e
W e can, h o w e v e r, g iv e h im c re d it fo r the tw o
Blacks in his s ta ff o f e le v e n , w h ile n o n e o f the
o th e r C o m m is s io n e rs h a v e a n y Blacks on th e ir
o ffic e staffs.
M a y o r G o ld s c h m id t's re c o rd so fa r does not look
to o g o o d . He has stated th a t lack o f va can cie s and
lack o f m o n e y h a v e h in d e re d his e ffo rts a n d has
said th a t a fte r J u ly 1st, w h e n n e w p ro g ra m s are
in itia te d , w e w ill see g re a t progress.
C om m issio ne rs S chw ab, Iv a n c ie a n d M cC ready
[R e p r in te d fr o m th e O re g o n J o u r n a l]
a re fo llo w in g th e e x a m p le o f th e G o v e rn o r, the
S ecretary o f State, the A tto rn e y G e n e ra l a n d the
State Treasurer.
They ta lk a g o o d lin e — but
Since m ost persons o f w h a te v e r c o lo r are
w h e n it com es to a c tio n . . . n o th in g .
a fflic te d by d e g re e s o f p re |u d ic e , w h e th e r th e y lik e
to a d m it it or not, it is w o rth w h ile to p o n d e r w h a t
b e in g th e v ic tim o f a c rim e c o m m itte d b y Blacks
does to a w h ite p e rso n 's fe e lin g s a b o u t race
The q u e s tio n b e c a m e m o re th a n th e o re tic a l fo r
us in W a s h in g to n , D C., last Friday w h e n tw o Black
m en — o n e a rm e d w ith a sn u b -n ose d a u to ­
m a tic — “ p e rs u a d e d ” us to p a rt w ith a w a lle t
c o n ta in in g m o n e y , c re d it cards a n d d riv e r's licen se
But som e re m in d e rs th a t this is an a b n o rm a l
a c tiv ity fo r Black p e o p le -
d e s p ite th e h ig h
in c id e n c e o f Black c rim e in th a t c ity -
b e g a n to
be a p p lie d rig h t a w a y ,
Dear Sir:
be able to turn to at least
The d e te c tiv e w h o to o k in fo rm a tio n a b o u t the
one station and be able to
I would like for your paper enjoy good listening.
in c id e n t w as Black. The p o lic e m a n w h o g u a rd e d
to do some investigation as
th e h o te l lo b b y w as Black.
The m a n a t the
to why the Blacks of Port­ Thank you,
W estern U n io n w in d o w w h o h a n d e d o u t re p la c e ­
land cannot get a radio sta­ Dorothy Jones
m e n t m o n e y w ire d fro m h o m e w as Black. So w e re
tion of our own.
(Editor’s
Note:
In
order
to
^st o f th e o th e r e m p lo y e e s in th a t o ffic e .
Many of the Black auto­
have a Black owned station,
mobile owners have to invest
A g ra c io u s Black w o m a n w as te a c h in g a yo u n g
a Black person or Black com
in a tape deck and tapes.
Puerto Rican g ir l to o p e ra te the cash re g iste r in a
pany must buy an existing
This is quite an expense to
re s ta u ra n t lin e a t th e K e n n e d y C en te r.
The
station or buy equipment and
us, just to listen to our own
p
o
lis
h
e
d
h
e
a
d
w
a
ite
r
a
t
the
h
o
te
l
re
s
ta
u
ra
n
t
w
as
ask the Federal Communira
musical.
M ost o f th e cab d riv e rs w e re Black,
tions Commission for use of Black.
On Saturday KGAR has a
the airwaves.
We have in c lu d in g a n e ld e rly g e n tle m a n w h o w a s dressed
soul station but I understand
heard that KGAR is for sale. as if he w e re g o in g to church. He w as lis te n in g to
thia will be cut out on the
Have you tried listening to
a re lig io u s p ro g ra m on th e cab ra d io .
16th of this month.
YSOL, a PMSC financed
With the larger number of
The U n ite d A ir Lines e m p lo y e e w h o ch ecke d
station operated by young
Blacks in Portland we should
th ro u g h o u r b a g g a g e w as Black. So w as the desk
Black people.)
m an a t th e e n tra n c e to th e d e p a rtu re g ate .
B e fo re g o in g to W a s h in g to n , w e h ad re a d th a t a
w h ite y o u th h ad b e e n c h a rg e d w ith m u rd e rin g
Dear Mr. Henderson,
therefore be used to house
a n o th e r w h ite y o u th in P ortland.
anything, particularly our be
Then, o n e o f th e th in g s w e h ad to see in th e
In reference to your edi­ loved aged citizens.
n a tio n 's c a p ita l w as the h u g e W a te rg a te c o m p le x .
Don’t construe this letter as
torial which appeared in your
N o b o d y needs to be re m in d e d th a t th e in c re d ib le
meaning we don’t enjoy your
June 22nd publication entitled
n
u m b e r o f p e o p le in h ig h p la ces in v o lv e d in the
paper because we do.
“County Gets A Chance”.
W
a te rg a te “ c a p e r" a n d re la te d n e fa rio u s d eeds
I disagree that the Hoyt Respectfully,
a
re
w h ite .
Hotel should be used for such Thomas Perry Wilson Martin,
If o n e is g o in g to e n te rta in p re ju d ic e , p e rh a p s he
purposes, since the building President of The National
has already been established Society For the Preservation
s h o u ld a p p ly it to th e w h o le h u m a n race a n d not
by existing building codes to of The Rlack African Ameri
lim it it to a n y p a rtic u la r g ro u p in g . But th e n th e re
be unsafe.
It should not can Peoples
a re a ll those o th e r g o o d p e o p le in a ll races.
At last, an Indian
Another Point of View
R eflections in prejudice
LETTERS
■TO THE EDITOR
Big Mac
McDonald’s is
where its at.
McDonald's is the place to be*
lor good lood and good limes
Big Mac. Filet o-Fish,
Cheeseburger, whatever you've
go, the hungries tor McDonald's
is the scene Make it
m.
You deserve a break today
A Black station?
Disagrees on Hoyt
0JTO 7
ENJOY
ORANGE CRUSH.