Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-10-25
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
League Committees Report on Removals
of Postmasters.

WASHINGTON, October 23.-The spec
ial committee Of the National Civil Ser
vice Reform League, consisting of w.
ID. Foulke, chairman, Charles j. Bona
parte, r. II. Dana, Wayne Mac Neagh
and S. 5. Rogers, appointed to inquire
into the condition of the Federal SER
vice and the operation of the Civil Ser
vice Reform law. has completed and
submitted the results of its investlga-
tion of removals and designations of
Presidential postmasters during the
| first year of the present administration.
The report says that the committee
noted with satisfaction in their last re-
mort the improved condition OF the
Patent Office and the adherence to civil
service principles in its management:
but complains OF the business methods
of the Postoflice Department in respect
to removals and appointments OF PreSl-
dental poStmaSterS.
A large portion of the report is taken
nm by a letter TO President Harrison
from Mr.. Foulke. in regard to cores
pondence between the latter and Post
master General Wanamaker who re-
fused to give him access to the
records and information as to the re-
movals of poStmaSters, on the ground
that the Department was well governed
bv well established precedent, which
denied to the public the privilege OF In
specting papers in appointment cases.
On March IA, Mr.. Foulke called upon
the Postmaster General, by request, but
he would not allow him to examine the
files of the Daily Bulletin. telling him
nj the time that "he had no business to
see them. and that he could obtain the
desired information from the daily
newspapers.
Mr.. Foulke complains to the Presl-
dent that the Postmaster General as
eliminated against him in giving IN;
formation to the editor OF ClVll
Service Reform paper, in Balti-
more. The President merely acknowl-
edged the receipt of this letter,
and made no answer to it. The com
mittee says that "the lists of postmas-
ters removed and appointed ought to be
public record; that any person dealing
with the Department should have the
right To know who is the lawfully com
missioned officer when he was appointed,
and when his term would expire. and
ought not to be required to establish a
special interest before being permitted
to inspect this list, any more than If ii
were the record of a court Of justice or
of a legislative body. If the Postmaster
General has the discretionary right to
refuse such inspection, the exercise OF
this right cannot fail to incur the dis
trust of those who believe that the pub
lie service should be administered with
such publicity as not to shrink from eX'
animation.
The committee has had correspond
ence with large number of postmast'
ers. to ascertain whether they yolunta
rilv resigned or were removed. They
received l43 answers to cases of resigna
ton. and in % cases it appeared tha'
the designations were voluntary AID II
As cases were not. The report contains
letters from these postmasters, showing
that in many cases they were perempto
rilv removed without cause. 1t con
cIades by saying that the conclusion Il
obvious thas many so-called resignation
were not such in fact, and that tn
changes were made for political pur
poses.