The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-03-26
Postmaster General Bissell Says Mail Carr isrs
In the Smaller Cities Will Be Protected
from Removal for Partisan Causes.
Judge Morse Made q Consul and Whit.
ney Mentioned for Lincoln's Place.
The Kind of Man Mr.. Cleveland Likes
Applicants for Places Under Secretary
Carlisle to Undergo Examinations.
ANOTHER BLOW TO THE HORDE.

AI<OAhGn DAO" AZ AA.G AhOAsD 1s
They Cannot Get the Places Of Letter Car
riers in Towns end Small Cities.
Special TO the Indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, March 25.-It appears from
numerous inquiries which are pouring into
Washington from Anderson. Kokomo.
Marion, Muncie, Crswfordsville. Lafayette
and q few other cities in Indiana that
an impression prevails that the mail
carriers in cities of that class are not secure
under the civil service laws. and
wholesale dismissals are anticipated
under the incoming postmasters. An
inquiry received to-day from Ander-
son. where new postmaster has
taken charge, was to the effect that Presi-
dent Hsrrson's order. promulgated by the
Civil-service Commission on Jan. last.
which extends 10 all free de-
livery postoffices tho classification
of the postal service. had been
revoked, and the question was asked
whether the Postofice Department ofncials
or the Civli-service Commission would in
terfere in the displaoemento of letter carriers
at the small tree delivery offices for the ac-
mmodation of Democrats.
The Journal correspondent to-day in
veetigated the situation fully at the Post
office Departments. The order of Jan. .,
1888, which is intended to secure In their
places carriers at all free-delivery post
terfered with. and there is no prob
ability that 1T will be disturbed. The
order itself. however. has a loophole
through which partisan. postmasters
might creep out if they. desired.
against it by Postmaster-general Wana.
maker. The order of Jan. g. last.
contains this provision: "fhe Civil-service
Commission will at once proceed with the
organization of boards OF examiners. the
holding of examinations and the prepara-
gible registers have been established at
any Office the rules will 60 into effect at
that office.o
Some considerable time will necessarily
elapse before the rules will be in active
operation at all of these offices. These
eligible registers" have not yet been pre-
pared at any offices. The civil-service
commission IS at present max
ing out programmes for examinations
throughout the country, to be held during
establishing the eligible registers" from
which all carriers will be appointed. and
which. of course. will bar partisan favor.
A BAR TO PARTISAN DIsMIssALs.
On the face of this order, dismissals of
carriers could yet be made by postmasters
and they would not be required to assign
cause for removals, and Democrats
could be appointed to take the
licans. On Jan. %, last. however. Postmaster
general w anamaker issued an order direct
ing that the voluntary resignation OF q
letter carrier shall be bar to bis reinstate-
ment; that carriers shall be removed only
for violations of laws and regulations: that
carriers removed for cause will not
be reinstated unless the charges upon
which removal was effected are disproved,
and no appointments of carriers at free de-
the substitute list until the list
is exhausted. and promotions from
the list shall be In the order of
their seniority. This order is still in force
and Postmaster-general Bissell and the
Clvil-service Commission say it will re-
main in force. 1t was intended to be.
and now acts as, stay III
any proceeding toward dismissals for par.
tisan other purposes during the time in
which examinations are being held and
Thus the carriers are no W and win cont ntinue
to be protected In their places by the law.
Secretary Doyle. of the Civil-service
Commission. stated TO the Journal corre-
spondent, to-day, that if any postmaster
violated either the law or the Postmaster
ecuted, and the dismissed clerk or clerks
would be-. reinstated. as. any
partisan dismissal would be in
violation of law and orders. The law
employees. az for refusal to psy political
assessments. (2) to be coerced into political
action, or l3) perform q political act. The
incoming Democratic pOstmasters in Indi-
ana will have very little patronage now at
free-deliverv offices.
rsxrsl
service Commission ls making good pro-
gress in classifying the 500 free-delivery
postotfices recently brought within the
civil-service law and rules. Boards of ex-
animation have been organized in
examinations have already been held
in many of them In speaking
generally of the subject to-day. a mem ber
of the commission said that so far as he
knew there would be no immediate exten-
sion of the service; in fact. the work now
in hand would occupy all Of the time of the
commission for some time to come Nor
were there any funds now available to car
ry out any further extensions a.
There are now outside of the civil
service very large number OF
government employees that should be. and
no doubt III time would be, brought under
civil.service regulations. 1t was stated
that it was pro able that the ID ternal reve-
nue. service would be classified first. and
that others In proper time might follow in
about the following order: Mints, assay
Offices and subtreasurIes. the govern.
ment of the District of Columbia.
the Government Printing Office and the
employees connected with the Immigration
Bureau. The other branches of service
now unclassitied are the employees of the
Interstate commerce Commission. navy
yards armories. arsenals. public employees
In the Smithsonian Institution and the
National Museum. certain classes OF em.
NIL in, ha nd
service and customhouses with less thau
twenty FIVE employees.