Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1893-02-02
The Last Extension OF the Civil Ser
vice Rules.

vice Rules.
To the Editor of the Alexandria Gazette:
The recent extension by the Presi-
dent of the civil service rules to all free
delivery postoiiices. instead of those
with as many as fifty employees, as
heretofore, while heartily approved by
the friends of reform, including your
correspondent, is unquestionably open
to criticism on one Of the grounds
taken by the GAZETTE. Mr.: Harrison,
at the opening of his administration,
announced himself as in favor of the
extension of the merit system to every
branch of the public service TO which It
is applicable. and not single valid
reason exists why such an extension as
this to the free delivery postotlices
should not have been made IN 1889.
Its postponement enabled his party to
secure that much more plumber during
his term of office and cuts off the dem
ocrats from a similar privilege Co) when
they come in. 1t is but natural a
spokesman should regard this with in
dignation, and that candid men of any
school should have little respect for
the sincerity ola civil service reformer
of the stamp of our present chief execu-
tive
But. little as President Harrison may
deserve commentator for his late or
der, it is not, so far at least, the cause
ofall the evil you suppose. An editor
ial in the GAZETTE of the 18th inst.
reads as follows:
Mr.. William Dudley. Foulke, one of the
leading civil service reformerS of the country,
says: Il think it a great pity President Har-
rison did not see fit to do something for civil
service reform three years ago. After he Is
defeated he does one good thing in extend
ing the civil service to the free delivery ser.
vice in the pOstoilicc." Yes. an instance OF
the one good thing referred to is the removal
of lady who has efficiently discharged her
duty in the postofiicc at Richmond for twenty
years, supporting her dependent family on
her salary. in order that republican who
NAV be able to answer school questions iii
geography and history. which have no con-
ceivable relation to her official duties may
take her place on the eve of Mr.. Harrison S
retirement and retain it indefinitely.
Thinking it strange the new rule
should, even before any examination
had been held, effect tho discharge OF
any body, have taken the trouble to
get from friend in Richmond-a we'll
known member of the bar, and a de-
voted democrat-the following explana-
ton of the removal to which you refer
1.-The business of the Richmond post
Office having greatly increased, the
postmaster applied to the department
at Washington for an additional clerk,
especially for night work. He was in
formed that his Office had already all
the clerical force to which it was emit
tied, and that he must, therefore, ar
range for his present staff to perform
the additional work. Mrs. NJ, it is
said, could not undertake work al
night and therefore, and for that rea-
son alone, had to give place to some
one who could" 1t does not appear
from this that the new order had any
thing to do with the loss of her place
by Mrs. NJ, the lady of whom you
speak, and with whom | sympathize as
sincerely as you can do. l.. NJ. B.
Fairfax county, Va.
A letter from Richmond says the
above account is the one which the
postmaster gives rs the reason why
Mrs. Mela was turned out Of office
The general belief, however, is that
Mr.. Harrison is to put man in hel
place, merely that before going out o
office he may appoint civil service re-
publican partisan to the position. He
undoubtedly wants to leave as many
republicans in Office as possible under
the incoming democratic administra
ton, and it is very singular that Mrs
Mera's incompetency should bejust dis
covered after she has filled the place
acceptably for % years