The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-09-15
LAST EDITION
OFFICES ARE FEW
That Are at the sposal OF
the Postmaster.
A Little Side Light On Some OF the
Recent Peculiar Dismissals.

The desperate attempts on the part of
the Democratic State central committee,
to create public sentiment antagonistic TO
the administration of Postmaster George
for the reason that he retained the
experienced and valuable services Of Col.
Charles III. Williams as his assistant and
also recognized the ability and efficiency
OF other Republican employees rather than
substitute some of the hungry and impor-
tunate fellows who pride themselves upon
their invaluable services to the party,
have been governed by their desire 10
make an opening for the elevation OF their
veteran treasurer to the head OF the de-
psrtment. They are praying that with
his selection by the authorities at
Washington that there will be .
wholesale discharge OF employees
in every department.. Thay
hallucination. They should bear in mind
that there is civil service commission
at Washington who proceeded, before
adopting the rules and regulations gov
erning the appointment of employees ol the
postal department to ask the postmastcr-
general to name such paces.as he desired
to be excepted. His reply as affecting the
appointment OF only seven OF the en-
ployes was solely and exclusively
with the jurisdiction OF the
postmaster. Those appointments CONF
prise the assistant, chief clerk, two stamp
clerks, two money order clerks, aud the
cashier and book keeper. They arc di-
rectly responsible to the postmaster and
inesmuch as they are entrusted
with the handling or the funds OF the
of the office, naturally that Official
exercises the utmost care aud dis
elimination I'm then selection. The ether
employees of the department which NUM-
ber from III to 100, secure their appoint
ment through the agency of the civil SER
vice commission by competitive eganina-
tions and hence are directly under gov
ernmental jurisdiction.
Such being the case, the ambitious sucs
cessor to Mr.. George doubtless envies his
fellow Democrat, Colonel O'Reilly. the
collector, who is not hampered in any .ay
by civil service restrictions, but controls
all of the appointments which are equal
to the full force of employees OF
the postal department. The announces
ment in yesterdays papers that Collector
O'Reiily had made four decn0itotions " N
hailed with great g!ee % = tasted VI y
what was termed the dilators and undefs--
ocratic policy pursued by Postmastpr
George. That gentleman, however, with
a determination to maintain high stand
ard of efficiency In the most important
branch OF the department found that toi.s
Williams services were Indispensable
and he has asked for thorough inye3ti-
CATION of the charges directed at his as
sistant. Tho dispensation OF seven OFF,
ces could be a soul harassing task with
such small army OF hungry solicitors
and the promoters of the scheme may
well afford to kick themselves when their
constituency calls upon them for the de-
livery of the goods.
The arrival of the mail which should
contain matters of public interest from
the national capital, did not contein any
additional information with reference to
the alleged postoflice sensation. The
notification of the removal of other em-
ployes which had been oresbadowed in
Acting Postmaster Jones' diatribe did
not materialize. There are all sorts Of
rumors flying about to the effect that the
situation is growing hotter, but they APP
pear to originate from the source from
which the sensation was sprung. One Of
the latest "dcvelopments," so-caiicd,
is the discovery that employees of the
department who were members OF the
Legislature, had been excused to attend
the services and they had drawn their full
pay as carriers just the same. Postmaster
George says that he knows OF no such in
stance nor would 1t be allowable under the
rules of the department. There was an
instance where an employe in Nhe stamp
department was member OF the City
Council, but he resigned that poSition,
and he was Democrat.