The Washington times., 1901-11-17
DISC0RD In REGARD
TO CIVIL SERVICE.
RURAL CARRIER CLASSIFICATION.
President Wishes Rules Extended to
Fcee Delivery system-OppOsed
by Postmaster General.

President RooseYelts desire. expressed
several days ago. that all rural free de-
livery carriers be placed in the classi-
! fed service. was the cause of, and an i'm
| portant factor in. a consultation held yes
| terday between the members OF the Civil
| Service Commission. and A. W. Machen,
| General Superintendent of the Rural Free
Delivery Service The conference lasted
for nearly four hours.
None of the officials present would talk
for publication about what was said and
done while in session. It transpired how
ever, that no definite plan of action for
bringing about the desired resmt had
been decided upon, and that a number
of conferences would doubtless be nee
essary before an agreement was reach
ed between the officials concerned.
The Presidents Belief.
The President has openly expressed his
belief that the placing of the rural car
riers under the classified service would be
a wise move. The Civil Service Commits
sicners in all probability concur in this be
lief. Yet it is known that the PROPOSE
ton is not favorable TO the officials of
the Postoffice Department
Postmaster General Smith had prac-
tically decided, in the preparation of his
annual report, TO ask that the rural carri-
ers be given $500 a year instead of $500. as
at present He had also determined not
to recommend that the carriers be placed
under the civil service regulations
What effect the expressed wish of the
President and yesterdays and future de
liberatiDns of Mr.. Machen and the Civil
Service Commission will have upon the
views of the Postmaster General is not
known. In any case, his annual report to
Congress will probably be delayed in CON
sequence.
Views of superintendent Machen.
Superintendent Machen has been. and
doubtless still is, unless very recently
converted. strongly opposed to the plac-
ing of the 5000 rural carriers under the
classified service. He has said that what
the rural free delivery service really need
ed. and what was really necessary to the
procurement and retention of an efficient
force, was not a set of civil service rules,
designed for the protection of those in the
service and for imposing upon candidates
for positions, but rather more induce
ments. financial and otherwise, attached
to the position Of rural carrier.
Mr.. Machen considers that his ideas
have been proved by the fact that there
are twenty or thirty designations of rural
carriers received daily at the Department
This necessitatcs constant changes and
impairs the efficiency OF the force
The increase in the salary of rural car
riers which will be recommended to Con-
gress by the Postmaster General Will i'm a
MIR. Machen thinks. increase the
desirability of the positions in the eyes of
those eligible to fill them. But Mr.. Machen |
does not believe il necessary to hedge !
about positions of such class with civil !
service rules and regulations, unless the !
carriers are placed upon the same plane /
with the city carriers and given a yearly !
Increase in salary Of 800 if their work is |
and efficient. until the maxi |
mum of Fl, 900 is reached