The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-09-13
MISS TODD'S REMOVAL
DISMISSAL OF A POsTMISTRESS EX-
planned BY MIR. PAYNE.
Incumbents Of Fourth Glass Omces
Not Protected I'm Any Way by the
Civil-Service Laws.

WASHINGTON, Sept 12-Postmaster
General Payne to-day made the following
statement regarding his policy in the ap-
pointments Of fourth-class postmasters with
particular reference to the recent removal
of Miss Todd, the postmistress at Green
wood, Del: There is no law regulation or
rule which applies to the department or the
Civil-service Commission regarding changes
in fourth-class postofices excepting that
under the administration of President Nc
Kinley an informal rule was adopted that
a postmaster should not be considered as
liable to removal until he had served a term
of four years, unless for some cause affect
ing the propriety or ability of the postmas-
ter holding the office. When became post
master general 1 endeavored to prevent the
removal of postmasters of the fourth class,
even after they had served four years, un-
less 1t was for some good cause, but there
never was such rule formally adopted.
am pleased to say that for the most part
senator's and members of Congress have
acquiesced in the wish of the department.
There appears to be an impression that
after fourth-class postmaster has been
permitted to remain beyond four years that
he should then, by custom, be permitted to
remain announcer 1ull term or -FOUR years. No
such custom has ever obtained and
the practices of moving the officials at the
pleasure of the postmaster general has pre-
vailed, / believe, since the foundation of
the government until the modification which
was put into effect during the term of
President Mckinley. The civil-service laws
do not apply in any respect to fourth
class postmasters.
when the two Republican senator's were
elected in Delaware they were put. in their
relations to the administration. upon the
same footing as any other Republican
United States senators and were made adj
appointment of postmasters in the State OF
Delaware. For their conveniences the
State was divided. Senator Ball taking the
northern half of the State and Senator
Alec taking the southern half. This prac-
tice has prevailed in many of the other
States and is not single to Delaware. Green
wood Is located in Senator AleeS district.
lone of the rules governing the action OF
postmasters Is that a postmaster shall not
allow his office TO be made the headquarters
OF a political party or faction of a political
party, nor shall he be aggressively active in
stirring up factional Quarrels, political OIL
otherwise. Miss Todd. who was removed
from the Office at Greenwood. allowed hei
Office to be in effect the headquarters OF
her family, and herself 10 be the most act
i've factor in a factional political quarre
inside the Republican party. This she yir-
tually admitted in her interview with ms
and. according TO the rule referred TO above
was sufficient cause for her removal.
Undoubtedly il would be a great relief
to the department II the tenure of Office
of fourth-class postmasters was permanent
and stable during period Of good behavior
but this rule has never obtained under
any administration and no attempt has beer
made toward establishing such a rule UNI
til the present administration. Postmaster
ships of all classes have been universally
recognized as political appointments no
civil-service appointments. and no claim
has heretofore been made that they wer,
under the civil-service law. The depart
ment in dealing with senator's and member.
OF Congress must treat them uniformly
Mr.. Alec Is a senator of the United State:
just as much as Senator Hoar, OF Massa
chusetts. Us z senator"