The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-06-15
POSTOFFICE OFFICIALS
IGNORE CIVIL SERVICE
Continued From First Page.

were brought into the classified service
within the last few years by classif-
cation. having been appointed without
examination under the rules, were
thirty war emergency employees, clas-
sif1ed by the act Of April %, 1902;
twelve made permanent under para
graph IT Of rule VIII, and 1913 CLASH
fled in the rural free delivery service
on Nov 27, 1901. The total number of
employees in these three classes who
entered the service upon considera-
lions other than fitness, as ascertain
ed by competitive examination, was
$50.
Nearly all Of the clerks and messen-
gers in the rural free delivery service
who were covered into the classified
service were in positions in Washing
ton, d. c. One hundred and thirty
three Of them were appointed prior to
july l, 1901; tWenty-SiX were appoint
ed in the four months Immediately
preceding the classification, and fifty
six were appointed in the twenty six
days preceding classification. How
many Of these were appointed for rea-
sons other than the needs of the serv-
ice 1T is, of course, impossible for the
commission to determine, but that the
service was packed with employees in
the interests Of the Individual is indi-
Gated by the fact that the number Of
III lIlG uiOuIu OIL Inc Gas
SInca1on was more than twice as
great as for the preceding four months
This assumption is strongly supported
by the fact that during the entire
eighteen months that this service has
! been classified there have been seven
teen persons selected for appointment
| to positions within the District of CO.
lumbia, as against fifty-six clearks ap-
| pointed during the twenty-six days
| preceding the classification
Excessive Appointments.
There was no necessity of anticipat-
| ing the needs of the service by an ex-
/ cessive number of appointments just
| before classification, for the commits
| sion had registers of eligibles at that
| time which were ample and also ap-
propriate as Is shown by the fact that
! all but four of the thirty-seven ap-
| pointments which have been made to
| the rural free delivery service in the
| District Of Columbia and outside since
| Nov. q, 1901. were from registers then
| in existence.
The appointments made under the
| circumstances above set forth resulted
| in a congestion of the service, and
when a reduction is to be made the
| employees appointed for political or
personal considerations are cared for,
| sometimes at the expense of persons
| appointed upon merit and without in
! f1uence. In relieving the branches of
| the service thus crowded with en-
ployes. transfers are made to other
| parts of the service. to the injury Of
| eligibles in line for appointment, by
reason Of their ascertained fitness
The passing of the war emergency
! the amendment on Dec. 81, 1901, of the
! rule referring to transfers, which be-
| came effective on April Is, 1908. will,
| it is believed. prevent the continuance
| of these abuses in the classified serv-
| ice, and the adoption at the earliest
practicable date of regulations for the
employment Of laborers in the Wash
| ington postoffice. in accordance with
the executive order of March 26, 1908,
will, there is reason to hope, put the
employment Of laborers on the basis Of
! fitness and the needs of the service.