New-York tribune., 1903-07-20
SMITHS REPLY TO PR0CTER
Former Postmaster General Takes
I'm Alleged EUasions of Lac.

,.,,selrhia July 19-Forner Postmaster
-, charles Emory Smith has written a
80 70 Postmaster General Payne in reply
communication sent TO the Postmaster
r.rsral by John r. Proctor, president OF the
,~,.,, Service Commission, in which the latter
-,.,.,sed the administration of Mr.. Smith dur
s.0 his term as Postmaster General.
17,a main points TO which Mr. Smith takes ex-
,..t,on are Mr.. Procters attack on the classi-
sI.,,o, of persons at postoffices on the estab-
,,or..rt Of free delivery and the alleged pack
- ~ the rural free delivery division of the
-.,,ent in anticipation of its classification.
= .bs first point Mr.. Smith says the law pro-
-. Gov classified postoffices when the receipts
..h $4,000 q year. and on the second point
Gates that the statute, not the department,
=. the clerks of the new free delivery offices
she classified service. The letter. in full, is
as follows:
Philadelphia July IA. 1903
IL, Henry c. Payne Postmaster General.
cJr. You have sent me a copy of the letter
= NJ John R Proctor president of the Civil
Sar,,jce Commission, relating to the Postoffice
Senartment and the Washington postoffice, for
,1cb reply as 1 may deem fit The only impor-
tsnce / attach to any answer is that such
--oss rnisrepresentati ton of the facts should not
Se allowed TO become part Of the permanent
records without being accompanied by a state
The one-fhird of Mr. Procter's letter which
was in response 10 your inquiry and which i'm
,nediafely touches the Washington postofflce
nav properly be left to the answer of the post
master whom u directly concerns. The two
thirds which entirely outside OF the scope
NJ YOUR inquiry and which concern my admin
istration as Postmaster General involve two
points
rersons al postoffices on the establishment Of
free delivery in alleged evasion of the law, fol-
lowed by their transfer TO other portions of the
government service.
4E,a Dual
Free Delivery Division of the department in
'icipation of its classification
So far as ] see, these the only points
IN Mr.. Procters letter which relate TO my ad-
ministration. Let me meet them directly and
unresevedly
The law provides that when any postofice
shall become free delivery offlce-that is when
its receipts reach $4,000 a year-it shall he
classified and its clerks shall by that fact he
admitted 10 the classified service without being
compelled to pass a competitive examination.
Under this provision, I'm 1897. before I became
Postmaster General. some persons were ap-
pointed to offices about TO be classified and
parts Of the service. The practice thus intro
duced continued in a limited degree.
II Is the statute. not the department that
puts the clerks Of new free delivery offices into
the classified service. Their classification is a
matter OF law. Their transfer is a matter of
rule. No rule then prohibited transfer at aDy
time. and transfer was made without the
sanction Of the Civil Service Commission though
II objected to the practice. No rule even at this
udNs lVE BiuS transfer dI any time IN the eXaCtlV
parallel case where small unclassifed offices are
classified by being consolidated with larger
classified Offices.
NO CHANGE IN RULE.
Mr Proctor states that the commission twice
presented the matter to President McKinley's
attention-frst on June 20, 1898, and again on
June II. 1So0-recommendine him to modify the
rule 10 prohibit transfer until after six
months service. This is true. President Nc
hlnley took no action except 10 approve the
in he TaT@a
General, which is here inserted:
Postofice Department.
.rrs c,,-, Cd. washington; December q 1900.
Gentlemen. am in receipt of your letter of the
Z5th inst stating that The commission feels
3ngeo 70 repeat its protest with reference to the
!aolrect classification Of persons at postoices upon
transfer TO other portions of the government ser
In reply beg to state that some time before this
ioTTneo that directions had been given which it is
Character Whatever may have been the case in the
lEt any features Of the practice referred to which
were open To just criticism have been corrected In
me ordinary course Of administration some persons
al oeen appointed in offices at which free delivery
lle classlhed service this action having been taken
llieuL neing brought 10 the attention and without
me knowledge Of the head of the department
Ioa-i,g 80, l o. your commission to the President.
t5 ,-s eale : une 1900 you state: I'VE are graft
,I 10 record IN this connection that the advantage
|,!gn the Postoffce Department actually has taker
~ llls condition is minor IN extent in comparison
70 what this provision of the rules seems n nernit
he 'eli-sit Is justified in view OF the fact that
fir;- Ie QI such appointments from the be-
55ei1f 5 i IS ~ while large number of offices have
- H. sigsSlea i without any advantage being taken
.Ataoqgh the number Of cases has been limited as
mus indicated the exercise Of the authority with
o fdll review and except for conclusive reasons In
ZION ol me service Is rightly open to objec-
3 NLleh prohibited the practice and permitted ap-
zfter bei, q I5 ch3raeter only in emergency and
aiY ' ~ 'Als instruction your commission was fully
concur with your commission in the Judgment
- l'sL5.,eF IL IS practicable admissions to the
fJer application Of the approved tests Of merit and
800 - Tl Teas.h greatly regret that from July J.
,eri-t- ~ 1890. for Of a sufficient
7nst o. eiigib,es provided by the Civil Service
- Us -eepartment in meeting the requirements of a
SllF service; to make Ss5 appointments of post-
@eler with all the embarrassment If affsryrard 80
CHARLES EMORY SMITH.
POSTMASTER General
rms IS my reply TO Mr. Proctor. made NOT
-, - On december y, 1900 So far as 7
obyio,,e - py iep!y vas never answered and for
g. I0 Ieasohs 1t stated that the practice so
90 a II involved any abuse had hean and
nToulo oe stopped. I have but 10 turn to Mr.
'0''e' recent letter for the proof He saws:
posoIl nunoer Of persons thus entering classified
IN 1ea S5 transfers increased from in 1897 to %
- - IN .sss and reaching the maximum MN
1879 and in 1853 casing 10 10 IN 1871 IN
,.IE letter setting forth the fact Of recti7ca-
NJ D. s ~Iltteh on December ~ 1900 and
So, Ccler t,r says the transfers decreased TO
4iteen the next year. 7 need NOT co-oaa+ ~ -
- peculiar candor which made no acknouyI
co,' oT--.1r OF me removal of all just ground of
bo,L- lheh. and seeks TO suppress the truth
Doul IL now Nor need inquire whether +bie
= que 70 The fact that. after being so greatly
80 SEQ S ABOUT The mote in the departments
ly' LaLLlely' lbs transfers in three Years
among over two hundred thousand enonIo,-es
T.; giluc was painfully reminded Of the beam
,,ent , omH eye. namely, S96 forced appoint-
'''s' outside Civil Service rules in year and