Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-06-13
Civil Service Commissions Re-
port of Investigation of
Washington Postoffice
MERRITT is NOT TO BLAME
Heads of Divisions in the Postal De-
partment Used Washington Postof-
flee as Place in Which to Pay Poit-
ical Debts by Appointment of lncom-
petent Employees.

Washington, June 13. - Chairman
Proctor, of the civil service commission,
today submitted to Postmaster General
Payne the report made by the commits
sion at the request of the postmaster
general with reference to the charge of
violation of civil service regulations in
the Washington postoffice. In addition
to the report proper and transcript OF
testimony taken. Proctor presented a
summary of the findings. This sum
mary concludes In part as follows:
"A departure from the observance Of
the civil service rules appears in pro-
nIotions of certain employees IN the
Washington postoff1ce which have been
Greeted by the department, altho the
reports of efficiency are neither re-
quested nor received by the depart
ments. The information disclosed by
the investigation seems 20 warrant the
statement that appointments to the
classified positions In the washington
postotfice without examination and by
in policy from strict regard for pubic
interest and afford indications that the
department used the Washington post
office for political and personal pur-
poses to an extent which LETT the an-
thority OF the postmaster In transfers
and appointments of this sort but little
more than nominal and placed the Of
fice, in many respects, in the relation OF
bureau to the department. The IN
yestigation seems to show clearly that
most of the Irregularities herein set
forth were directed by the department
or requested or suggested by high de-
partmental officials and in either case
came to the postmaster with all the
force of direction.
with but few exception 1t appears
that Postmaster Merritt did not ini-
tiate any OF these improper appoint
ments or assignments, and his srespon-
sibility for them appears to be second-
airy. The investi'- " indicates that
the employees w I'D the service
by transfer and 1T examination
are. in general. IL elior to those ap-
pointed thru competition. Nearly all
the clerks and messengers in the rural
free delivery service, who were covered
into the classified service. were In po-
sitions in Washington. How many OF
these were appointed for reasons other
than the needs of the service is impos-
s:ble for the commission to determine.
But that the service was packed with
EMPLOYEES in the interests of individuals
is indicated by the fact that the num-
Der of appointments in the month of
classification was more than twice as
great as for the preceding four months.
The appointments made under the cir
cumstances set forth resulted in con-
gestion of service and when a reduction
is to be made employees appointed for
political or personal considerations are
cared for. sometimes at the expense OF
persons appointed upon merit and with
out influence. In relieving branches OF
the service thus crowded with en-
ployes, transfers are made to other
parts of the service to the injury of en-
ployes in line for appointment by rea-
son of their ascertained unfitness The
passing of the war emergency amend
ment on Dec. 81. 1901, of the rule re-
ferring to transfers and the new provis-.
ions of the revised rules which became
effective on April Is. 1908. will, it is
believed, prevent a continuance of these
abuses in the classified service. and the
adoption at the earliest practicable date
of the regulations for the employment
of laborer in the Washington postofffce,
in accordance with the executive order
of March 26, 1903, will, there is reason
to hope, put the employment of laborers
on a basis of fitness and needs of the
service"