The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-06-14

report proper and a transcript of the testi-
mony taken, Mr.. Proctor presented sum-
mary of the findings. This summary says:
"A departure from the observance of the
civil service rules appears In the promo
ton of certain employees in the Washing
ton postoffice which have been directed by
the department. although reports OF eff
cheney are neither requested nor received
by the department.
THE information disclosed by the In
vestigatfon seems TO warrant the state
ment that appointments TO CLASSIFIED posi-
lions In the Washington postoffice without
examination, by the devious methods or
appointment OF those laborers who were
appointed and separated during the ad-
ministration Of the present postmaster,
show wide departure in policy from a
strict regard for the public interest and
afford indications that the department
used the Washington postoffice for polit-
ical and personal purposes TO an extent
which left the authority OF the postmaster
In transfers and appointments of this sort
but little more than nominal and placed
the office, in many respects, in the rela-
ton OF bureau to the department
The investigation seems TO show clear
ly that most OF the irregularities herein
set forth were directed by the department
or requested or suggested by high depart
mental officials, and in either case came
to the postmaster with all the force of
a direction. The investigation indicates
that the employees who entered the service
by transfer and without examination. are,
in general, inferior to those appointed
was packed with employees In the interests
of the individual is indicated by the fact
that the number of appointments in the
month of classification was more than
twice as great as for the preceding four
months These appointments resulted In
congestion of the service. and when
reduction Is to be made the employees APP
pointed for political or personal consid-
Grafton are cared for, sometimes at the
expense of persons. appointed upon merit
and without influence.
relieving no branches
thus crowded with employees, transfers are
made TO other parts of the service, to the
injury OF eligtbles in line for appointment
by reason of their aScertained fitness"
Mr.. Proctor was in conference with POST
master General Payne for an hour to-day
regarding the report. Later Mr.. Proctor.
in a verbal statement to newspaper men,
said that in all his experience with the
postoffice he had had less trouble since Mr..
Payne's incumbency than at any other
time The postmaster general gave out the
following statement regarding the report:
Attention is called to the fact that since
my incumbency of the position of postmas-
ter general the Civi-service Commission re-
port that there have been but ten persons
transferred to the Washington city post
office by appointment from smaller offices,
ana that these ten Were appointed 10 their
TO their transfer, which is In compliance
with the law, rules and regulations of the
civil service as they now exist. 1t will be
noted that the commission report that eV-
cry person occupying a competitive classi-
fed place in the Washington postoffice is
there by right of certificate regularly is
sued by the Civil-service Commission.
Regarding unskilled laborers. which
have not been subject to classification, Ii is
proper to say that there has been much
consideration of this question the part
of the Civil-service Commission and the de-
partment and many conferences have been
had on this subject. On July q 1902 an
agreement was reached and regulations
adopted which were agreed to by the Civil
service Commission and the department
which will do away with all cause for COM
plants as to Irregularities in the appoint
ment of this class of employees. The point
raised by the report regarding the promo
ton of certain employees in the office, which
have been authorized, occurred previous to
Jan. /, 1902. No such directions for promo
ton as are referred to have been author
lied by me since l have been postmaster
general"