The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-06-16

ing Justification. How many Of those
were appointed for reasons other than
the needs Of the service it is, of course,
impossible for the commission to de-
termine; but that the service was pack
ed with employees in the interests OF
the individual, is indicated by the fact
that the number of appointments in the
month of the classification was more
than twice as great as for the preced-
ing four months.
Ihe 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 con-
siderations are cared for. sometimes at
the expense OF persons appointed upon
merit and without influence. In reliev-
ing the branches of the service thus
crowded with employees, transfers are
made to other parts of the service, TO
the injury Of eligbles il line for ap-
pOintment by reason Of their ascertain
ed fitness.
The passing of the war emergency,
the adoption on December II, 1901 of the
rule relating to transfers, and the new
provisions Of the revised rules which
WILL il is believed, prevent the continu-
ance of the absuses in the classified SER
vice, 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 26th 1903 will,
there is reason to hope, put the employ
ment of laborers on the basis of fitness
ha IF ~
The investigation was made in re-
SponSe to a request dated May 4th made
by the postmaster general.
Mr.. Proctor was in conference with
Postmaster General Payne for an hour
today regarding the report. Later Mr..
Proctor in a verbal statement to news
ence with the postoffice he had had less
than at any other time. The postmas-
ter general gave out the following state
ment regarding the report:
''AttentiOn is called to the fact that
since my incumbency of the position Of
postmaster general the civil service
commission reports that there have
been but ten persons transferred to the
Washington city postoffice by q post
these ten were appointed to their re-
spective places six month or more prior
to their transfer. which is in compliance
with the law, rules and regulations of
the civil service as they now exist.
THE point raised by the report re-
gardihg the promotion of certain en-
ployees in the Office which have been
directed by the department, occurred
oh,
directions for promotion as are referred
to have been authorized by me since I
have been postmaster general. The
postmaster general today made
the following announcement: The
report Of the civil service COM
mission on the condition of the Wash
ington postoffice having been made
public today the postmaster general
stated that he hoped to receive the re-
port of the inspection of the office, re-
Gently completed by postoffice inspec-
tors, in time TO make public it's salient
points within two or three days. How
ever, if there is delay in receiving this
report the other papers in the case
will be made public as soon as they can
be prepared. They will cover the reply
of General Bristow to the letter of the
pos SLlldSleI general, asking LOT lllOIIlld-
ton concerning the sO-called Tulloch
charges, together with the report of the
inspectors made at the time of the
transfer Of the Washington office from
POstmaster Willett TO Postmaster Mer-
ritt, which transfer was made July L,
1899; and also the report of the inSpec-
ton of the Washington office made July
l, 1900. The orders of the postoffice de-
partment, in consequence Of such report
and the action of Postmaster Merritt
| thereon; the action of Postmaster Smith
upon the charges made by Mr.. Tulloch
| about July l. 1899; and upon the report
| Of the inspectors at that time will be
| given to the public"
| United States District Attorney John
| c. Rose, OF Baltimore, was in confer
| ence with Mr.. Bristow today regarding
| the trial Of NIcGregor and Upton, the
| former rural free delivery clerks, ar
rested for alleged collusion with q pos.
| tai contractor. Miss Liebhart, chief
| clerk Of the free delivery system, was
| summoned TO Mr.. Bristow's office to ex-
| plain some Of the papers in connection
| with the case. Mr.. Rose said he expect.
ed the two men would be tried during
| the present term of the court, in Bal
! postmaster general today took occa
| sion to deny the report that he had the
| most sensational arrest in the investi.
| cation about to occur.