The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-06-13
"5Nost of the Irregularities
Were Directed by the De-
partmenf, - or Had "Au
the Force of a Direction. -
CIVIL SERVICE REPORT
Searly 400 Persons Inaprop-
erly oAppoi,lted ! in Past
Year-Rtrral Delibery SerD-
ice Was t.Packed.

Postmast~- General Payne made pub
lie this morning the report OF the Civil
Service Commission upon alleged viola
tions of civil service laws in the Wash
ington Postoffice. The report is long,
and accompanying it is a mass of testi-
mony obtained by the special agents Of
the Commission.
The report tnds that there have been
violations of the regulations in the
transfer from outside Offices to this
city of persons not entitled to civil
service positions.
In fixing the responsibility the re-
port continues:
''The investigation seems TO show
clearly that most of the irregularities
herein set forth were directed by the
department, OF requested or suggested
bg high departmental officials, and in
either case came to the postmaster
with all the force of a direction"
The report says further:
"Of the application of this practice 10
he Washington postoffice it may be said
hat at least twenty persons were ap-
pointed TO outside offices shortly before.
and transferred TO the Washington Office
shortly after, the establishment OF free
delivery in said outside Offices.
Eighteen of the twenty employees were
sither in unclassiaed positions in the
government service in Washington. or
.esided in Washington or it's vicinity at
he time of their nominal appointment.
.Only six ever entered upon duty in
The outside offices.
Eight OF them have been continuously
In the Government service in Washing
ION from dates preceding their nominal
appointments to outside Offices 10 the
present time. the formality OF appoint
nent and transfer having caused no
break in their service.
Ten of the employees took the oath
of their nominal appointments in Wash
lngton, seven took it in the outside
,ffices, and three have no recollection of
.aking IL at all. Four drew pay from
he outside Offices. but did no work there,
and one drew pay from the postoffice
At Salisbury, Md, for seven months,
serving there four or FIVE weeks, and
:he remainder of the time in the Wash
ngton postofice.
Cooperation Needed.
Most. If not all. of these cases in
Tolved the cooperation of the post
masters at the several outside Offices
with the department in evasion of the
Jaw. and the Washington postmaster
was similarly involved by the subse-
Iuent transfers of the persons SO ap-
pointed.
"The commission issued certificates
or these transfers under protest and
'ndeavored to stop the practice. insist
ng upon actual service in the outside
'ffice prior TO transfer. when it found
hat persons who had not so served
we're being transferred.
From March. 1897. TO May, 1909. there
rere hfty-six transfers to the Washing
;on Postofice. while during the same
ieriod there were only thirty-four trans
20 - INC POSecAiSSS IA DuAoiO, NiAClu-
iati. Cleveland. New Orleans, and Pitts
'urg. each of which has a greater popu-
alton than Washington.
Looking Ahead.
Closely akin 10 the cases Just con-
iidered are those OF at least four en-
'loyes appointed in small Offices shortly
before their consolidation with the
Washington Office. who were appointed
order that they might be covered by
he classification. rather than in the in
crest OF the service"
OF the fftynine laborers in the local
,ostoftice. seventeen are said to be per-
orming duties of a classified nature
Continued on Second Page.)