The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-06-13


The inquiry covered the following
points:
l-whsther all Of the employees outside
She force Of carriers were regularly In the
service and entitled to their positions;
S-whether the civil service rules had
been observed In the employment and as
agnment Of laborers. and
s-whether there had been a general
observance OF the civil service law and
rules In the administration OF the W(ish-
lngton pcstofrice during the incumbency
Of the present postmaster.
In addition to the report proper and a
Proctor presented summary OF the ind
tngs. This summary concludes as fol-
lows:
DEPARTURE FROM RULES.
"A departure from the observance OF
the civil service rules appears In the pro
emotions OF certain employees In the Wash
f1ngton postoffice. which have been direct
iof efficisncy are neither requested nor re-
Lcefved by the department A case In
ipoint is that OF a lady who was nomi-
bSs never m nf et tSs
spoetofftce; who owed her appointment 10
<he classification transfer method; was
promoted from Sept l. 1900. to July y 1901,
OF the department. and Is doing the WORK
formerly done by an employe who re-
recetved a compensation of only $1,000 per
The information disclosed by the inves-
&gation seems TO warrant the statement
that appointments 20 classified positions
In the Washington post Office without
examination, by the devious method OF
appointment IN small unclassiied offices,
or IN offices about to be consolidated,
and Subsequent transfer and the APP
infy ar<a Of 10 xrha
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
afrord indications that the department
used the Washington post Office for po-
aiticai and personal purposes TO an extent
which left the authority OF the postmas-
ter In transfers and appointments OF this
sort but little more than nominal. and
placed the offics In many respects I'm the
relation Of bureau 10 the department.
WHERE THE FAULT IS.
The Investigation seems to show clearly
that most OF the irregularities herein set
north were directed by tho department.
or requested or suggested by high depart
mental officials and In either case came
20 the postmaster with all the force OF a
direction
W4th the exception OF the appointment
. Of eight laborers. afterward separated.
three clerks appointed to offices about
20 De classified. and one employe appoint
I'd In the Good Hope District OF Column
bia) post office just before its consoli-
dation. II appears that Postmaster Mer-
g1tt did not initiate any OF these improper
appointments or assignments.
The investigation indicates that the en-
ployes who entered the service by trans
Ter and without examination are in gem
oral. referred to as appointed through
competition. The Investigations made by
me commission show that many OF the
persons who entered the service by trans
Ger had failed upon competitive examin-
alton, were from states which were in
excess OF the apportionment. or had not
passed with sufficiently high grades 10 be
reached for appointment by the regular
methods.
THE CLASSIFIED SERVICE.
Among the employees In the department
- In the postoffice service who were
brought into the classified service
within the last few years by classified
don. having been appointed without ex-
animation under the rules, were thirty
war emergency employees classified by
the act Of April Is. 1909. twelve made per
manent under paragraph IL OF rule VIII
and s3s classified In the rural free deiiv-
cry service on Nov. n. 1901
Nearly all OF the clerks and messengers
IN the rural free delivery service who
were coverted into the classified service
were In positions In Washington, d. C..
: One hundred and thirty-three OF them
were appointed prior 10 July l. 1901; %
were appointed In the four months fmme-
diately preceding the classification: and
IS were appointed In the 26 DAYS preced.
ing classification. How many OF these
were appointed for reasons other than
The needs OF the service II is. OF course.
impossible for the commission TO deter
mine; but that the service was packed
with employees in the interests OF individ-
uais Is Indicated by the fact that the
number of appointments IN the month Of
She classification was more than twice $
great as for the preceding four months.
EXCESSIVE APPOINTMENTS.
There was no necessity OF anticipatine
the needs OF the service by an excessive
number OF appointments Just before
classification. for the commission had reg
listers OF eligibies at that time which
were ample.
The appointments under the circum-
stances above set forth resulted I'm a con-
Gestion Of the service and when a reduc.
tion II TO be made the employees for DO
liticai or personal considerations are cared
for sometimes at the expense OF persons
appointed upon merit and without in
nuence. In relieving the branches of the
service thus crowded with employees
transfers are made 20 other parts OF the
service. 10 the injury OF elgibles in line
Cor appointment by reason OF their ascer-
tnfned fitness.
The passing OF the war emergency. the
amendment OF Dec. IL. 1901. OF the rule
Yeis ting to trane 'ers and the new provis-
Sons OF the revised rules which become
effective on April rs. 1903. viii. II Ia be
1ieved. prevent the continuance OF these
obus>s IN the CLASSIFIED service. and the