The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-06-13
GRAFT WAS WORKED.
How Politicians Made Washing
ton 2. 0. Serve Their Ends.

Washington, June 13.-Chairman Proc
tor of the civil service commission to-
day 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 the civil service regulations
in the Washington postoffice.
In addition to the report proper and
transcript of the testimony. Mr.. Proctor
prepared summary of the findings.
This summary concludes as follows.
"A departure from the observance of
the civil service rules appears in the
promotions Of certain employees in the
Washington postofice which have
been directed by the department, al
though reports of efficiency are neither
requested nor received by the depart
ment.
THE information disclosed by the in
vestigatiOn seems to warrant the state
ment that appointments to classified po-
sitions in the Washington postoffice
without examination by the devious
method of appointment in small un
classified Offices or in offices about to
be consolidated. and subsequent transfer
and the appointments to those laborers
who were appointed and separated dur
ing the administration of the present
postmaster show a wide divergence in
policy from a strict regard for the pub
lie interest and afford indications that
the department used the Washington
postoffice for political and personal pur-
poses to an extent which left the au
thority Of the postmaster in transfers
and appointments of this sort but little
more than nominal and placed the Of
flee. in many respects. in the relation of
a bureau to the department
The investigation seems to show
clearly that most of the Irregularities
herein set forth were directed by the
department or requested or suggested
by high department officials. and in
either case came to the postmaster with
all the force of direction
The investigation indicates that the
employees who entered the service by
i transfer and without examination are
/ i'm general inferior to those appointed
through competition.
There was no necessity of anticipat-
/ ing the needs of the service by an ex-
/ cessive number of appointments Just
/ before classificat ton, for the commission
had registers of ellgibieS at that time
4 which were ample and also appropriate.
as IS shown by the fact that all but
l four of the 81 appointments which have
4 been made to the rural free delivery
service IN the District of Columbia and
outside since November q. 1901 were
from registers then in existence.
The appointments made under the
/ circumstances above set forth resulted
1 IN a congestion OF the service. and when
( reduction is to be made the employees
appointed for political or personal con.
siderations are cared for sometimes al
] the expense Of persons appointed upon
merit and without influence. The pass
! ing Of the war emergency the amend
ment on December 81 1901, of the rule
referring to transfers and new provi-
sions of the revised rules which be
came effective on April Is. 1903 will it
is believed prevent the continuance OF
these abuses in the classified service,
and the adoption at the earliest prac-
/ ticable date of regulations for the EN-.
/ ployment of labOrers in the Washington
/ postoh1ce in accordance with the ex-
ecutive order of March 26, 1903 win
there is reason to hope. put the employ
/ ment of laborers on the basis of fitness
and the needs of the service"