Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-09
SEVERE REPRIM AND
PRESIDENT WRITES LETTER TO
PHILADELPHIA POSTMASTER.
Alleged Political Discrimination in
Selection Of Employes-Action Re-
suit Of Investigation.

President Roosevelt has written a letter
to Postmaster McMichael of Philadelphia
reprtmanding that official for alleged Do-
htfcal discrimination in the selection of
employees in the Philadelphia post Office,
certified to the postmaster there by the
civil service commission. The letter of the
President instructs Postmaster McMichael
to govern himself henceforth in accordance
with the rules of the civil service commits
sion.
This action was the result of an investi-
cation made by the commission on charges
filed by Robert B. jerks. secretary of the
Civil Service Reform Association of Phila-
delphla. The matter was taken up lmme-
diately by the civil service commission,
Examiner Wanamaker of the commission
being sent to Philadelphia to make a care
full scrutiny of the situation as outlined 10y
Mr.. jerks. The charges were. in effect,
that % per cent of the eligibles on the
clerks and carriers appointments register
for 1903 had been certified three times by
the commission and rejected by the post
master of PHILADELPHIA. This charge was
found, by Examiner Wanamaker to be
sustained by the evidence adduced during
his examination of witnesses to the num-
Der of 26, whose statements he took, and
whom he found had been rejected He
learned that a very small proportion OF
them were republicans, and that none had
secured Endorsement from any promi-
nent republican which had been transmitted
to the postmaster.
Right to Reject Eligibles.
Postmasters have the right to reject two
out of every three names certified to then,
by the commission but 1t was regarded
with suspicion that a much larger number
was passed over at Philadelphia than else
where
Commissioners Cooley and Greene, on
selected, and found that out of ~ of them
selected a random, 80 per cent were either
republicans. or had secured Endorsements
from prominent republican politicians. and
in nearly every case from the republican
leader of the division or ward in which
the appointee lived Some of those re-
jected. the report adds, were told by the
postmaster that their names had been
passed by because they were not known or
recommended to him.
Postmaster McMichael, when called on
by the commission, says the report, stated
that he had appointed no man who was not
known to him or recommended to him;
that the republican ward leaders were in
the habit of calling at his office and recon-
mending the appointment of various per-
sons from the eligible register He further
said, however, that he had accepted recon-
mendations from any reputable citizen
Report Of Commission.
The commission, in its report. recon-
mended:
1. That the postmaster at Philadelphia
should be reprimanded, and informed that
although the evidence did not conclusively
show that he had personal knowledge of
the state of affairs disclosed by the inves-
tigation, It was his duty to keep himself so
informed of matters connected with the
administration of his office as to render
impossible anything of Importance occur
ring without his knowledge.
2. That in view of the manifest injustice
done the eligibles who were certified three
times and not selected. their names should
be restored to the register and certified for
vacancies hereafter existing at the Phila-
delphia post office.
3. That the postmaster should be in
formed that while he had a right to reject
two of every three names certified. this
right was strictly limited by sections and
3 of rule 1. which forbid all political dis
elimination.
T. That the postmaster should be In
formed that the fact that person had
passed a civil service examination and was
within reach of certification gave that per-
son a prima facie right to the appointment,
and that his or her name should be passed
only for reasons affecting the efficiency Of
the service, and that in every case the bur-
den is on the appointing officer to show
some reason for passing over the name of
Such eligible