The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-11-23
RURAL CARRIERS
TO FACE i. INQUIRY |''
Activity in Politics Likely to Be
Investigated as Civil Service
Law Violation.
BY w. w. Jermane.

Washington, Nov. 23.-That some dis
ciplinary measures will be taken by the
administration against rural mailcar-
riers who were too active during the
late campaign seems to be assured. Re
ports have been in circulation here for
The past ten days that the president
has ordered an investigation OF this
branch Of the service by the civil SER
vice commission. At the commission,
however, a denial is made of the state
been ordered. It is admitted, how
ever, that some acts Of certain men in
the rural carrier service have been dis
cussed by the commission, and the pres
ident, with a view to melting out pun
ishment, should an investigation dis
close violation of the civil service
law. . ID
The first discussion of this question
took place last spring, when congress
was considering the postoffce appro-
priation bill, which provided for an
increase in the compensation Of rural
carriers. It was charged at the time
that representatives of the carriers
were in Washington lobbying for the
Members Of the civil service com
mission thought then that, .inasmuch as
these men had been put in the CLASH
fed service, out of the reach of poll
ticians, and away from the danger Of
removal except for cause, they should
refrain from lobbying Ssor otherwise at
tempting to coerce congress into rails
ing their salaries. n"
49, Should shun Politics.
AS expressed by one oiff the commits
sioners, one of the implied conditions
in the classified service was that the
incumbents should refrain from any
participation in politics. Recently
promulgated regulations forbid lobby
ing. :. 4 IA 10
Stories have. been circulated that
Chairman Cortelyou and Representative
Overstreet of Indiana had been ap-
Selves to favor legislati Il fort for Che rural
tack 'ckl' on them, partisalafy overstreet.
These stories have been discussed by
the president and the civil service com
mission. But according to one Of the
commissioners, no order for an inves-
tigation has yet been issued by the
president, ....a. .~,..s 49, b. F.. 100
The civil service law does not au-
| thorize the commission to make such
an investigation, but, other inquiries
of similar character have been made
upon the request of the president, as
will be done in this case if he should
QlrecC IL. t.-.L. .... a4e,. 49, -. r..
Probe First, Talk Afterward.
| Fourth Assistant Postmaster General
Bristow, who is in charge of the rural
free delivery service, refused to dis.
cuss the question of an investigation
He said that the way to go about such
a thing is to make an investigation and
tell about it afterward, and not to
make public announcement of the fact
in advance. s>.as,t# .. -.-:--r -. -.
Postmaster General Wynne said nc
investigation was being made by his
department. Information relating tc
rural carriers had been furnished the
civil service commission, and that was
as far as his knowledge went. :.
Altho the information given out is
rather negative, there is strong prob
ability that an investigation will be
made, and that steps will be taken tc
prevent a recurrence, of lobbying or
behalf Of this special branch Of the
postal service, and the punishment will
be dealt out to men in the service who
have been too active in politics, should
the investigation disclose them. ...r
See Stockwe1l soon-That life insur,
l ho nIr