The Globe-republican., 1905-11-30

Reported From y kAehjngt0R Y That.
q Postmasters will n0t ~ Cha 6<4 i

Reported From AehingtaP Y Thai
Postmasters will nJt W chhl sM
W II 4 dispatch sent out from Washsngq
ton recently Is true the majority oflposE-
masters now holding office illbe retain.
\ ed and The fght for the ofilce which u
\ already on III many towns Will be settled
7 III Z way never known heretofore. Ths
dispatch referred to says;
sThe most important changes 10 the
organization Of the United States mail
service were not indicated In the general
order which was made public coupleof
days ago. l.ass
Along talk with Postmaster General
\ Uortslyou brings out the fact that 6rst
class postoffices are to b included IN the
merit system, and no longer arc to N
treated AZ political spoils. n
X This news is sensational enough 70
stagger the politicansand the postmastsrs
but they will soon be convinced.
Good postmasters VIII be retained 10
office! That is the simple announcement
which the pnblicis asked to take literally.
No matter II the county chairman u d.
posed and the rival faction gets the
organization. No matter II the editor Of
IRE other paper insists that II 70 now "hIs
turn" No matter what the Congress-
man and both United States Senatcrssay.
"Of course that sounds revolutionary.
1t Is a hard dose to swallow. But Cortsl-
you Is not given to talking, and behind
Cortelyou Is Roosevelt,
The first principle entering into Cor
telyou's reorganization scheme Is that
the heads OF the larger poslc flices--and
that means all above the grade OF fourth
elass---are to have larger powers and .
fuller measure Of discretion.
"Up to this time the postmaster has
been seriously hampered by the Waslng-
ton department. He had to run tre-
mendous business, and yet he could not
turn around without asking the consent
and approval Of some red tape artist Ia
the national capital, even to buying q
cuspidor.
"Then all the postmasters are to be
rated on the merit plan. Records Of
efficiency will be kept In the Washington
Offices, and every man will have rating
He will be either excellent, good, fair or
poor. Unless be keeps in the nrst or
second class he will not hang on very
long.
"But where does the Senator and the
Congressman get eff?
$50 fur as they have been heard from
they profess to be- satisfied. Settling
postoffice tights is generally conceded to
be the bane Of the Congressman's life.
It is very nice to have spoils to distribute;
but when there is only one office, and the
town is divided into two bitterly hostile
camps over who is to get the one job, the
Congressman stands to lose.
"Many Congressman has been de-
feated for reelection by some pestiferous
postofflce fight. Under the new regime
he will sit back and smile and pass It al
up to the Postmaster General. /
"Of course, the United States Senate
may get jealous of Its sacred "preroga-
tlves." The senate has to "conhrm"
theae appointments. II aay Senator
wants to protect his "pork" he may re-
fuse to confirm man with an excellen
rating, and insist on henchman with no
rating.
sSuch possibilities make the new de-
parture all the more interesting.
"There are about $4,000 postoffices
which will be affected by the newpolicy."