The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-11-08

Buffalo, N. Y, Nov. S.-The postal de-
partment of the United States was de-
clared 20 be tho worst in any highly
meeting of the National Civil Service
Reform league here yesterday.
This condition was said TO he due TO
the fact that "unsavory birds" are put
ting inexperience at the helm, making
custom houses and post offices political
headquarters. forcing subordinates into
political work and evading civil service
rules.
The whole situation as to senate-con-
hrmod officers was asserted TO be unsat-
tsfactory and II was declared that men
paid out OF the public treasury as high
government officials are really campaign
managers of members Of congress ana
chosen for political and no; official ft-
ness.
The meeting Is the 9th annual session
of the organization and has brought to-
gether many prominent men from all
parts of the country.
Governor Charles r. Hughes and
Charles J. Bonaparte. attorney general of
the United States, made the principal ad-
dresses.
The annual report OF the national coun-
Gil. read by Richard Henry Dana of Bos-
ton. the chairman, mentioned politicians
by name and condemned what he termed
their shortcomings. The report said:
UNDUE POLITICAL ACTIVITY.
For the first time In a number of years
we have no extensions of the civil service
rules In the national government TO re-
port, nor. on the other hand. has any
class OF employees been withdrawn
tn 1na aitf aQqn NJ no
political activity among government EN-
ployes, We note two milestones as we
progress One is the policy established
that no government employc, even outside
the competitive classified service. shall
at the same time, hold an office in a
party organization, or allow his political
work to Interfere with his official duties
The other is the executive order giving
the civil service commission power 10
Investigate cases Of undue political ac-
tiyity of employees I'm the competitive
classified service. Among these employees
no political activity is permitted"
In this connection the cases OF Collin
u. Woodward deputy surveyor of the
port of New York: G.. Wesley Thomas
collector at Philadelphia, and Archie
Sanders. collector at Rochester. are men.
toned.
dent established by President Roosevelt
in the appointment OF postmaster for
New York city.
Instead OF making Il a political plum
Che assistant postmaster was promoted "a
the head OF the great New York post.
Office. Why not always promote someone
trained I'm the department. IL the assist.
ant postmaster or some other subordinat,
is not capable, why not promote the post.
master OF some neighboring office who
has shown ability?
SEVERAL "UNSAVORY BIRDS"
with such a system as this" the re-
port continues, 1--WE could kill several un-
Eayory birds with one stone. Some OF
these unsavory birds are putting inexpe-
rience at the helm. making custom houses
and postoffices political headquarters.
forcing subordinates into political work.
causing evasions OF civil service rules
end giving the country the worst postal
department OF any highly civilized coun-
try I'm the world. We should have. In
stead, experience where IL would do the
most good an the ambition OF subor-
dinates stimulated by the hope OF promo
ton"
The policy established by the adminis-
tration not 10 make changes IN fourth
class postmasters without good cause is