The Topeka state journal., 1909-02-27
PIE IS ALL GONE.
Members of Lower House of
Congress in Deep Water.
Notified That They Will Have
No POstoffices.
CIVIL SERVICE BASIS.
CIVIL SERVICE BASIS,
Department VIII Look After
Them Hereafter.
Eligibility Rules for Fourth
Glass POstmasters Given Out.

washington. Feb. 27.-'There," q"
said a member of the house. handing
out a printed letter from the post
Office department, sis the last evidence
that have no real utility in Wash
ington.'' He had just left the cham
ber, where Colonel Hepburn Of Iowa
was Illuminating against the rules
Colonel Hepburn has just shown
me that I am of no possible use ex-
cept to name postmasters; and now
look at this"
He read the letter from the post
Office department 1t set forth in re-
spectfuI but conclusive terms that the
member OF the house would not need
to make any more recommendations
masters, because the department
would run that business on the civil
service plan hereafter.
'On November 80 last" read the
letter. "the president issued an order
transferring 10 the classified service,
under the civil service, fourth class
change to take effect as soon as the
civil service commission could pre-
pare eligible lists of applicants for the
use of the postoffice department.
That work has now been completed,
and II viii therefore be unnecessary
for the department to ask you TO take
any further steps toward procuring
candidates to fill vacancies which
have heretofore been called to your
1t was a nice. polite way of telling
a statesman that all his pie-Or most
of it-had been taken away from him.
The rules apply to all the states east
of the Mississippi and north of the
Ohio and Potomac; it will presumably
be extended TO all the rest of the
country In fact, IT is understood that
the civil service commission has
fastened the preparation of lists in
the communities already subjected to
the order, so that it may be out of
the way and President Roosevelt or
new order within a short time apply
ing TO the rest of the states and ter
rftories.
About Il, 900 postoffices are affected
by the order just now going into ef-
feet. Some of the members of con-
gress are much displeaSed with the
rule, but probably quite as many are
glad to be relieved of the annoyance
OF making selections.
The postmaster general and the
civil service commission having
agreed on the regulation. the new
system of making appointments Of
postnasters of fourth class offices. in
accordance with the order of Presi-
dent Roosevelt of November 80 last,
placing such postmaSterS in the
classified service, is now in opera
ton. Henceforth it will not be by re-
quest of a member of congress. or on
the suggestion OF the referee, that
a. fourth class postmaster will be
named Examinations will be held to
secure eligfDIes with which to I'LL
vacancies as they occur. The exam
nations, it is announced, will be prac-
teal in character, and as far as pos
sible relate TO matters which will
fairly test the capacity and fitness Of
persons for the position of postmaster.
The positions will be divided into
two grades, those for which the COM
annually, for which an educational
test will be applied. due consideration
being given the facilities which the
applicant can furnish for the tran
saction OF postal business. The other
grade will include positions for which
the compensation is less than $500 a
year For these a simpler test will be
applied.
Under the new regulations no per-
son is eligible TO the position of post
master at a fourth class office who is
not a citizen of the United States. at
least twenty-One years old. except
women whose full age is fixed by state
statute at less than that age; who
does not actually reside within the
territory to be served. except where
there is not a sufficient number of
personally conduct the office; who is
mentally or physically disqualified or
addicted to the habituaI use of in
toxicating liquors, of their use to ex-
cess HAO AAdS DSCA ulSullSSEQ
the government service for deIin-
quency or misconduct; who has been
discharged from the military or naval
service for desertion; who has been
declared guilty of crime or infamous
or nOtoriOuS1y diSgraceful conduct
and who has Intentionally made a
false statement in connection with his
or her application for the position
In the future all male prisoners of
the District of Columbia who have been
sentenced to two years or less in the
penitentiary will be sent TO the federal |