The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-01-15
Millennium at Hand for Civil
Service Commission.
Fourth Glass POstmasters to Be
Under the Umbrella"
TAKES AWAY POWER.
Have Effect of Weakening In
fluence of Congressman.
Pension Bills for Kansas Veter-
ans Pass the House.

w WdSnlnSIOn, u. e, JAM 10.-SOme-
thing like a millennium is at hand for
the civil service commission. When
the fourth class postmasters are all
under the umbrella, as they promise
to be ere many months roll by, prac-
tically every government employe,
who can properly be in the classified
service. will be under the commissions
jurisdiction It marks a great victory
in the struggle for the abolition of
"feudal administration and for the
civil service idea, which has been
styled chief of administrative reforms
for which the nineteenth century is
distinguished
Politicians in Washington no longer
go about ridiculing the ''snivel SER
vice" Congressman have ceased MAX
ing annual speeches against it for the
delectation of their spoils loving con-
stituents. The old prank of voting
down the appropriations for its main
tenance and support is no longer at
tempted in the house. The arguments
against the institution were never eff
fective, for which reason senate and
house resorted to the expedient of
poking fun. Now the commission is
becoming highly respected. Public
sentiment in its favor is so strong that
politicians are actually eager to cham
pion il.
The commission insists that the
presidents recent order will prove a
boon to the cause Of decent politics,
that it will take from the hands of
senators and members a power which
J has made for the Decentralization and
I the inefficiency of the postal service.
Hereafter fourth-class postmaster
| In states covered by the presidents
order-will not be permitted to serve
| on political committees, to attend any
| political conventions as delegates, to
make stump speeches, or to be active
| in political leadership.
/ GO &c "a fsNT 7fGci nm Of
the great success of this latest step
that there are already suggestions
about getting postmasters of the sec
ond and third class under the classi-
/ fed service. There are 1884 postof
/ fees of the second class, and 4,S6S of
the third class.
1t would all but eliminate the post
offices of the entire country from po-
litical considerations Democrats as
well as Republicans would be handl-
! ing the mails. The civil service COM
mission never asks the politics of
those who seek to get upon the elig-
ibie lists. Ability and fitness are the
sole qualifications There are but 384
postoffices of the first class in the
/ United States. There are so few OF
them in any state that congressman
| could not build up powerful political
machines by their aid.
A great howl went up from congress
a few years ago, when the carriers or
rural mail were classified. The Re
4
| rural carriers a fine opportunity for
taking care of party workers, said it
would never work 1t was folly to talk
about horse and wagon taking civ
| IL service examination. Today the
commission regards the efficient rural
carrier service as one of the best mon
uments to it's efforts. Fourth Assis-
tant Postmaster DeGraw, in his last
annual report, observed that "the high
standard Of efficiency maintained by
the rural carriers and their fidelity
and integrity are forcefully attested by
the fact that only 165 carriers out of
1 a total of 39,143 were dismissed for
| cause"
| The estimates of military expendi-
J lures for the next fiscal year. now In
the hands of congress, contain an esti-
mate of $165.000 for the construction
+ of an artillery drill hall at Fort Riley.
Five bills granting increased pen
sions to Kansas veterans have passed
the house The beneficiaries are:
Ithamar Richards. Company L.
Sixteenth regiment Kansas volunteer
i cavalry, s24 per month
Andrew J. Arensten, company E.
Seventh regiment Kansas volunteer
cavalry. $50.
Lewis A Edwards, company E.
Tenth regiment Kansas volunteer in
, Joseph Poe. company I. Thirteenth
regiment Kansas volunteer in
| fantry. $24.
George w Maxwell, company L,
Nineteenth Kansas volunteer cav
| airy. $12.
Mrs Miller. wife of the Kansas con-
| gresham, has arrived in Washington
and is at her home, 3213 Thirteenth
J street, northwest She will receive
informally Tuesdays throughout the
/ remainder of the season.
Pension bills have been introduced
in the house for Josiah Yoder and
Wellington B. McCurdy, both of Kan