Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1909-02-28
DOOR TO THE PIE
PANTRY IS NOW
LOCKED UP
Congressman Begin to Feel
They Are Of No More Use in
Cold, Cold World, Thanks to
Civil Service Reform,
Morning Journal Bureau.
ola Munsey Building,

Washington, II. G., req. 20
There" said a member of the
house, handing out a printed letter
from the postoffice department, lis
the last evidence that | have no real
utility in Washington. He had just
left the chamber. where Colonel Hep
burn of Iowa was Illuminating against
the rules, and demonstrating to the
house that il Is really composed of
Joseph G. Cannon, % Illinois.
Colonel Hepburn has just shown
me that | am OF pt possible use eX-
ccpt to name ~postmasters; and now
look at this"
He read the letter from the post
office department. 1t set forth in
respectful but conclusive terms that
the member Of the house would not
need to make any more recommends
tons for appointment of ~fourth-class
postmasters. 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 to the classified service
under the civil service, fourth-class
~postasters in certain states, n
change to take effect as soon as the
civil service commission could pre-
pare eligible lists of applicants for
the use of the p~ostoffice department.
That work has now been completed.
and It will therefore be unnecessary
for the department to ask you to
a.. - 800. e...tsn, ytarg hazard pfn-
curing candidates to fill vacancies
which have heretofore been called to
your notice"
1t was a nice, polite way OF telling
a statesman that all his pic--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. II VIII pre-
sumabIy be extended to all the rest
of the country. In fact, II is under
stood that the civil service commits
sion has FASTENED the preparation of
lists In the communities already sub
jccted to the order. SO that it may
be out of the way and President
Roosevelt, or his successor, Mr.. Tatt,
may issue a new order within a short
time. applying to the rest of the
states and territories.
About $1,000 postoffices are affec-
ted by the order lust now going INTO
effect. Some of the members Of con-
grcss are much displeased with the
rule. but probably quite as many arc
glad to be relieved of the annoyance
of making selections.
Hcnceforth it will not be by request
of d member of congress. or on the
suggestion Of the referee h a "a
fourth-class postmasters will be
named. Examinations viii be held
to secure eligibles with which to fiji
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 Viii
fairly test the capacity and fitness OF
persons for the position of post
master.
The positions will be divided into
two grades. those for which the COM
~pensation amounts TO $500 or more
annually, for which an educational
test viii be applied. due consideration
being given the facilities which the
applicant can furnish for the trans
action Of postal business. The other
grade viii include positions for which
the compensation is less than $500 a
year. For these d simpler test viii
be applied
Under the new regulations no per-
son is eligible to the position Of post
master al "A fourth class office who
is not "a citizen OF the United States.
at least twenty-one years old. except
women. whose fuli age is fixed by
state statute at less than that age,
who does not actually reside with
in the territory 10 be served. except
where there is not q sufficient num-
Der Of applicants who do: who would
not personally conduct the office,
who II mentally or physically disqual-