Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-27
ON CLASSIFIED LST|TSA| SUM SEES TAFT
Taft Would Put 5000 Post Royal Chinese Prince Received
masters Under Civil Service at White House.
HITCHCOCK FATHER OF IDEA OFFICIAL VISITS ARE PAID
Call
gress Acquiesces. and Are Called Upon
PLAN ALASKAN RULE PRESIDENT TO BE DINNER HOST
Imperial Commission Drills
Admin stration Fort and
Taft Would Put 5000 Post
masters Under Civil Service.
HITCHCOCK FATHER OF IDEA
Money Order Offices Affected if Con-
gress Acquiesces.
PLAN ALASKAN HOME RULE
Cabinet Meeting Held-Economy in
Administration Discussed.
Ballinger to Stay.

President Taft will tomorrow issue an
important executive order placing be
tween 1000 and 5000 assistant postmas-
ters of money order offices. which in
cludes all the big cities of the country.
under civil service protection.
This action had hearty recommendation
from Postmaster General Hitchcock, in
line with his policy of making the pos
tai service generally a business establish
ment that will. within a few years, be-
come thoroughly self-sustainng.
The PreSident. upon advice of Postmas-
ter General Hitchcock, will recommend to
Congress the enactment of legislation that
will put all second and third class post
masters under civil service. removing
them entirely from the field of politics.
To a large extent this has been the
policy of the Post Office Department for
several years. Whenever second or
third class postmaster has made good
record the department has resisted, as
far as possible. congressional demands for
his change for political reasons.
But political influence still hangs over
these classes of postmasters. The safest
way to remove this. according to the
Postmaster General and the President is
to ask Congress to legally place them
under civil service laws and regulations.
If this plan should become successful,
postmasters in the future, with the excep-
tion only Of first-class cities, will receive
appointments upon competitive examina-
tions.
At the beginning of this fiscal year
there were 1,S2O second-class post offices
and poStmaSterS, and J,369 third-claSS
offices and postmasters. This would mean
over 1000 additions to the civil service
lists If Congress should act favorably on
the recommendation.
There are 46,947 money order post
masters in the United States. Only those
of the presidential class, first, second and
third rate. have assistant postmasters.
Mr.. Hitchcock's Pet Hope.
Mr.. Hitchcock's friends say he is de-
lighted with the prospect that he will
not be compelled to handle politics for
the administration. and will have oppor-
tunity during the next two years to de-
vote his time wholly to his pet project
of putting the Post Office Department on
a seif-sustaining basis. Mr. Hitchcock is
confident. too. that he will be able to do
this by the expiration of his term as
Postmaster General in the Taft cabinet.
Until recent months, when President
Taft determined that he would neither
use patronage nor any other influence to
have himself renominated Mr.. Hitchcock
patronage matter for the President that
lie could not give the time to the business
of the department that he desired. With
the President refusing to turn hair for
denomination Mr.. Hitchcock's political
job has not been a busy one
His pet hope of paying postal busi-
ness is absorbing his attention. He
earnestly wishes to be allowed to con-
tion.
President Taft is in sympathy with the
plans Of his Postmaster General as
shown by his prompt action upon the
questions presented by Mr.. Hitchcock at
the cabinet sessions that are in progress
Situation in Alaska.
Attorney General Wickersham and Sec
retary Nagel. who went through Alaska
this summer, have already begun verbal
presentation to the executive of their
views as to changes in the form of gov
ernment in the territory.
Both these cabinet officers will take
up the subject Of Alaska at greater
length with the President before the time
for writing his message to Congress. 1t
Is already assured that one result of the
visit will be that the President will make
important recommendations to Congress
next December for sweeping changes in
the form of government for the territory
Both cabinet officers feel that Alaska
is governed too much by lcng-distance
methods and that the people should be
given greater participation in terri
torial AFFAIRS. They find that Alaska Is
growing slowly, that her people are pa
triotic and Industrious. and that the fu-
ture has In store great development for
her.
They think that under these circum-
stances the people should have the right
of more self-government.
Mr.. Wickersham, without waiting for
laws. some months ago inaugurated in
the judicial department of the territory a
system that is much appreciated it is
said He directed the judges and federal
court ofiicials to travel over the territory
and hold court.
Before that time the people had to go
to the courts over great distances, and
at the expense of many weeks and
months OF time from their homes and
industries BY the Wickersham plan the
courts go to the people to hear the cases
In his last annual message the Presi-
dent asked Congress to change the form
Of government by allowing the appoint
ment by the executive. in addition to a
governor. OF an executive council, COM
posed of citizens of the territory this
council to have legislative powers to en-
act local laws adapted to the growth of
the territory. He did not, however. favor
the election OF territorial legislature.
claiming that the lack of permanent resi-
dence in the territory was big factor
opposed to immediate suffrage
Railroad Rate Problem.
Franklin h. Lane. interstate commerce
commissioner, visited the President TODAY
Mr. Lane recently returned from
Europe. where he went to attend the in
ternational railway congress, held in
Berne When he left for Berne he took