The Laclede blade., 1911-12-29
COMPETENT POSTMASTERS
Ills The Firm Policy OF tho Administration to
Retain and ReappOint Them
From National Tribune.


any at all, in the administration s
policy of retaining postmasters in
presidential Offices on their rating
of efficiency: They decline to be-
lieve that President Taft and The
postmaster general are strictly adj
herring to the policy adopted by
President Roosevelt which practic-
ally divorced these jobs from poll
tics. In other words, the common
belief prevails that the existing
rule is kept in force merely as a
protection" for members of con
gress against the hungry polite
ians, and is subject to more or less
elasticity.to fit the case,
The rigid enforcement of this
policy in the postoffice department
is causing a sad awakening every
day in the year to politicians when
they are confronted with the real
conditions respecting these appoint
ments. ------
Presidential postoffices are no
longer patronage. This is a cold,
sad fact, and strikes the average
member of the house to the vital
part of his heart. There are, of
course, some few members Of the
house who welcome with cheer this
hide-bound policy, which relieves
them of the responsibility of decid-
ing many political quarrels in their
districts that generally foment to a
disrupting degree among their po-
Litical friends and supporters.
Recent correspondence between
President Taft and Congressman
Philip B. Campbell of Kansas LAYS.
to rest all doubt as to the policy OF
the administration respecting the
appointment of presidential post
masters, which include all offices OF
the first, second and third classes.
Mr.. Campbell asked the presl-
dent if the latter would appoint
present incumbents for another
term or new postmasters on shls
recommendation without regard to
the position of the postoffice de-
partment on the rating of the old
postmasters. The congressman
letter of inquiry, which has just
been made public, follows:
House of Representative Nov. ii, 1911. |
'Mv Dear Mr. President L wrote the
postmaster general on the 4th 1nst.' saying
that the commissions of number of post
masters in my district would expire within
two or three months, and asked him II ap-
pointments would be made on the expir&-
ton of these commissions on my recon-
mendation without regard to the rating OF
the postmaster whose commission was eX-
e piring. Ihave the epoStmaSGer-geneFdlS > ISt-
ter of the nth inst, saying that the depart
ment win at the expiration of the terms OF
presidential postmasters recommend them
.forreappointment when their serViceshaVe
been satisfactory to the department.
Now, want to know whether or not
Won will appoint either the old postmasters
for another term or appoint new one that
I may recommend. without regard to the
dana ms
the rating OF the old postmaster. Very
truly yours P. Campbell"
Here is the presidents reply:
"The White House. Nov 15 1911.
Hon. p p Campbell, House of Represen-
tatives
MY Dear Campbell: I have your inquiry
of Nov IA in regard to prospective Vacan-
cies in the postofaces in your district
MY predecessor adopted the policy of
retaining ef1cient postmasters In the ser
vice, and 1 have continued that practice.
If the postmasters whose terms are about
to expire have made efficient and altogeth-
= er satisfactory ofieers of the government,
they are entitled to reappointment. If the
postoface department recommends that
change be made, I shall invite you to nom
mate new candidates. Sincerely yours
VIM. d. Taft
The postmaster general declares
the policy of retaining efficient
postmasters has to a very large de-
gree been responsible for wiping
ont the postal deficit. He would,
if be had his own way, classify all