The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-09-24
Fourth Class P0stmas-
tiers to Be Placed in
Civil Service.
TAKES THEM FROM
POLITICAL REALM
Order VIII Relieve 36,o38 Public
Servants From Uncertainty of
Tenure, and Will Be Most
Comprehensive and Far
Reaching Ever Issued by
Any President.

Warrington. September Alt WAS
practically decided to-day that Presi-
dent Taft. in the near future. will is
sue an executive order placing all
| fourth-class postmasters In the classi-
fed service. This order. relieving 3s.-
0as postmasters from the uncertainty
| OF political appointment will be one
0: the most comprehensive and far
reaching. as affecting the civil service.
ever issued by a President Of the United
States.
That the President would take this
step. his first act toward putting into
practice his often expressed belief that
all government officers below the grade
| Of Cabinet members should be removed
i from the influence OF politics and
placed under the civil service. became
practically certain late to-day. after a
delegation of postmasters returning
from the annual convention of their
association at Richmond. had been re-
ceived at the White House. and by
Postmaster-General Hitchcock The
| visitors submitted a monster petition
signed by about 10000 postmasters
asking that they be placed In the CLASH
fed service.
After discussing the matter briefly
| with the delegation. President tart
referred the executive committee OF
the association to Mr.. Hitchcock for
further consideration of the matter
Later the committee called upon the
oosrmaster-generalt to discuss the sub
ject with HIM
In a few days Mr.. Hitchcock Will
submit to President Taft a formal
haf he
granted. and the President is expected
| to act promptly and favorably upon
the recommendation
In the entire country there were
4s.S12 fourth-cia4s postmaeters at the
/ end Of the last fiscal year By execu-
! rive order issued In JulT. 1908. Pres
| ,dent Roosevelt placed all the post
| masters Of the New England states
and of New York. New jersey, rem.
| sylvania. Ohio, Indiana, Michigan ana
wisconsin In the Civil Service-a to-
ia, of 1854 Those stu without inc
service number 36.o3s.
InvolveS Immense Labor.
While the details of the proposition
| hove not been worked out, II Is ex-
nected that the putting into the class
iNed service OF this great NUMBER OF
ofactals will be accomplished oS inc
| s..,p,atfon Of the postmasters OF
.ro,,n. Of States successfully 1t Will
..ori,. an immense amount OF laoor
an the part Of the Civil Service Soni-
| mission. particularly. as wen as on
~. n.rt Of the Post-OMce Department
Rorh the President and Postmaster.
General Hitchcock have recommended
/ 70 ConRr sss that all postmastefs DC
nv, in the classified service: ana tnat'
90 far as possible, the entire personnei
| of the postal service be removed iroin
noIi,ical influence. As TO the nrs''
second and third-class postmastess'
Legislation by the Congress would De
reou,r I'd TO place them under Civii ser
vice rezulattons; but the President
now has authority, under certain de-
dned limitations of competency and
efnciency- to put postmast srs If the
| fourth class under the protection OF
| the civil service rules.
President Taft told the delesation OF
postmast. rs at the White House to-
day that II they realized the trouble
their appointments caused they would
agree with him that It would be best
for all concern ed to place them unoe.
.he evil service
| The President expressed the hope
that the fe cling II growing In favor
Of putting all government servants on
the basis OF permanent tenure II the
appointments are regularly mad. by
the civil service. he said. the appointees
would sleep better. those upon whom
falls the responsibility Of making the
appointment would sleep better. and
ali would have opportunity OF giving
| the government more work