Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-06-01
mr.. HITCHCOCK OPPOSES
F|VE-yEAR-TERM PLAN
Postmaster General Believes
Proposed Law Would Disrupt
Classified Service.

Postmaster General Hitchcock has
placed himself on record as opposing the
provision OF House bill No. 24023 that
fixes the term Of appointment OF employees
Of the classified service at five years. in
the District OF Columbia The Postmaster
General believes this provision Of the
bill. II enacted into law. would disrupt
the classified service. and he SO stated
today.
In letter addressed by the Postmaster
General to Senator Warren, chairman Of
the Senate committee on appropriations,
the Postmaster General says:
Il believe that sections and Of the
bill. IL enacted into law. would prove a
menace to the civil service of the United
States. and I desire to express the hope
that those two sections may be stricken
from the bill.
Provisions of the Bill.
The sections referred to by Postmaster
General Hitchcock are as follows:
Section 4. That during the fiscal year
| nineteen hundred and thirteen no va
cancy occurring in the classified service
of any executive department or other
| government establishment within the Dis
| trict of Columbia, except forecaSterS in
the weather bureau, shall be filled except
| by promotion or demotion from among
persons employed within the District OF
Columbia In such department or estab-
| lishment,
Provided, That. If in the Judgment Of
| the President the exigencies of the serv-
| ice require, and he shall SO order, trans
| fers may be made during the fiscal year
nineteen hundred and thirteen among
! persons employed within the District of
| Columbia in one executive department or
Other government establishment to I'LL
vacancies that may occur in the classi-
! fed service OF another executive depart
ment or other government establishment.
Would Begin July l, 1913.
Section 5: That on and after July 1st,
| 1913. all appointments to positions in the
classified service Of the executive de-
partments within the District of Columbia
provided for at annual rates Of compen-
sation shall be made. after the probation
airy period of six months shall have ex-
pired, for terms OF five years each: at the
expiration of each such appointment the
employment of each person SO appointed
shall cease and determine, and the en-
ployment Of all persons in the classified
service Of the executive departments
within the District of Columbia, at annual
rates Of compensation, who were appoint
ed prior to July LIST. 1912. shall cease and
determine, unless previously separated
from the service. on the Both day of June,
1917.
Provided, That all persons separated
hereunder from the classified service shall
be eligible for. and may. In the discre-
ton of the head of the executive depart
ment, be reappointed without examina-
ton for additional periods Of five years
IL at the time of such reappointment they
shall be up to a fair standard of eau
cheney and capable Of rendering full
measure of service In return for the sal
airy of the place to which they may be
appointed.
provided further, That In reducing the
force In any of the executive departments
no honorably discharged soldier or sailor
whose record in sad department is rated
good shall be discharged or dropped;
And, provided further. That nothing
herein shall be construed to prevent the
head Of any department from removing
at any time for good and sufficient cause
any employee of his department"