Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-04
Plan to Take Post Office De.
partment From Politics.
BIG MACHINE, SAYS NORRIS
Introduces Bill to Put Employees in
Classified Service.
PROTECTION OF PoSTMASTERs
Management Of Campaigns or Par
ticipation in Outside Busi-
ness Forbidden.

DECLARING that the Post Office Depart
ment has come to be huge political ma.
chine. used as a factor of machine con.
troll by the party in power. Representa-.
tive George W. Norris OF Nebraska, leader
of the republican insurgents Of the House
today introduced a bill to place every
employe of the Post Office Department
under the protection of the classified
service.
Even the four assistant postmasters
general would be transferred to the civil
service roll IL the Norris bill became a
law. Any vacancies would be filled by
promotion.
The provision that Mr.. Norris, says
would take the department out Of politics
reads as follows:
1T shall be unlawful for any employe
Of the Post Office Department to be chair
man or q member Of any political com.
mittee, or to have control or management
Of any political campaign, or for any post
master cf the first or second class, while
holding such position, to engage in the
active management or control of any busi-
ness. trade or profession that in any way
formance Of his official duties. Any en-
ploye violating the provisions Of this sec
tion shall be removed from Office
The bill also provides a graduated scale
Of fixed salaries based on the receipts OF
the post offices throughout the country.
This, Mr.. Norris says, would decrease a
good many salaries and effect an annual
saving Of about 100000. The salaries
prescribed in the measure are from $1,000
fv0 nfx3
$1,000 to $1,000 year to 5000 In offices
where the receipts exceed 5000.
Postmasters In Politics.
Mr.. Norris. referring to his charge that
the Post ONCE Department is used as q
political machine by the party in power.
remarked that "the roll call Of q repub-
lican convention nowadays sounds like a
list Of second-class postmasters, and
every republican state committee has
post ofhce employees for about two-thirds
of its membership
In explaining the purpose of his meas
ure. Mr.. Norris made the following state
ment:
Changes Based on Merit.
THE bill which have introduced. II
enacted into law. would take the Post
Office Department entirely out Of poll
tics. It takes away from the President
the power OF appointing postmasters,
and places the postmasters Of the first
second and third classes in the classified
civil service. It likewise places the
first, second, third and fourth assistant
postmasters general in the classified
service. and provides for the filing of
these offices. as we'll as all post Offices,
by promotion and transfer. It provides
for the. transferring Of railway post
Office clerks to post Offices. and the
transferring Of postmasters. assistant
postmasters and clerks in post Offices
from one post Office to another and to
the Post Office Department at Wash
ington. D. c.
would be that men would go into the Post
Office Department in every section of the
country with the purpose Of making this
their life profession. Promotions and
transfers would be made entirely upon
merit and without regard to any partisan
or political influence, SO that an employe
of any first second or third class post Of
flee in the United States, relying upon
his own efforts and ability alone. and
without the assistance or pull from any
political source, could eventually become
the postmaster OF any of the largest
have an opportunity dependent entirely
upon his efficiency to become first assist
ant postmaster general In Washington.
Big Annual Saving.
I'm addition to this the bill provides for
the reduction of salaries Of postmasters
wherever the present salary exceeds
$1,000 the maximum salary being 5000.
1.-The aggregate reduction would make
an annual saving in the Post Office De-
partment of nearly one million dollars,
and this reduction would as a rule. !
believe. be welcomed by the men whose
salaries will be reduced, because 1t would
give them a permanent tenure Of office
and an opportunity Of promotion on their
own merit. to a possible salary Of $4,000
1t would free them entirely from partisan
political obligation and assessment.
''The greatest benefit of all. however.
would be the increased efficiency OF the
Post Office Department. Under present
conditions men are appointed as post
master for partisan political reasons,
and to pay political debts. Regardless OF
the efficiency or the ability Of the post
master. he knows that he will be put
out Of office as soon as the opposite
party or perhaps another faction in his
own party comes into political control
and he goes into the service knowing
that his position is going to be temporary
He does not. therefore. give up his busi-
hold his own job as long as possible he
necessarily becomes a part of a great
political machine.
Increase In Efficiency.
IF this bill IL enacted into law the Post
ONCE Department. instead of being a po-
litical machine, as it has always been under
all political parties, will become a great
governmental business institution, having
for It's object the efficient. economical. and
honest performance of the postal business
of the country. It would give economy
and efficiency in the greatest degree In
the greatest department OF the govern
ment.
II intend to make strenuous efforts tc
secure q favorable report from the com.
mittee having the bill in charge, and be.
Meve that the prospects for its enactment
into law at the present session OF Con.
xress are exceedingly bright. am salts.
fed ii will appeal to members Of Con
gress. as well as to the citizens generally
as being the proper legislative step to
take to place the Post ONCE Department
on an enlcient. economical and paying
basis"
Will Of Henry Guy Carleton.
NEW York. January 4.-The will OF