Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-14
Will Seek Aid of Civil Service
Regarding P. O. Employees.
NOT SPOKESMAN, HE SAYS
Too Early Yet, However, to Out
line Policy of Department.
SOME WOULD GET PLACES
Old-Fashioned Democrats Believe in
Adage otto the Victor Belong
the Spoi1s."

Whatever policy affecting employees
may be worked out for presentation by
the Post Office Department to Presi-
dent Wilson will be with the aid Of the
civil service commission, according to
| statement made by Postmaster Gen
eral Burleson today. Mr.. Burleson said
| that the announcement of his views, as
printed in yesterdays Star, to the ef-
feet that President Taft had not gone
far enough in attempting to place
postmasters under the civil service,
contained his principal idea.
He declared he was not "a spokesman"
and that a report that he had had q
conference on the subject of patronage
| with William F. McCombs chairman of
the democratic national committee, was
| inaccurate Although he had had a con-
ference with Chairman McCombs, Mr..
Burleson declared, no word concerning
patronage had been spoken. The exact
policy of the Post Office Department
with regard to the civil service has not
yet been determined, he said.
Not Spokesman, He Declares.
LET 1t be distinctly understood" the
Postmaster General said. that am not
a spokesman, and that 1t is too early yet
to say exactly what the policy Of the
Post Office Department will be with re-
spect to the fourth-class postmasters
placed under the civil service rules by
former President Taft
Il am anxious, however, 1t may be said,
eventually, if possible, to take the whole
rfy ,nr1f nf ,nlit io0
With that end in view we shall have some
consultations with the civil service COM
mission, and we will try to And a way
under which the postmasters placed under
the civil service by the former President
shall submit to civil service requirements
as to fitness. This plan contemplates, in
addition, a method whereby all the other
postmasters-of the first, second and third
classes-may be protected, il such a plan
can be worked out. We propose to be fair,
and to arrange. if possible, an equitable
means of testing the merit of all post
masters, so that the merit system shall in
reality prevail.
when the matter is to be taken up
with President Wilson / cannot now
say. This certainly will not be before
the matter has been thoroughly thrashed
out with the civil service commission.
In any case it is not planned to recon-
mend to the President a sweeping revo-
cation Of the order issued by former
President Taft
Extension Opposed by Some.
The extension of the classified service
has for many years been a sore subject
with democrats of the old-fashioned kind,
who have believed in the truth of the
old adage, ITO the victor belong the
spoils."
When former President Taft issued his
order placing fourth-class postmasters
under the civil service it was charged.
especially during the late campaign, that
the Intention Of the republicans was to
keep in office thousands of republicans to
the exclusion of democrats, although
former President Taft's friends frequent
ly publicly denied that there was any.
such motive underlying the former ex-
ecutive's action.
When Col. Roosevelt was President he
placed 1900 Of the fourth-class post
masters under the civil service. There
are JO.5O2 of them, and the remainder
about So, 500 were exempted by former
President Taft in his order.
There are 5S.72s postmasters Of all
classes. OF these 8,227 are Of the first,
second and third classes. The latter
are presidential appointments, and I'M
der the law as 1t stands at present are
not subject to civil service rules.
Speaks of Extension Of Service.
The report of the first assistant post
master general was made public today.
In regard to the extension of the
| classified service to fourth-flass post
masters, during the last two admins
trations. 1t contains the following:
1.-THE strict observance for a number Of
years past Of the policy of retaining
service paved the way for the partial
classification of postmasters of this class
in 1908, the classification at that time.
however, extending only to postmasters in
the fourteen states lying east OF the Mis-
sissippi river and north OF the Ohio.
Under date of October 10 last the
President completed the classification of
| pastmasters of the fourth class by is
fed civil service all such postmasters in
| the United States, with the exception OF
| those in Alaska, Guam, Hawaii. Porto
Rico and Samoa, in the manner outlined
and recommended in the last annual re-
port of the department.
Provision for Appointments.
BY the terms of the order the regula-
| lions were amended SO as to provide that
all appointments at Offices where the
compensation Of the postmaster Is $500
or more shall be made from a certifica-
ton of three names instead Of one as
/
sation is less than $500 appointments
shall be made on the recommendation Of
post Office inspectors, after personal in
vestigation, in the manner heretofore
prescribed for making appointments In
the states Of Massachusetts,, New York,
Ohio and Illinois.
Regulations governing the appointment
| Of fourth-class postmasters. designed te
| carry out the terms of the Presidents or.
| der of October To- We're prepared by tho
| civil service commission. approved by the
| Postmaster General. and promulgated by
| the President under date Of November %
| THE number OF appointments of post.
| masters of the fourth class made on certi.
| fication of the civil service commission
| during the year was $50, the number fol
| the preceding year having been 957. The
| number of postmasters in Massachusetts
New York, Ohio and Illinois appointed or
/ recommendation of post Office inspectors
increased from 1851 in 1911 to 40S in 1912.
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