The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-05-10
OFFICES UNDER civil SERVICE.
FOURTH CLASS POsTOFFTCEs TO
BE FILLED by CONFETTI.
TIVE EXAMINATION.
f1fty Thousand Postmasters Under
Order WIN Have to Take Civil Ser
v~c Tcst--Statement from POST
master General.

Washington. May 7.-All fourth
class postmastsrships, except those
paying less than $50 year. were
thrown open to competitive examina-
tions by order issued today by Presi-
dent Wilson. These positions are re-
tained In the classified service, but
about $4,000 incumbents who were
covered" In the classified service by
executive orders of previous adminis-
trations will have to meet civil SER
vice protection.
In a statement making this order
public. Postmaster General Burieson
announced that II was the purpose OF
President Wilson and himself to ex-
tend the classified service to include
presidential postmasters Of the Sec
ond and third class. probably within a
year This may require legislation by
congress. he said. His plan, which
win be laid before the president, will
provide for a qualification test for
incumbentc and applicants "in keep
Ing with the importance Of the Of
fee"
Under President Taft's order OF oc-
tober Is. 1919. fourth class postmast-
ers were divided into two classes,
class A. those drawing more than
$500. and class b. those drawing less
than $500. Competitive examinations
were prescribed for future applications
for class A appointments. while class
II positions we're to be flIed upon re-
eommendafion OF post ONCE inspec-
tors.
Todsy's orders leaves only the Of
nces laying $50 or less to be filed
upon inspeetors' recommendations
Rules and regulations to govern
the administration of the now or
der will be worked out and ANNOUNCE
ed by the civil service commsson as
soon ss possible. "a
In his statement the postmaster
said: .
II feel that President Taft's order
Of October 15. last. did not 60 far
enough In that II failed to apply a
merit system to the, entire service It
was aimed to cover. 1t had the effect
Of placing within the classified service
q largo number OF postmasters who
have not been required to demonstrate
their htness for such appointments.
Fundamentally a reform movement
has for is purpose the righting of an
existing error. Therefore, IL the ap-
piica;ion OF the merit system to the
postal service was needed I'm order to
correct an existing evil. then the scope
ot the order affecting the change
should have been broad nough to
have corrected as far as possible the
condition then existing as a result of
the former system as well as TO ac-
complish the desired results In the
future.
Political considerations have In the
past very largely controlled the Sc
lection OF fourth class postmasters,
and under this order Democrats must
be held responsible for the wise and
safe administration Of these ofrices
Under the circumstances. the Taft
order violated at least the fundamen-
tai purpose OF the civil service law be-
cause II placed permanently In Office
without examination or other tests as
to merit or efficiency a great host
OF persons II left In this condition
and permitted to operate without pro-
per examination into It's workings,
the order would make honest civil
service a farce and prove a setback
to its proper administration and fu-
ture progress. My effort is to correct
the evil and save the merit OF the or
der and duly safeguard civil service
and ef1lciency."