The Washington times., 1913-03-18
TESTS ARE PLANNED
FOR POSTAL PLACES
Taft's Civil Service Order to Be
Revoked by Democrats as
Soon as Possible. 81.

The Taft executive order covering al
fourth class postmasters into the civi
service will be revoked by the new
Administration as soon as the details
of substitute order are worked out.
Indications point to the issuance O
an order which will provide that fourth
class postmasters shall be under tn,
civil service, but that all applicants, in
cluding the present incumbent Of ar
office. shall be put on an equal foot.
ing in taking the examination.
In other words, the Republican post.
master who is in will not have the ad.
vantage over the Democratic applican,
who is out. All will take the same ex.
animation, and the member of Congress
in whose district a particular postoffice
Is located will recommend the post.
master.
Demand Revocation.
A Democratic member of Congress is
apt to recommend Democratic "elig-
lhle," and In this way the party work.
ers who have been out in the cold for a
number of years will be appeased.
Democratic members of the House are
travelling to the Postoffice Department
General that it is imperative that the
Taft order shall be revoked or amend
ed. The order. it is charged, sa issued
few months before a change in the
Administration and was made to keen
are unwilling to have 20, 0,000- odd post
ofnces thus taken away from the minis
terinG care Of the Congressman, and
they are hammering that fact home
whenever they get a chance to talk to
the Pc stmaster General
The harassed head of the Postoffice
department is daily informed that "the
ooys back home want their pie"
Principle, Not Patronage.
on the whole, however. the question
is declared to be one of principle
rather than patronage. The Demo-
cratic objection to the Taft order il
not that it would fiji, forth class Of
nces with civil service men, but that
tns encumbsnts We're practically re-
talned In office and given an unfair
advantage under the action of the for
mer President
An amended order giving Democrats
the privilege o: competing Hith Re-
Euphcans N civil service examina-
ton wlil b'irG satisfaction in the ma.
loi.;v u instGnce At heart. the ,ver-
age member OF the House does nor
want to be worried with a strairbtout
spoils system: but he does insist thar
his Democratic constituents shall have
the privilege of taking the civil SER
vice examination for a postma stership
II that Democrat so desires.
1t Is declared that the average DEM
ocrat living IN fourth class most
Office town isn't particular about who
gets the office. just so the POSTMASTER
is a Democrat. The perpetuation OF
rule at the cross-roads
stores, however, doesn't set we'll with
the Democratic ruralists
May Affect Votes.
Il believe three districts in nv State
will switch to The Republicans at tho
next election if this Taft order is not
said Congressman Rouse OF
kentucky today. Il do not crave the
lob Of recommending fourth class most
nasters-it is a hard task for any MEM
,er-but L do want these offices filled
With Democrats; by men who have
been doing hard work for the party
or years. These workers now demand
hat the party in power shall fill these
places and the approval by the new Adj
of an order which covered