The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-04-28
NO "TITLE ONLY. OFFICERS WILL
SERVE UNDER THE ADMINS
TRATIoN or WILSON.
CONGRESSMAN IN AIR
SOME OF THEM GET HUFFY AND
THINK THEY WILL REFRAIN
FROM MAKING RECON-
MENDATIoNs At ALL.
BY GEORGE III. MANNING.

uiSS ana lhlQ uOMl ny
the postoff1ce department since Post
master General Burleson took charge,
1t has become almost impossible for
congressman to conscientiously name
a man for appointment as postmaster
who engages In any other line OF
business either actively or silently.
The times when the congressman
could name man as postmaster and
secure his appointment without show
ing the postoffice department for what
particular reason he named that man,
or by whom. outside OF the congress
man, he was endorsed for office have
passed since the advent OF the Will
son administration.
Likewise the postmaster can no
longer be doctor, baker or candle
stick maker" and hold Office under
! Uncle Sam. The postofflce depart
nent has within the last month sent
a number of communications to the
congressman with a view to guiding
them in making their selections for
postmasters. These communications,
I by reason of the rules laid down have
eliminated a number OF candidates
who could not conform to the rules.
No title. Only" Officials.
/ The first OF these was that requir-
ing that hereafter 1t would be neces-
/
/ least eight hours each day to the
/ business of the postoffice. This
/ eliminated number of candidates
/ who had supposed that the methods
/ OF former years. by which the post
master had held the title only and
delegated the work to a corps of as
/ sistants, was to continue. 1t was a
great appointment to many when
/ it was found that the postmaster
general intended to unswervingly en-
! force the rules that when a postmas
| ter was found transacting any other
! business than postofflce business in
/ the ONCE, or out of the office during
! office hours. he would Immediately be
removed.
Heretofore 1t has been the general
rule for congressman to send to the
postofflce department the name of a
candidate for postmaster and that man
was appointed without question But
/ this rule has been changed. 1t is
| now required that when a congress
man sends IN the recommendation for
a candidate for postmaster, he must
accompany that recommendation with
such letters Of endorsements Pc
( titions. etc, which that candidate has
+ received. In some cases where the
other candidates who were not named
/ have written the department oppos
! ing the appointment Of the success
full man, the department has called
upon the congressman for the en-
dorsements Of the other candidates
also.
--latest OfflciaI Call.
/ The latest communication sent out
! to congressman with regard to recon-
mending postmasters calls for more
/ information. IT is as follows:
] tn az a
My Dear sir,--I am directed by
/ the postmaster general to request that
/ you furnish for the files OF this de-
I partment all papers in your possession
! touching the suitability of persons
/ whose names have been, or will be
I recommended by you for postmas-
ters.
These papers should indicate the
character and age and occupation of
/ each person recommended. and fur
nish over the signature OF the ap-
/ plicant the assurance that. If appoint
/ ed. he will give the service his per-
/ sonal attention.
/ Very truly yours.
( tSigned) DANIEL c. ROPER.
First Assistant Postmaster @ eneral."
| This is altogether a departure from
| the procedure of former years. and in
some quarters has been vigorously, re-
scented.
! Probably over a hundred congress
men have iourneyed to the postofiice
department and tried TO learn def
nitely II, after they had complied with
all the requirements there was abso
lutte assurance that the man they
recommended would be appointed.
! None. so far, have been able to OBJ
tain a direct affirmative reply from
. THE most r snAraI In he
jority of cases the reply given by
Postmaster General Burleson has been
| like this:
president Wilson and myself will
| follow the recommendations of con-
gressmen in regard to the appoint
ment of postmaster unless something
unusual Is brought to the attention of
the administration. In that case. the
president will confer with the con-
gresham and IL the objection can
not be removed the congressman will
| be asked to approve of someone else"
| Some have received this reply in
| good grace, while others have left In
a huff and have determined they will
either name all the postmasters in
their district with assurance of ap~
! pointment, or the postmaster general
! can undertake the job without their
assistance.
number or congressman taking
| the position that they do not under
stand the Administrations attitude in
| the matter have made no move to-
wards forwarding their recommended
tons to the department.
President Wilson and Postmaster
| General Burleson are not worrying
| They declare their only object Is to
| increase the efficiency of the postal
service and that their regulations
| must be complied with. Judging from
the success which President Wilson
has experienced with many of his
other departures from precedent not
withstanding the opinion expressed at
the capitol that this will never do"
it seems probable that the president
will have his way, as he did with the
tariff bill. so far, and several other
matters.
DRUNKEN NEGRO FIRES