The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-05-27
Which Classified All Fourth
Class P0stmasters for Four
Years
Mr.. OVERMAN BACK OF IT
VIII Be Laid Before Both
Branches of Congress Mon
day--President Wilson Has
Not Been Consulted.
CBy w. r..

Washington, ID. c.. May 24.-A res
elution to suspend the executive or
der Of President Taft which classified
all fourth class. postmasters for 70 II
wears will be placed before 10th
branches Of Congress Monday. The
measure is fathered by Senator Lee
:. Overman, Of North Carolina, and
is understood to have the endorse
ment of several Treasury department
officials. including Col. w: II. Osborne,
commissioner of internal revenue. He
is known to favor the measure, and
il is said thai even Secretary McAdoo
is likewise interested.
The first section of the joint reso-
ntion suspends President Tafts post
office order. The econd section
throws outside the pale Of the civil
service regulations any officer or en-
pioyee OF the United states govern
ment who is required To give bond to
8: superior officer. This is the section
which will vitality affect the internal
revenue service of the Treasury de-
partment and which has the endorse
ment of the commissioner.
Senator Overman is unaware of the
HCODe vi IN SCSpHo SSStlOit AIN %'N
fact tina his intention was known
late this afternoon, and then, only b.
a few newSpa per men, has prevented
"a general inquiry as TO how far civil
service employees in various depart
ments will be affected. The second
section is understood TO be aimed al
the deputy collectors OF internal reve-
nue.. These deputies are bonded o!
the collectors themselves. The Post
office department, however, is not at
fected by the section, for cashiers, as
sistant postmasters and other EN-
p.oyes who are bonded are bonded tt
the United States government instead
OF to their superiors. The resolution
is as follows:
Tn Resolution.
Section !. Resolved, That the or
der issued by President Taft, under
date OF October is, 1912, placin.
fourth class postmasters under civ
service rules, be and the same j
hereby suspended until March. IL
1917.
Sec. ,. Resolved, That any office
or employe of h government of tn
United States, who may be equlre
by law or regulations to execute
bond to a superior officer or n othe
officer of the government, to secure
faithful performance OF Offlclal dut!
may be appointed by the officer VIII
may require such bond without re
gard to the provisions OF an act Q
Congress entitled An act to reSulat
and improve the civil service of tn
United States approved anuar II
1883, any amendment thereto or an
rule or regulation made in pursuan(
thereof. and the officer requiring Sal
bond shall have power to revoke tf
appointment of any such Subordlna'
officer or employee and appoint n
successor at his discretion without II
gard to the act. amendments, rules {
regulations aforesaid
Defense OF First Section.
The first section Of the resolution
defended on the ground that the civ
service commission itself, which W;
appointed by President Taft. has Il
clared that the civil service is mere
"a cloak for the spoils system.
senator Overman does not belle
that fourth class postmasters shou
be placed under the system until 60,
YresS has had time to complete
probe of the system ana clean II OF
The order of Pre- sident Wilson ecu
ing fourth class postfiasters TO pa
a competitive examination IN order
hold their jobs"woulds:if TINS resoi
ton becomes Il law,sbe unnecessar!
The second section is defended
the ground that a man who has TO
responsible for the CAST Of a man u
der him to the extent of taking !
bond should be allowed to appoi
that man in the first place and TO q
charge him if he 50 desires. L
working Of this section, il is believe
will be confined mainly TO deputy J
ternal revenue collectors, though !
vestigation may show that others q
Also affected. Senator Overman So
he did not know of any employees OF