The Forrest City times., 1913-05-02
Of Public Interest.
HoUsE or REPRESENTATIVE. |. S, WASHINGTON, D. c,
 April 1Qth, 1913. !

HOUSE Of REPRESENTATIVES. |. S, WASHINGTON, D. c, April 1eth, 1913 ! | HonIT. II. C&rzxay. House of Representatives:
 DEAR SRI am directed by the 1 postmaster general to request that you furnish for the files of this de- partment all papers In your possession touching the suitability of persons whose names have been or will be recommended by you for postmasters.
 These papers should indicate the character. occupation and age of each : person recommended and furnish over ] the signature of the applicant the as- surance that. if appointed, he will | give the sergicel his personal atten- tion. Very truly yours.
 DANIEL c. ROPER, lst Asst Postmaster General. ! In this connection, and which is of great importance 10 the public, the following is a copy of the recent order i of Postmaster General Burleson, touching the requirements of post masters holding presidential offices, and what will be required of apph- cants, as follows:
 1 APPOINTMENT OF PosTMAsTERs AT PRESIDENTIAL OFFICES. 1 Postmaster General Burleson has made 1t plain that postmasters in the l presidential grades viii be held to strict accountability in the matter of the time they devote 10 their respec- tive offices and the character of service they actually perform. From informa. tion received by him it is apparent that some postmasters, after securing ] the appointment, have imposed con- siderable portion of the duties of the l postotfice upon the subordinates in order to utilize the time for personal ends, and he proposes not merely to discourage this practite, but to stamp 1t out. It is the policy of the admin. istration to require in all cases con. scientious and efficient service from its officers and employees. Neglect of duty and inefficient service on the part of postmasters will not be tol. erated.
 Clerks and carriers attached to post. offices are required by law to render service for eight hours daily. and the 1 postmaster general sees no reason why l the postmaster who is the directing head and whose compensation greatly exceeds that of the employees under him should not give at least an eQuiya
 lent in time and effort. The postmaster is selected for the position which he holds because of his presumed superior ability, his qualifications for render. ing satisfactory public service and his personal standing, and it is not fair to the government that he should
 employ his time and energy in other l directions. It is believed that if all
 postmasters honestly devoted to the
 service the amount of time consist
 entiy expected of them and gave tC the work of their respective offices
 that degree of efficient personal super vision and direction which good busi
 ness rules suggest, instead of leaving their proper duties to subordinates
 the service would not only gain iI
 efficiency, but considerable economy
 would be effected in better distribu
 tion of duties and a consequent re
 duction in clerical force
 It is important that the integrity
 of the postal service be preserved
 since the genral welfare of the people
 sonnel to whom the people must look
 for good service should therefore bt
 of high class.
 In making new appointments to of
 ices Of the presidential grades, tht
 department will require hereafter, iL
 addition to the usual qualifications
 with respect to ability. character anC
 business experience, an assurance
 from the appointee that his whol,
 business time will be devoted to tn,
 duties of the office to which he is ap pointed.