Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-24
POST OFFICE FEARS
BURlES0N1S PLAN
High-SaIaried Employees See
Ak in the Announced Bet
terment Program. !
NO REDRESS WHEN IT is
FOR "GOOD OF SERVICE
Matter Was Fought Out in Courts
During Carlisle's Administration
of the Treasury.

Postmaster General Buresons declara-
ton yesterday that he proposed to read
just the personnel I'm his department 10
promote greater efficiency has had a de-
pressing effect upon many of the officials
who will be affected The officials I'm ques-
ton say they had reason to believe that
not only the letter. but the spirit OF the
civil service law was to be respected by
the present administration. following
President Wilson's declaration upon tho
subject some time ago.
The superintendent and chiefs as a
rule hesitate to express an opinion for
publication because of the fear that in
stead of being readjusted they will be re-
moved entirely from the service. Some
| OF them. however. speak guardedy upon
the subject.
One high official. who has been in the
department for a number % years. said
today that Mr.. Burlesons policy, as an
nounced in the papers, was simply con-
| tinuation of that inaugurated i'm the
| Treasury Department during Secretary
Carlises administration, when that de-
partment came to a square issue upon the
subject both before the civil service COM
mission and in the courts.
No Redress for Clerks.
1t was then decided that the cabinet
officer must be presumed to be executing
| the wishes of the President. and that IL
| il was stated that a removal was for
the good Of the service IL must be ac-
cepted as final and there was no redress
upon the part Of the clerk. The case
was fought in the courts by at least Two
clerks.
| One pessmistic chief declared he be-
| lieved the announcement meant simply
~ sy,t.av 1.aI 20
go through the entire personnel of the
postal service and by stating IL was to
! improve the efficiency suppant the higher
salared officials and clerks with demo-
Gratis.
They don't object to the protection OF
| the civil service law, he said. IF the
protection is extended to democrats. They
hailed its protection for men of their
party during republican rue, but they
are determined to have the loaves and
fishes and let the discounted republicans
make the most of il. for they have no
| redress
Just before Postmaster General Hitch
cock left the department, Ii is said, he
made provision for number of the men
| who had been closely associated with
him In his official work. One of these
| was his private secretary, Raymond w.
/ Moulton. who was made chief clerk or
the Office of the first assistant postmas-
ter general, at his same salary. $3.50
per annum, vice f. r. Bushnell, who was
| made superintendent of the division or
/ postmasters' appointments, at 5000 per
| annum.
/ Changes Made Recently.
| Recently the Postmaster General. IL ID
claimed. brought Goodwin Il. Ellsworth
of North Carolina from the Treasury
Department. and made him superin-
| tendent of the division OF postmasters'
appointments vice Bushnell. who was
made an accountant in the postal savings
system at $3.50 per annum. Moulton
was denoted from the chief cierkship OF
the office OF the first assistant postmaster
general recently and made senior
clerk" of that bureau at S2.2Js a posi-
ton which it is said is not expressly au-
thoriZed by law, and Charles +. Trotter
of West Virginia was promoted from the
position of assistant superintendent or
the division of salaries and allowances
to that of chief clerk of the office OF
the first assistant postmaster general.
at an advance of $3.50 a year.
| On the other hand. Joseph CalIan OF
the District of Columbia, who was private
secretary to First assistant Postmaster
| General Grandfield, was promoted to be
| superintendent of the division of corre-
spondence at a salary of 5000 year.
| vice William +. Block of New York re-
duced to 81 ,SOO, and Charles Hodges OF
| Texas. an 81, 800 clerk in the department
| was promoted to be assistant superin-
tendent of the division of city delivery, at
81, 80.
| Still other changes have been made by
| which heads Of divisions or assistant
superintendent or persons In a supervls-
| DRY capacity have been shifted, denoted.
| and these are cited to show that the Post
master Generals action has not been
| taken solely on the ground OF the politi-
| cal affiliation of the persons affected, but
| for what he believes is for the best in
| terests of the service. 1t is assumed by
| those in position to know that the
| changes that are yet to be made VIII be
based upon the same reasons.