The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1914-07-09

Examinations for fourth class post
master will be held at Kenosha, Wis
consin, August 22nd, 1914, for the fol
lowing Offices:
Bassett.
Bristol
Camp Lake
Pleasant Prairie
Salem
Silver Lake.
Somers.
Applications may be obtained from
the postmaster at the office where the
vacancy exists or from G. Maegaard,
secretary local board Of examiners,
KenoshA, Wis.
The president has issued the fol-
lowing.
Executive Order.
The executive orders Of November
80, 1908, and October Is, 1912, bringing
the positions Of postmaster Of the
fourth class into the competitive classi-
fed service are hereby AMENDED by
adding thereto the following;
"No person occupying the position of
postmaster of the fourth class shall be
given competitive classified status IN
der the provisions Of said order unless
he has been appointed as result Of
open competitive examination or under
the regulations of November 20, 1912,
or of January 20, 1909, or until he is
so appointed.
At any postoffice of the fourth
class where the present postmaster was
appointed otherwise than as above set
forth, appointment shall be made in ac-
cordance with the regulations approved
November 25, 1912, as amended this
date; and for this purpose the civil
service commission shall hold an open
competitive examination for each such
Office having an annual compensation Of
Jas much as $3.50, such examinations for
all such postoffices to be held by states,
as requested by the postmaster general:
Provided, That in the event that for
any such examination less than three
persons apply, the civil service commits
sion may, in its discretion, authorize
selection in accordance with the provi-
slons of the regulations as amended
this date governing selections for APP
pointment to offices having annual com
pensation of less than $3.50; and in like
manner the regulations of November
%, 1912, as amended this date, shall be
applied to each Office where the annual
compensation is less than $3.50 and
where the present incumbent was APP
pointed otherwise than as above set
forth"
In answering an inquiry recently as
to what influence political affiliations
would have in fourth class postmaster
and rural carrier appointments, Post
master General Burleson stated that he
desired it distinctly understood that it
Is his purpose to carry out the intent
of President Wilson S order that these
positions be filled in accordance with
both the spirit and letter of the civil
service law. The postmaster general
added that he does not delegate the
power of appointment, nor in any case
is selection made simply upon or be-
cause of a recommendation of a mem
Der OF congress. He stated further
that he has duty to perform in max
ing selections under the civil service
rules; that it is his desire to select in
every case the most efficient man OBJ
talnable and that in furtherance of
such desire he is using, and intends to
continue to use, every available means
of ascertaining the best of the men GER
titled to him by the civil service com
mission. In his efforts to secure the
most efficient man for the postal serv-
ice, and as part of the evidence upon
which he reaches his conclusion, it is
his practice to ask the member Of con
gress in whose district the vacancy ex-
lists to advise him relative to the char
acter and fitness Of the three eligibles.
In doing so the postmaster general calls
upon the member, not in his capacity as
a member of any political party, but
solely as the representative of the COM
munity, regardless of political affilia-
tions; and to emphasize his purpose in
this respect, the postmaster general in
asking the member of congress for his
recommendation calls special attention
to the fact that under existing cxecu-
tive orders selections must be made by
the department with sole reference 10
merit and fitness and any recommends
tion made to him must be based solely
upon such considerations and without
reference to the political affiliations of
the ehgibles. And further, he has d.
rected that all letters recommending APP
pointments based upon political consid-
erations be returned to the writer's.
The postmaster general states that he
is in earnest in his efforts to obtain
the best men. regardless of their poll
tiraa opinions. and whouever he finds