The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1917-03-21
CIVIL SERVICE FOR
POSTMASTERSHIPS
Report Given Out by Postmaster
General ;Stirs Up Hornets
Nest in Capitol.

Washington, March 19.-Postmas-
ter General Burleson announced to-
day that after April /, the appoint
ment of all postmasters Of the first,
second and third class would be sub
ject to competitive examinations.
Nominations will be sent to the Sem
ate as in the past, but in making the
selections the President will be
guided by the results of examina-
tions and will send in the names at
the head of the lists.
Whether the Civil Service Com
mission under which fourth-class
postmasters are chosen will conduct
the examinations has not been de-
termined.
The Presidents forthcoming order
will provide for form of modified
civil service classification under
which all vacancies, whether caused
by resignation, removal or death,
win be filed by competitive exami-
nation. Those already in the service
will continue without examination
until the expiration of four years
terms beginning with their last ap-
pointment and then will, it is under
stood, have to undergo the compe-
ttive test.
Hornets Nest.
A hornets nest was stirred up by
the announcement at the Capitol,
where scores Of members were in
their offices preparing to leave for
home. The order was roundly de-
nounced by some Of the Democra-
tic leaders and several members
construed it as a move to get COM
bined Democratic and Republican
support in a politically uncertain
House.
Representatives Rainey, of Illi-
nois; Carter, Oklahoma; Harris,
Mississippi; Wilson and Aswell,
Louisville; vinson, Georgia; Carlin
and Glass, Virginia; Dixon, Indiana;
Rouse, johnson, Kincheloe and sher-
ley, Kentucky; Decker, Missouri;
Gray, Alabama; and Sims, Of Ten
nessee, were in group Of Demo-
Gratis who called on the Postmaster
General today and who were told
about the plan. Democratic Leader
Kitchin of the House delayed his de-
parture for Norh Carolina to go to
the Postofice Department to regis
ter his protest.
Most Of the Congressman who saw
Mr. B.urleson went on the latter's
invitation to discuss the new plan
for systematizing postal accounting
by establishing central auditing
postoffices in county or district
groups. This subject was oversha-
dowed, however, when the news Of
the civil service order was broken.
One Southern member asked if
the Postmaster General had called
them there to ask their views or to
tell them what had been done.
What 10 Going to Happen.
81 am telling you what is going to
happen" he replied.
The Postmaster General is quoted
as having told them that it was too
late to protest as the order had been
determined upon, and would be car
ried out. He intimated that he was
not the author Of it, but that was a
measure Of efficiency and economy.
Another member suggested that
the order would put many Republi-
cans in Office, as many Of the more
atctive assistant postmasters are
Republicans retained by the Demo-
cratic postmasters, and still another
wanted to know what would happen
of the one man certified from the
examination were a negro. The Post
master General, according to those
present, replied that the examina-
tions would have to take place and
there would be mo special privilege
to anyone"
A Western Democrat asked why
the order, if issued at all, should not
provide for certifying the three
highest in the examination as eGgi-
BILE to postmasterships, as was done
when the fourth class postmasters
were blanked into civil service, in
stead of confining the choice to the
one person who happened to stand
the highest. The Postmaster General
said that Congress had had the op-
portunity Of legislating to that ef-
feet, but did not do so.
In the discomfort voiced by men,
bers after the conference some Of
them complained that the order
would take out of political life some
of the most active supporters Of the