Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-03-31
POSTMASTERS PUT
IN CLASSIFIED LIST
President Removes 10000
High-Grade Offices From
SpoiIs System.
APPOINTMENTS ON MERIT


third class postmasters were placed
under civil service today by executive
order of President Wilson.
Incumbents of office are not affected,
but in the future when vacancies oc-
cur as the result of death, resignation
or removal, the civil service commits
sion will hold open. competitive exam
nations. The name of the highest
eligible candidate will then be sub
mitted to the President No person
| more than sixty-five years old shall be
examined.
Although the order is framed to re-
move postmasters> from politics. the
Senate. however, has the right to re-
Ject the Presidents appointees.
Postmaster Generals Statement.
Postmaster General Burleson made
this statement about the order:
incumbent postmasters rendering good
service and who continue to administer
the affairs of their offices with ability
will not be disturbed in such offices by any
recommendation made by the head of the
department. 1t is due them, however. at
this time to make it clear that hereafter
supervisory officials of the department
will be more exacting in the enforcement
iof those postal rules and regulations which
make for increased efficiency and post
! masters will not only be expected to
devote their time during office hours to a
proper administration of their respective
officers, but they will be required to
thoroughly acquaint themselves with the
various postal activities under their
charge and in the future to occupy such
part of their time not properly given to
administrative work to the performance
of some part of those activities"
John c. Rooms. first assistant post
master general, declared the executive
order Ito be the most advanced step
ever taken toward increased efficiency
and businesslike administration, and
that no doubt the necessary legislation
to place the positions entirely within
the class fed civil service will be enact
ed in thu near future
Called "Most Progressive Order"
This is one of the most progressive
orders ever issued by a President" de-
clarea George T. Keyes, secretary of
the National Civil Service Reform
Lea cue, in a statement issued today
relative to the new order. The state
r ent says. in part:
The National Civil Service Reform
league is happy to recognize this act of
president Wilson and Postmaster Gen
.eral Burleson as a long step toward
welcome as a contribution to the for
tieth anniversary of this league.
The people of this country will ap-
plaud the action. as they always ap-
! plaud every move for governmental ef-
I ficiency; but especially at this time,
| when the extraordinary emergency of
the nation requires the most economical
| and efficient use of the country's re-
sources. there is no place for political
| spoilsmen.
| Since the introduction of the spoils
| system over eighty years ago, down to
date, these presidential misunderstanding
| have been treated as the perqusites of
| the senators and representatives of the
willing until now to depart from this
system and assert his constitutional
right of nomination.
Merely Administrative
"Postmasters. of course, have nothing
to do with the determination of ad-
ministrative policy. They are merely
administrators, degree higher in
rank than their subordinates in the
classified service. Until now they have
been part of the political army en-
camped in every corner of the country
collectors of customs and internal
revenue, district attorneys and United
States marshals. Their use as political
prostitution of the civil service.
Under an executive order somewhat
similar to this the consular and diplo-
matte services have improved materially,
although the Constitution still requires
confirmation of the nominations by the
Senate. The Senate has not obstructed
the reclamation of the consular and
diplomatic services, and there is no rea-
son to fear it will do SO in the case of
the poStmaSterShipS.
Senators are recognizing more and
more that patronage is a liability and
not an asset. The league believes that
those senator's who must devote at the
present time particular attention to mat
ters of national and international policy
will herald the Presidents order as an
executive action to relieve members of
the Senate from the burden and liabili-
ties of patronage contests.
The merit system is not a party ques-
tion. Men of all parties have supported
it. By supporting the present order the
democratic majority has a precious op-
portunity to install itself in the conf
dence of many millions of intelligent
and patriotic Americans without distinc-
ton of party.