Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1917-05-07
POStmaSterS To Be
Appointed on Merit

An executive order issued ny PreSl-
dent Wilson provides for the future
appointment of first, second and third
class postmasters by competitive civil
service examination.
Incumbents of office are not af-
fected, but in the future when vacan-
cies occur as the result Of death, res
ignation or removal, the civil service
commission will hold open, competi-
tive examinations. The name of the
highest eligible candidate will then
be submitted to the president. No
person more than 65 years old shall
be examined.
Although the order is framed to
remove postmasters from politics the
senate has the right to reject the
presidents appointees.
Postmaster Generals Statement.
Postmaster General Burleson made
this statement about the order:
incumbent postmasters rendering
good service and who continue to ad
minister the affairs of their offices
with ability wiz 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 super
visory officials of the department will
be more exacting in the enforcement
of those postal rules and regulations
which make for increased efficiency,
and postmasters will not only be eX-
pected to devote their time during
office hours to proper administra-
tion of their respective offices, 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 perform
ance of some part of those activities"
John c. Rooms, first assistant post
master general, declared the execu-
tive order to be "the most advanced
step ever taken toward increased eff
ficiency and bus'nesslike administra-
tion, and that no doubt the necessary
legislation to place the positions en-
tirely within the classified civil serv-
ice will be enacted in the near fu-
ture."
Called "Most Progressive Order"
This Is one of the most progress
sive orders ever issued by presi-
dent" declared George T. Keyes, sec
retary of the National Civil Service
Reform League, in a statement issued
relative to the new order The state
ment says, in part:
"The National Civil Service Reform
League is happy to recognize this act
of Pres'd dent Wilson and Postmaster
General Burleson as long step to-
ward democratic efficiency.
"The people of this country will
applaud the action, as they always
applaud every move for governmental
efficiency; but especially at this time,
when the extraordinary emergency of
the nation requires the most econom-
cal and efficient use of the country's
resources, there is no place for po-
lit'cal spoilsmen.
"Since the introduction of the
spoils system over eighty years ago,
down to date, these presidential
postmasterships have been treated as
the perquisites of the senators and
representatives of the party in power,
No president has been willing until
now to depart from this system and
assert his constitutional right of NOM
ination.
Merely Administrative"
"Postmasters, of course. have moth
ing to do with the determination of
administrative policy. They are mere
iy administrators, degree higher in