The Mankato free press., 1917-03-30
COUNTRY WILL PROFIT BY JEW
PLAN IN PosT0FFlcEs
Takes the "Pat" Out Of Patronage, Blu
1t Relieves congressman From Con-
siderable Wory and Trouble; Senator
From Washington State Writes An
Article For United Press On This ALI
Important Subjectto Politicians
From Saturdays Daily. -
MIlOS POINDEXTER.

Washington, March 24.-The action
of the president in adopting the
merit system in the appointment of
first, second and third class post
masters and taking this patronage"
out of politics, will save the govern
ment, at conservative estimate,
twelve million dollars a year and
will increase the efficiency of the
postal service. This system becomes
effective a week from Monday.
There are SGT first class OFFICES;
2,213 second class; '7,437 third
class and, 45.393 fourth -class offices.
The fourth class offices were placed
in the classified civil service several
years ago sky President Taft.
Did Not Bring Result.
The application of the principle.
however, was SO perverted that r
did not bring the desired fesuu.
Three names were certified on
list of eligible applicants In nearly
all cases there was at least one
democrat on the list and in nearly
all cases this democrat was appoint
ed. 1t only brought the system into
ridicue because it was a sham and
a hypocritical application of it.
This did the merit system harm
because some who took only a su-
perffcial view Of the matter blamed
the principle itself for the result.
whereas the read fault was the fail
ure TO apply in truth and in fact the
merit principle. The criticism real
ly was against the old spoils system
masquerading in the guise of the
merit system.
Will Not Effect Incunbents.
So far as announced, the forthcom-
ing order will not affect incumbent
postmasters during their present
term, but will apply to appointments
or reappointments sat the end of that
tterm. Instead of a peryersion of the
principle by giving the appointment
to the democrat on the list of three,
the applicant standing highest on the
list and having the other necessary
qualifications as to general character,
will be appointed regardless of poll
itics.
This change will add to the dig
nifty of congressman by relieving
them from the obligations land hu-
Mutations of political appointments.
It will take away ffom the executive
branch of the government one OF
the powerful influences or induce
ments, which in times past have fire.
quently been used to direct and con-
troll the actions of congress. Any
one can see the effect of such infiu-
ences upon the independence Of that
branch of the government. 1t Is a
deteriorating influence, morally as
well as intellectually, and if allowed
to control the entire civil service
would lead to its ruination.
Propose the Change.
I proposed this change by an
amendment to the postoffice bill two
years ago, but it went out on a
point of order. This year when the
legislative, executive and judicial
appropriation bill came to the senate
it contained certain general legisla-
ton relative to posteffice employees.
This gave an opportunity for an
amendment on the same subject and
III reoffered the amendment taking
the postoffice appointments out OF
politics and providing that they
should be appointed on merit in ac-
cordance with the Regularly estab-
lished civil Service rules
At later time / will briefly dis
cuss the manner in which this
change will improve the service and
curtail its expense, and the oppor-
tunity for reward it will give to
faithful employees.