Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-05-18
FIFTH DISTRICT CONGRESSMAN
MAKES -VTRloLIc ATTACK ON
ADMINISTRATION.
DURLESoN MAKING FARCE
OF CIVIL SERVICE RULES
Harshalltown Postmastership Plans
Arouse Ire Of Congressman Because
of Deceit and Hypocrisy Practiced
After PRONUNCIATION Of Rule Calling
For Nonpartisan Examination.
TBy E. G. Dougherty. ]

NdSnlnS TON, May lo.-r laying L ieS.
ident Wilson and Postmaster General
Burleson in a vitriolic speech, Con-
gresham Good of the Fifth Iowa dis
trict, today called on the administra-
ton to repeal the executive order Of
March 81, 1917, placing the appoint
ment of postmasters other than of the
fourth class into the hands OF the civil
service commission and out of politics.
The Iowa congressman asserted that
the presidential order of March, 1917.
had been modified by the president and
Mr.. Burleson by the substitution OF
the qualifying clause which directed
the commission to call upon the post
Office department for a member to aid
the commission in making a personal
investigation Of the qualifications of all
applicants for postmasterships paying
more than $2.400 a year. The case
which prompted the speech by Con-
gresham Good was that Of Marshall
!. town, Iowa. where thirteen candidates
have applied for the vacancy. Some
OF the candidates are republicans,
who, Good maintains, will be elimi-
mated when the personal investigator
OF the postoffice department makes his
investigation He charged that the
postmaster general and the president
have stultifed the work of the COM
mission and struck deadly blow at
the merit system"
Mr.. Good Said that he would not
complain II the president and the post
master had proceeded in the usual way
of appointing only democratic postmas-
tiers. But what l do complain Of" he
said, "is the hypocrisy and deceit in
volved in the present plan Of appoint
ing Of postmasters. The postmaster
general should not have been permitted
to substitute his partisanship for the
nonpartisanship Of the civil service
commission. 1 complain Of this grand
larceny Of, the functions of the civil
service commission because I believe
in the merit system, and hate to see
1t used as the cats paw for ambitious
politicians"
Fair Treatment Demanded.
Mr. Good said that "the times de-
mand fairer and more honorable treat
4 ment than this. The times demand
4 that the executive order be either re-
i pealed or strictly enforced. The spirit
/ of America today is loyal. patriotic
and nonpartisan. That spirit should
prompt us to forget parties and parti-
sanship in the selection of men to per-
form public functions: that spirit
should actuate us to search out the
hest man available for every public
duty, and then put him in that place
in order that our country may play
the part OF a greater America. That
:,.;t 10 M ha
by this comoufage thrown about the
executive order Of Ma. \ 81, 1917.
May not that spirit yet nct 4ate the adj
repeal Of the executive order, or a re-
lease Of the civil service commission
from partisan domination"
Congressman Goods criticism was
not directed to the commission. He
put into the record letters from Chair
man McIlhenny Of commission which
absolved the commission from any
blame in modifying the regulations af-
fecting- postmaster appointees.
THE real reason why the commits
sion yielded" Mr.. Good said, SIS
frankly told By President McIlhenny
in his letter to me, from which 1 quote
The commission was later advised
by the postoffice department that the
different plans Of the announcements
submitted by the commission had been
taken up with president, who had ex-
pressed desire to pass unon the mat
ter before final action was taken, and
who personally made some changes
1essening the requirements as to length
Of experience. The final result appears
in the published announcement of
March e. 1918. which set forth that
examinations for positions as post
master will be made according to the
form approved by the president and
the postm aster general
Burleson Denounced.
Vigorous criticism of Postmaster
General Burleson was contained in the
Iowa congressman's speech. 'In this
connection" he said, "tie partisanshlp
Of the postmaster general must be re-
membered. His political bias is well
known to most members of the house
1t was my privilege to serve with him
here for period Of four years, and I
have felt that his services as a member
Of the house were distinguished large
ly by the craftsmanship which he dis
4 played. He has ability of high order.
He Is also a partisan of the most in
tense kind. I do not underestimate his
fE -.