The Duluth rip-saw. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1917-19??, 1919-11-29
PEOPLE MARVEL BECAUSE
CITY IS POSTMASTERLESS
Trouble ceters IN Washington Where Postmaster General
Burle.on Contend. With Civil Service Commission a.
TO Their Respective Departmental Powers.
1t Is Unoficaly Stated That Thomas E. Considne Ranks
First Of Fifteen Candidates for the Postion-Practica
Politics Suspected Of Influencing the Situation.

Thousands Of the patrons Of the To-
cal postoffice are wondering why Du.
luth does not get real postmaster in.
stead of an acting postmaster.
The trouble is located at Washington
and even congressman Carss is not
powerful enough to break the. blockade.
The delay seems to be due to a fight
To the finish between the high.minded
civil service commission and the ,prac-
teal politician, postmaster general
Burleson.' 49,. E"... -. 80
If civil service in the full sense Of
the word wins out, Thomas E. Consi-
dine undoubtedly will be the next
Nasty Of this city.
If cold-blooded politics wins out and
congressman Carss sticks to what he is
reputed to favor, Frederick l.. Ryan
probably will win.
If matters remain in statu quo, as
Col. LeDuc loves to say, then William
F. Henry will continue as acting post.
master until there is a change III adj
ministration, after which Col. Hubert
v. Iva probably will fall into the gov
eminent job that now pays $4,000 a
year The Big Chief OF Little Tam.
many is said to favor the in statu quo
plan. That great pie-counter organiza-
ton does not snuggle up to civil service
and Mr.. Ryan was Champ Clark man
instead of q Wilson man. Why not let
Mr.. Henry, therefore, stay as long as
possible and then let Lee Willcuts
shake the tree for Little Evaf
Many are sorry now that William F.
Henry did not become q candidate and
take the examination Last April. Some
say that he, himself, now is sorry.
There is an interesting story to the
effect that. some months ago, when a
prominent pioneer realtor was in Wash
ington on personal business, he called
on the civil service commission and
urged the chairman to reopen the con-
test in Duluth, thereby enabling Mr..
Henry to become q bona fide candi.
date and, by God 3 help, to attain first
place on tho eligible list.
Despite the heavy arguments ad-
vaaced ii fapsr sof the idea, the chair
man Of the eipa service commission
turned it fatty down, saying, in sub.
stance:
81 have NO desire to make monkey
Of the commission"
It is understood that out Of the fit.
teen Duluthians who took the examina-
ton and were checked up by inspec.
tors, Thomas Considine stood first,
while Eva, Ryan and Cullum stood next
to him. From that, the reader who
knows political and social history in
Duluth win see that the chances are
greatly in favor of long continue.
ton Of the statu quo, so to speak.
Under the civil service regulations,
candidates are given an examination
and then their personal and moral fit.
ness is quietly checked up BY inspec.
tors sent for that purpose. After that
has been done, the three candidates
rating the highest are certified to the
postoffice department and it is manda-
tory on the postmaster general to ap-
point the man standing the highest. If
he has become ineligible, then the Sec
ond is taken, and 80 on.
Burleson g desire is privilege and
power to appoint any one Of the three
certified to him. There is chance for
discrimination, too, by instructing in.
spectors to interview only certain local
people, thereby not getting q fair and
improperly affecting his rating.
Duluthians who took the examina-
ton last April, in addition to Consi-
dine, Ryan and Eva, were: Marcus B.
Cullum, J. b. Shartel, Scott Cash, E.
j. Bunker, Henry Gruesen, A. Wicklund,
David +. Williams, T. j. McKeon, w.
G. Joerns, Frank G.. Scribner, E. n.
Whitaker, James A. Stuart.
The big trouble in Washington was
started by Burleson when he set about
TO eliminate Charles NJ. Galloway and
Herman W. Craven from the civil serv.
Ice commission. The situation became
20 intense for time that it looked as
If president Wilson would have to de-
mand the resignation Of either Gallo
way or Barleson. Galloway eventually
went, therefore it is safe to assume
that president Wilson prises Burleson
more than real civil service.
Galleway's friends charged that
BuYleson attempted to use the civil
service, especially the appointment Of
postmasters, to further political ends.
Late in The past summer Il even was
charged that Hnrleson tried to Induce
Galloway 70 certify his niece, Miss EN-.
ma x. Buriesen, above the heads Of
three other candidates who stood high.
or than she did on examination. Other
charges made late in last August en-
oraeed the following, viz:
That Col. Edward NJ. House fin.
ally came to tho rescue Of his fellow
Texan, Burlesan.
2.-That Galloway and Herman w.
Craven, republican member Of the
commission, were invited twice to the
White House in July, 1917, and made
complaints against the former chair.
man Of the commission, John A. Nell
benny, Mr.. Craven asking president
Wilson to summon McIlhenny 80 that
complaints could be made to his face.
s.-That following those visits, post
master general Burleson told Messrs.
Galloway and Craven that Mr.. Nell.
henny would be removed as soon Is
man could b found to take his place.
Az -~.k W.