The Duluth rip-saw. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1917-19??, 1919-11-29

tor Murdoch, now Of the Federal Trade
commission, and Robert w. -Woofey,
now of the Interstate commerce COM
mission, with the result that Mc1lhen-
nv was not removed, but remained in
office for Is months and then received
an, appointment in Haiti at $4,000
year.
5.-That commissioners Galloway and
Craven opposed, as susceptible to abuse
and favoritism, a method Of examining
candidates for postmasterships, which
Messrs. Burleson and McIlhenny ap-
proved, but which the president lat
er sustained.
6.-That numerous appointments Of
postmasters already certified> by the
civil service commission were being
held up by Burleson, with the result
that great dissatisfaction was caused.
In February, 1919, President Wilson
demanded the resignation Of both Ora
ven and Galloway. Both designations
were handed in, but Craven was &C.
cepted and Galloway's was not.
The form of examination to which
Galloway and Craven objected involved
sending a postoffice ;<lector to a
town, accompanied by some one OF the
civil service commission, to interview
citizens regarding the qualifications of
candidates for the postmastership. 1t
is understood that the commissioners
feel that too much latitude is allowed
postoffice inspector who selects the
persons to be interviewed, with the re-
suit that the interviews may be made
prejudicial one way or the other.
Galloway had to get out, however,
and did 80 Sept. 6. At that time, he
made a public statement as follows,
viz:
"My resignation was forced because
7 would not cooperate with postmaster
general Burleson in de6auchingf the
civil service and making q sham Of the
merit system. Herman w. Craven, the
republican member, and !, democrat,
were ousted from the commission be.
cause we were not willing that the
commission should be mere adjunct
to the postoffiee department, especially
with reference to examinations Tor
presidential postmasters under the OK.
ecutive order Of March 81, 1917.
"a very recent example Of Mr..
Burleson g conduct Is furnished by his
proposed amendment to this order,
which now awaits the signature Of the
president. The existing order provides
that the eligible with the highest
standing shall be nominated. A large
number Of nominations have been held
up, many of them for long time, evi.
IDENTIFY in anticipation Of this amend
ment, which will enable Mr.. Burleson
in may cases to deprive those standing
highest in these examinations of the
nominations to which they are already
ntitled. Among postoffices affected by
the amendment are those in Boston
and Newark, N. j.
Furthermore, short time ago, the
commission unanimously recommended
that the president appoint as chief ex.
aminer an employe of the commission
who is far better qualified for this pc.
sition than any other person Of whom
the commission has knowledge. But
the postmaster general desires that the
position be filled by another person Of
his own selection.ns .'-.-
The alleged scandal existing in the
postoffice department in the matter Of
the appointment Of postmasters upon
merit was forced into the House Of
Representatives Sept. H.:
BY a vote Of 247 to %, the House
nassed a resolution, offered by Lehl-
back Of New Jersey, calling upon Burle-
son to furnish the House with list
of vacancies in postoffices and list
Of certified vacancies. Mr.. Lehlback
at that time said:
"It is mandatory on the postmaster
general to submit for appointment the
registrant with the highest grade from
the civil service commission, unless by
reason Of residence or personal charac-
ter, he is disqualified. The presiden-
tial order places 1t under the jurisdic-
ton Of the civil service commission TO
conduct examinations and make rat.
ings. I do not know Of any instance
where the permanent appointment has
been made In compliance with this or.
der and, as q result, there are hundreds
Of postoffices now in charge Of men
not qualified to act"
"The postmaster general IL consider
ing the vacancy IN the po0tO111co ~
Newark, N. j." continued Mr.. Lehl.
back. "The commission certified list
Of efgibles on Feb. II last. From tina.
time to this although the order Is plain.
the postmaster general has refused 70
submit the name Of the highest man on
the LIST. J. Book-for appointment.
but is keeping in office as temporary
appointment, John F. Sinnott, Jr, the
fourth man on the list. There 10 NO
question - to the eligibility Of Mr.
Book, because he served q whole term
as postmaster under former president
Taft and for short time under the
Wilson administration.
"This is the situation: IF the rat
ings fixed by the civil service commits
sion do not suit the postmaster general,
he often submits them for re-rating to
the commission, and if the commission
has the temerity to insist on its ratings
he refuses to carry out the executive
order and submit the highest name
on the list.'
Duluth, it may be noted, is not the
only postmasterless city Of note in the
Il -