New-York tribune., 1919-03-14
Opposition to Postmaster
Generals Dictation Ended
y in Call for designations
Wilson Asked to Change
Capital observation-disclosures
Did Not Approve ssLook.
ing Up Office Holders
Neau Yorh Tribune
Washington Ruren,.

" uo''HvtoH bureau
WASHINGTON, March 13-Persist-
ent efforts on the part of Postmaster
General Burleson to dictate the meth
od OF examining candidates for post
masterships were responsible for the
recent shake-up in the Civil Service
commission. according TO information
obtained here to-day.
1T was for the purpose of ending a
protracted row between the commits
sion and the Postmaster General,
growing out of the activity of Mr..
burieson. it is declared, that Presi-
dent Wilson before returning to Paris
called for the designations of Com
mlssloners Herman W. Craven and
Charles M. Galloway, two of the three
members of the commission.
Both Galloway and Craven, it is
stated, opposed the efforts of Mr.. Bur
Lesson. John A. McIlhenny, president
OF the commission, who is said to have
sided with the Postmaster General, re-
signed several weeks ago to accept a
position as financial adviser to the
government of Haytl
On March 81, 1917, President Will
son issued an executive order placing
the first, second and third class post
masters under the civil service rules,
IN the. sense that candidates for any
vacancies occurring from that time on
IN these postmasterships would have to
submit to competitive examination un-
der the rules of the Civil Service Com
mission.
Rnnuh1irau Cbaro<,
At that time it was charged by Re-
pupncan members of Congress that
the purpose was to keep Democrats in
tnese places. AS the term OF office
OF the postmasters was four wears. it
was then pointed out, the four wears
OF Mr.. Wilson's first term had given
the administration ample time to load
up the places with Democrats before
the executive order was put into ef-
feet.
In carrying out this order with re-
spect to future vacancies, occurring
as the order stated, by reason of
oeath, resignation or removal for
cause, the Civil Service Commission
intended, it is stated, to use it's GUS
tomary rules for examination of can
dldates. The Postmaster General, it
is declared, insisted, however. that as
part of the examination the candidate
should be Cooked up" by postoffice
inspector, and that the report of the
inspector should count 80 per cent.
in the examination.
Commissioners Craven and GALLOWAY
are both said to have objected siren
uously to this proposal on the ground
that 1T was open to grave objection
IN the event that the inspectors sent
out were inclined to lay more strength
on the political qualifications of the
candidates than on other charactcris-
tics.
Ask Wilson to Act
With the resignation of Commits
sioner Mcllhenny the situation was
such that the commission was wholly
in opposition to the Postmaster Cen
eral, and a deadlock was threatened.
Friends of the administration indicated
to-day that all the facts in the con-
troversy were not before the Presi-
dent when he was persuaded to call
for the designations of the remaining
two commissioners and for that rea-
son friends of Commissioner Gallo
President in an effort TO have him
withdraw his demand for Mr Gallo
ways resignation.
Meanwhile, announcement has been
made of the selection of Martin A.
Morrison, of Indiana, to succeed Com
missioner Craven, who sewers his con-
nection with the commission Saturday,
and George Il. Wales, Of Vermont, as
present chief examiner Of the commits
sion to succeed Commissioner Nell
benny. 1t is understood that South
crncr has been chosen tentatively to
succeed Mr.. Galloway.