The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-09-12
HOUSE MOVES
IN IMPEACHING
OF BURLESON
Demands Inquiry Into Al
legged Political Prefer
ence in Appointments.
DEFIED WILSON'S ORDER
Civil Service Standing Ignored
in Cases of Two Hundred
POstmasters.
DEFIED WILSON'S ORDER
Special Despatch TO rnr srs.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 1.-THE House
took the first step to-day in the pro-
posed investigation of the many COM
plants against the official acts of
Postmaster General Burleson with the
purpose Of determining whether i'm
peachment proceedings should be
brought against him.
Democrats Joined with Republicans
in passing by a vote of 247 to 22 d res
olution of Representative Lehlbach
On. j., which orders an inquiry into
the charges that the Postmaster-Gen-
eral has violated the Presidential or
der of March 81. 1917. providing that
all postmaster appointments shall be
made on the highest ratings of the
Civil Service Commission, if the char
acter of the highest eligible is good.
The resolution was prompted by the
charges of Charles NJ. Galloway, Dem
ocrat, who when he resigned from the
Civil Service Commission charged that
Mr.. Burleson had refused to accept
the recommendations of the commits
sion and instead chose men with po-
litical advantages for the postal posi-
tons.
Mr.. Lehlbach in urging the passage OF
the resolution said that informal infor-
taA
reform in the Civil Service. of which he
is chairman. that Mr.. Burleson had re-
fused to accept the recommendations OF
the commission in 200 cases throughout
the country. There were ten such cases
in New Jersey alone, he said. Mr.. Lehl-
bach asserted that II was the practice
of the Postmaster General to refuse tc
make the appointments suggested by the
politically and keep in Office men Of hi:
political leanings chosen to fill the places
temporarily. Mr.. Burleson has kept hii
desired temporary appointees in Office
| commission has made other recommen'
dations for permanent officials he said
mentioning the cases at Newark ant
Boston as examples.
Ordered to Produce Data.
The resolution calls on the Postmas
| ter-General to furnish the House frs
with a list of all the postmaster vacan
cies since the Presidential order was is
sued; second, a list of those vacancies
that have been certified 10 the Civil Ser
vice Commission for the purpose of and
ing tho most capable appointee third, s
list OF certihcations to the Department
by the commission as the result of th'
examinations of the men eligible for ap
pointment, with the dates when sucl
certifications were received fourth,
list of all offices now without permanen
postmasters.
| During the debate on the resolution /
was evident that there was considerably
objection to the Presidents order oil
the part OF the Democrats Champ Clarl
| (Mo.) charging that 1t lost the Senat
and House to the Democrats In the las
| election. Representative Ruby (Mo.
drew applause from the Democrats whel
he declared 1t should be repealed.
''The purpose OF this inquiry" sal
Mr.. Lehlbach, 'is to ascertain how wide
spread thu oughout the country is tn
condition that is detrimental to the eff
cheney of the Post Office Department
and which is the result of the wilful an
contumacious refusal of the Postmaster
General to obey the order of the Presi
dent directing that postmasters shoul
be appointed upon the recommendatlo
OF the Civil Service Commission.
"lt is mandatory on the Postmaster
General to submit for appointment tn
registrant with the highest grade froT
the Civil Service Commission unless b
reason of his residence or personal char
acter he is disqualified. The Presidents
order places 1t under the jurisdiction c
the Civil Service Commission to conduC
examinations and make the ratings.
81 do not known of any instance wheT
a permanent appointment has been mad
in compliance with this order, and g
the result there are hundreds of pos
offices now in charge OF men not qualifie
to act"
Hest Men Not Amounted.