The sun., 1919-07-14
BURLESON CHARGED
WITH FLOUTTNG LAW
Said to Have Tried to Give
Niece Post Office Over Man
Who Won Place.
DEFIANT MEN LOSE JOBS
Cleanup Of Civil Service Com
y mission Follows Refusal
to Evade Statutes.
DEFIANT MEN LOSE JOBS
Special DespatoA TO THr Sun.

Special Despdtch TO THr Sun. I
WASHINGTON. July 13.-How Post
master-Generai Burleson tried but failed |
to get the Civil Service Commission to |
set aside its examination for postmaster |
at Lockhart, Texas, and certify for APP |
polntment his own niece. Miss Emma X. |
Burleson, is a story that lies behind the
cleaning out OF the Civil Service Com
mission at the instance OF Mr.. Burleson
last February. The facts are before
President Wilson, along with other
statements indicating why Mr.. Burleson
made war on the Civil Service Com
mission.
The ONCE OF postmaster at Lockhart
has long been regarded as a Burleson
family property. For years when Mr..
Burleson was in Congress his brother
occupied the position and subsequently
Postmaster Generals nephew. In 1917
young Bureson gave 1t up
| BY that time Postmaster-General
Burleson, with much clamor from press
agents, through executive orders signed
by the President, had extended the civil
| service to cover many post offices here
| tofore regarded as patronage. Only
merit was to prevail in appointments.
| Under the new rules a competitive ex-
| animation was set on which to make
selection for the Lockhart postmaster
ship. 1t was duly held. The Civil Ser
vice Commission certified that Tyre b.
Brown had passed with the highest
markings and should be appointed. Next
to him stood Tom F. Harris; third was
Sibert S. Grigsby and fourth was Miss
Emma X. Burleson.
Appointment Is Delayed.
Mr.. Browns appointment did not fol-
low the certifcation of the ratings to the
Postmaster Instead Ruskin
McArdle, chief clerk OF the Postoffice De-
partment and for many years confiden-
tial secretary to Mr.. Burieson, tele-
the two Democratic members of the
Civil Service Commission.
The commissioner was told that the
Postmaster-General was Interested
greatly in the examination for the post
mastership at Lockhart; that he feared
a mistake had been made in the rating
of the applicants papers: that the Post
master Generals niece, Miss Emma X.
Burleson, had been rated as fourth on
would be obliged II the papers were re-
rated and Miss Burleson was brought up
from fourth to first place.
| Following this came formal letter TO
the Civil Service Commission from the
Post >Office Department asking that the
lpapers in the Lockhart examinations be
re-rated ito see that no mistake had
been made"
Commissioner Galloway laid the mat
Craven, the Republican member. and the
two decided that there would be no i'm
| propriety in checking the examination
ratings to determine their fairness. This
check showed that Miss Burlesons paper
had received every consideration and
that, II anything. she had been marked
higher than her deserts.
| Thereupon the commission declined to
make any change and so notified Post
ma ster- General Burleson. He refralned
for several months from making the
| appointment at Lockhart, but finally
named the successful contestant, Mr.
Brown.
From that time the Postma ster-G encr-
ais enmity to Commissioners Galloway
and Craven was marked 1t was inten-
sifed By the fact that the commission In
each annual report called attention to
the fact that in named instances il was
fee Department in its efforts to enforce
the civil service laws and regulations
Wilson Demands Resigna ttons.
The results were shown when on hi.
, visit to the United States President
Wilson on February % last called with.
out warning for the immediate resgna.
tons of Commissioners Galloway and
Craven. The third member OF the Com
mission and its President, John A. Nc
llhenny OF Louisiana, II was announced
. at the time, had resigned and had beer
appointed to n $4,000 or $4,000 posi-
ton under the State Department a,
Fiscal Agent for the Dominican Repub
lie. Mr. McIhenny's salary as Pres
dent OF the Civil Service Commission
was $4,000.
Mr.. Craven vainly sought informa
ton as to the reasons for his forced
resignation. They were not forthcom
\ | ing. He had to retire. Mr.. Galloway
, however. having influential connections
In the Democratic party, de1ed Mr.
e Burleson. who, it was generally under
stood had procured the action OF tn
sert that any further attempt b.
Il Burleson TO force him out will result
e in the exposure OF certain OF Mr.. Burle
o sons activities.
Il The Presidents order for the i'm
L mediate resignation OF Mr.. Gallowa
3 has been disregarded since February 9
Il last The President has been home
n week and has taken no action on tn