Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-09-30

:. Tuooday. SeptembeF 1et1.
oeiaa Aftsr oursesen.
The Senate has taken fhe FIRST stepz
toward locking into the ehafges Of
Iong Standing that Postmaster Gen
e9Al Bufieson has sought 10 debarch
the Cavi: Service and control 1t Tor
political purposes. thereby forcing
the resignation Of fEo members Uz
the cosnmission- The decision wa
made when resolution introduced
by Senator norris Of NEBRASKA was
passed by 4 vote Of CO TO =. The
resolution sets forth as tie reason fes
investigation, the statements made BY
conmisssoner Galloway. uh6 with hin
associate. Commissioner Craven. re-
sisted the alleged attempts ct Nr-
Burieson 20 turn the Civil Service into
an adjunct to the Post Once depart
menf-
Senator Norris informed the Senate
on part Of the history of TIE Civil
Service troubles that led to the fnal
. rupture:
IT wAs widely commented that the
interference Of the Postmaster Gem
eral with the Civil Service Commits
eion was in part responsible for the
demand for the designations or re-
moyal Of fwo members Of the COM
mission. / read from a newspaper
account early this month setting
forth that Commissioner Galloway
was ousted for refusal to help de-
bauch the civil service. and that
there's Mr.. Burleson had Won anoth.
er victory. For mosths there had
been friction between LIZ. Burlsson
and Commissioner Galloway because
Of the ktter's opposition to Et. Bur-
lessons efforts 70 get the civil service
rules altered Nr- Galloway said
his resignation was forced. and that
President Wilson practically delivered
to him al iltinaftsin-
Last winter, Ee are informed. the
President asked the resienation Of Mr..
Galloway. and II vas submitted, but
not accepted. lff. Galloway was In
formed II waS best for him to wait till
the President Should return frum
France The issue between Burleeon
and Galloway grew and finally the
President determined to support his
POSTMASTER General. and ousfed Nr.
Galloway. whom In 1919 he had ap-
pointed Mr.. Gailoways statement
said that his resignation was forced
because he veuld not cooperate with
Bufiesoh in dehauchins the civil
service by a ruling that would make
sham 81 the merit system. He d.
claned that Commissioned Craven and
himseif were ousted because they
wouN not join In making the Civil
Service Commission an adjunct to the
Post Once Department
-4f. Burieson wanted q rule adopt-
ed that would permit him to appoint
not the candidate who on examiAation
had received the highest rating, but
some other II in his discretion he saw
ut TO do So The post Offices at Bos-
ton and Newark are among those af-
fected by this rule. The commission
reconstructed for the highly fmpof-
tant once Of TT examiner an en-
ployee Of the commission eniaentiy
qualified. But Af. Burleson wanted
somebody else appointed Of his own
seieetion. the appointment being by
the President"
Nj. Norris read the order Of the
President Of March u. 1917. directing
that nrst, second and third class post
ONCE appointments be made on
merit after EXAMINATIONS.
IAN friends Of civil Service ef-
nctsney were delighted" said Mr..
Norris. at this order. Under It Mr..
Bur1eeon had but one duty-to ex-
ecute the order. Men have been i'm.
peached in high oflices for doing less.
Yet there Is record OF one case in
which postmaster being guilty of a
crime, that fact was exposed and
proved Yet the Postmaster-Cenera
removed from ONCE the man who en-.
posed the crime and retained the cul.
prit. In a Texas case there was an
examination for a postohice, among
thoss-taking it being a relative of the
Postmaster General. Before the
papers had been passed upon by the
Ccmmission the private secretary Ia
tn Postmaster General called the
commissions attention to the fact
that one applicant was \ relative of
tne fosfmasfer General ana that he
vas Anxious for her 10 b 90 rated
tnat sns could bs appointed" /