New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1920-04-23

ployer. institution, club, church, col
lege organization or community as the
case may be. will be asked to contrib
ute s. for each blue star and 500 for
each gold star.
. -. How Postmasters Are Chosen.
The civil service commission, at
the request of congress, has ex-
planned to that body precisely how
pOstmasters of the first, second and
third class are now chosen. The
legislative body has had d notion right
along that politics still governed in
the selection of pOstmasters. The civil
service commission insists that this ia
not the fact. 1t explains that under
the civil service law positions which
are filed through nomination by the
president for confirmation by the sen
ate, are not included in the cOmpeti-
tive classified service. Positions Of
pOstmasters at first, second and third
class post Offices are not filled in this
manner. For these positions, however,
examinations are held by the civil
service commission at the request OF
the postmaster general, under AN ex-
ecutive order of March 81, 1917.
To be eligible for examination for a
position as postmaster at an office of
the first, second or third class, an APP
plicant, the commission explains, must
be IA citizen of the United States, must
actually reside within the territory OF
the office for which the application IL
made and must be in good physical
condition. For offices paying more
than $1,000 a year the applicants must
show that at least for seven years
they have held responsible positions
In which the principal duties involved
the management of business affairs,
such positions as those of president,
general manager, general superintend'
ent or assistant general superintend-
ent, requiring active charge of firms,
corporations, businesses or offices, or
equivalent positions in different
branches of the postal service. For
an office paying over $4,000 up to and
including $1,000 a year the applicants
must show that for at least five years
they have held responsible positions
as president, general manager, etc. /;
and for Offices paying from S2,4OO up
to and including $4,000, the applicants
must show that for at least three
years they have been In charge OF
G
Qualifications Necessary.
An applicant for the position Of
postmaster at an Office of the first
| class must have reached his thirtieth
birthday and an applicant for the Of
fifth birthday. For "A third class Office
Il man may serve up to sixty. The
written examination prescribed, the
civil service commission tells congress,
is not difficult. II includes such sub
jects as arithmetic and penmanship,
letter writing. business training and
experience and similar topics. The
chief purpose of the examination, II Is
explained, is to ascertain the business
experience of the applicants and this
Is Uh"IlltuiuIis ilut WIN f'1lt'' w
men who desire to serve as first class
postmasters.
Before an examination Is held the
civil service commission, 1t develops,
makes a careful personal investigation
of each applicant. This investigation
Is designed to V two purposes,
first the candidates suitability for the
office by reason of his character and
personal characteristics, and second
the business qualifications, ability and
experience of the candidate. This so
called personal report is filed along
with the candidates examination pa
pers and Is made a part of the evil
dence and record on which the com
mission rates the candidate.
Both the civil service commission
and the postmaster general have held
that the law Of July IL, 1919, proyid-
ing that preference be given To hon
orably discharged soldiers and sail
ors in making government appoint
ments was not intended to apply to
appointment of postmasters AT presi-
Dental offices, since postmasters are
not in the classified service. The post
master general says. however, that
service men are given the preference
provided they meet the requirements
established by the regulations and are
qualified.
When Vacancy Occurs.
What happens when a vacancy oc-
curs in a postmastership Of the first.
second or third class is this: The
postmaster general notifies the civil
| service commission of the vacancy.
That commission Immediately holds
an open competitive examination to
test the fitness of applicants to OIL
the vacancy. After the papers Of the
a~pplicants have been rated the com
mission certifes the result TO the post
master general, who under an execu-
five order must submit to the presi-
dent the name OF the highest qualified
eligible for appointment to fill the
acanc unless II is established that
the character or residence Of such
applicant disqualiies him for appoint
ment."
The post Office department is pre-
pared TO show. so II says. In case con
gress shall insist on the showing. that
since this new method of choosing
first. second and third class postmas-
tiers was adopted. politics has been
ignored in making appointments.