Norwich bulletin., 1920-11-30
WASHINGTON AFFAIRS
Especial to The Bulletin)

 ing besieged to answer that question. but thus far no one has been able to speak with authority on the course Presi dent elect Harding will follow regarding the l so-caated ,.presidentiat postn1astersr i which include the first, second and third | classes All the same it's a pretty safe ] guess that there will be big turnover ] in the postoffice department when MT Burieson leaves the field clear for his re- | publican successor
 There seems to be a very general be- lief that the, executive order made by | President Wilson in 1917 made perma- l rent postrnasters of men in office under l that order. But apparently 1t did noth- | ing of the kind. It merely provided 9 l civil service examination for candidates | to be nominated by the president. It | provided that the civil service commis- sion furnish the president with the names of persons rating highest under the ex- animation. But apparently it does not require their appointment nor their con- firniation by the senate. Moreover it is merely an executive order which con-i tifues until rescinded by the president of the United States, it is not a federal law made by congress.
 The executive order of President, Will son did not put the postn1asters under
 
 Harding would have to do is to set the order of MT. Wilson aside. to restore former methods of postmaster appoint n1ents. Sc men and women now holdine first, second and third class appointments are not by any means secure in their po- sfons
 It is not wholly on the theory that to the victor belongs the spells that changes in ondp6rtant offices of the postoffice service would be made, although patron- aEe counts for much with the incoming of party into federal power. Every party believes it can best be served by men and women who are in sympathy with it's aims and earnest to make good re- cord for the party in power The re- ] pubNcans feel they have plenty of good material on hand to equip the country with first, secand and third class post masters of the republican faith that such employees would be inspired to give the best possible service to the public. under appointment by a president whom they enthusiastically elected. They would want him to- make good in the con- duet of the post office department and there will be 8 strong effort made to have President Harding rescind the Will son order soon after he assumes the off, flee. It must be remembered that the
 
 cials under civil service examination did not go into force until the offices were 1 filled by deserving democrats, who were not to be disturbed except for good cause | At this moment 1t does not seem likely i the incoming party will stand for such l sweeping democratic strong hold as now 1 exists in the post offices of the country. l Pcstmasters are appointed for four l years-and nothing in the Wilson order Keeps them in office beyond that time. No mere executive order can change the . term of service-that can be done by con- l gress alone-and thus far congress has 1 taken no steps towards that end. All a I president can do even under the Wilson 1 order, is to reappoint the same man, if he wishes him to continue in the ser
 vice. And then the senate may or may
 not confirm the nominee AS it pleases. So l the so-called sweeping reform regard l ing postmasters was but flash in the pan after all, and can be done away | with by the say-so of Mir. Harding.
 The civil service commission states positively that such offices as first, sec ond and third postmasters do not come l under classified service. | Presinent Harding must ultimately de- I eide the question of resembling that or f der and he will no doubt be guided by the advice of his postmaster general and other men high in the confidence of his I party But tremendous pressure will be brought to bear on him to try out a thor ! oughly republican administration. ever Il extending to postmaster. The disrepute into which the postoffice department has fallen under tn present administration will not tend to keep the system in effect This is no reflection on the postmaster: personally. but they must naturally suf } fer less of prestige as employees of a de :. partment which has met very genera criticism during the past eight years. sl It seems to be pretty well understood } that Mir. Harding will use extreme car' in selecting his postmaster general. Th' Il advisers of President-elect Harding hav
 made up their minds to make goot l showing in all federal departments. B
 ginning with the postoffice departmen they urge q man thoroughly equipped fo 5 the position, to be its head. They nex 6 urge economy, efficiency and a servic [ which shall benefit the best business inte | i rests of each community. With this Ii . mind they believe the principal offic holder should be in sympathy with tn :. new administration and willing to worl . whole-heartedly for it's success. All o which seems to spell a general genera
 turnover in office holders when the tim
 for postoffice appointments comes round
 next spring. Il There isn't at this moment a ray 0 s l light as to how it will effect the local of fees of Connecticut, but no denocrati
 postmaster in that state can safely pi
 his faith to the Wilson order, for . holds good only till president desire l 1 to revoke it.
 Speaker Giilett states positively tha
 there is no foundation for the rirnor tha e Floor Leader Mondell will relinquish tha t post on account of the broken leg fror
 which he is now suffering. Mir. Monde
 1 is even now at the Capitol daily, and a z though his leg is in cast, he is takin | an active part in preparing for the con
 ing session. MT. Mondell will be in hi
 seat when congress convenes Decembe :, tn and if he finds the long hours of tn sessions too fatiguing he will call o III members of the steering committee an other leaders to help him out from tin
 to time. He will find plenty of ahl y helpers in the New England delegation n Tilson of Connecticut. Winslow of Ma |. sachusetts and Walsh of Massachuset
 are among the most active and be-
 equipped parliamentarians in the Hous i- and thoroughly fitted to serve as actin "A or assistant floor leaders, should MT. Mol ,, dell find he needs help in carrying ol
 his plans. These men are among the mo
 prominently mentioned here as possib
 assistants or emergency leaders, duril ss MT. MondeIls lameness-but Monde " don't intend to give up his position as o le fcial floor leader, and so far as can
 learned no republicans either believe
 | desire that he should do so
 K The rumors that Mir. Gillett will me or opposition in his party as speaker of tl e. next house seem equally unfounded