New-York tribune., 1921-05-11
Harding Rule
Hits $4,000
POstHllasters
President Issues Executive
Order Fixing Status of
Those i'm Offices of First.
second and Third Class
Urges Civil Service Lave
Hereafter Vacancy. Except
Promotion, TO Go To One
of Highest Three I'm Tests
- rAs Trssa.se,s wssAincton ,3srsnu

z 4
WASHINGTON. May 10. - President
harding to-day modified the system of
selecsing possnasters in first, second
nd third class Offices set up by Wood
rav Wilson. Under the Wilson order
tsa Administration directed the selec-
san of the candidate standing highest
:, civil service examination for any
sneeSfsc postmastersaip. To-day's modi-
ssstion provides that If airy vacancy
il not filed by nomination for promo
ti.a of person from within the COM
nst;tsve classified civil service, an open
competitive examination shall be held
.nd the appointment shall be made
sroru one of the three highest eligibles,
ss REQUIRED now by law in the classi-
esd evil service.
The modified order takes effect im
nedistely and applies to about 10000
ssces. In the order, President Har-
sirc suggested that postmasters of the
grst. second and third class be classi-
led under the civil service by act of
Congress. The orders reads:
Text of Presidents Order
.sWhen q vacancy exists or hereafter
seeurs in the position OF postmaster
a. sn Office Of the first, second or third
cIass. IL suSa vacancy IS not filed by
.orination OF some person within the
ea,uretitive classified civil service who
hss tie required qualifications, then
sse Postmaster General shall certify
tse fact TO the Civil Service Commits
slon. which shall forthwith hold an
opsn competitive examination to test
tss fitness OF applicants to fIl such
vseancy, and when such examination
has been held and the papers in con-
rectica Herewith have been rated, the
said commission shall certify the re-
suits thereof to the Postmaster Gem
eysl. who snail submit to the President
.he name OF one of the highest three
Guaiihed eligibles for appointment 10
iii such vacancy unless it is estab-
lished that the character o. residence
o. any such applicant disqualifes him
for appointment; provided: that at
tie expiration of the term of any per-
scn appointed TO such position through
examination before the Civil Service
Commission, the Postmaster General
nsy, in his discretion, submit the name
a. such person to the President for
denomination without further exam
inatiar.
aNo person vho has passed his
sixty.fifth birthday, or who has not
actually resided within tie delivery OF
such ofiice for two years next preceding
such vacancy, shall be given the ex-
ANIMATION herein provided for.
10000 in Classified Service
III, Under this order, it is desired TO
make nomination for another Office of
person II the competitive classified
sarvice, such person must first be found
By the Civil Service Commission to
meet the minimum requirements FOR
the ofiee.
'There are more than 4oo, 900 men
and women participating in govern
mental work who are in classified
service. All of these are under the
permanent provisions of the civil serv-
Ice lav and rules.
sThese permanent rules provide for
tae certifeation of the highest three
eAgihles, from which list Of three
each necessary appointment is made.
The successful operation Of the princi-
pies of civil service law has demon
strated the wisdom of this provision.
This leaves in the appointing power,
Tho has the ultimate responsibility
for Efficient administration, the neces-
sary constitutional right of choice.
This right Of selection is the kind of
responsibility which cannot legally be
and Is not abridged by act of Congress,
and is IN exact harmony with the
spirit Of the civil service principle.
"fhere are 52,332 postmasters. OF
these, S9,433 are in the fourth class,
and are under such sivil service laws
and regulations as bring them within
tae privileges and conditions of the
Classified service.
1889 Offices Affected
.os the remaining 1882 possoaaees,
Igo are first class, 2,S17 are second
eaas and 1852 are third class.
Obviously these Offices are business
ssencies OF the government in legal
gafpose and should become SO in fact.
kas only certain ultimate way TO
sfiag this about IL to classify first,
~-s9ho and third class postmasters.