The commonwealth., 1921-12-09
BY RICHARD LINTHICUM
Especial Correspondence

Washington, Dec. 9-The discrim-
nations Of Postmaster General Hays
against ex2service men in the matter
of appointments of postmasters, fol-
lowing an executive order Of President
Harding overthrowing the Soldiers
Preference law, WHICH are coming to
light in various parts Of the country
will no longer be possible If bill In
troduced by Senator Trammell, {Dcm
(. Fla} at the request Of his Democratic
] colleague, Senator Fletcher, becomes a
law. >.
Senator Fletcher's 8 bill gives prefer.
enee to honorably discharged soldiers.
sailors, and marines and the widows
and the wives of such, for nomination
as postmaster, and aside from its gen
eral provisions is as follows:
3, Ihat when vacancy exists or
hereafter occurs in the position of
postmaster preference shall be given
to honorably discharged soldiers. saiY-
ors, and marines, and to the widows
Of such, and to the wives of disabled
soldiers, sailors, and marines who
themselves are not physically quail
lied to hold such positions: and it
shall be the duty Of the Postmaster
General to submit to the President for
nomination as postmaster the name Of
the veteran or the widow, or the wife
obtaining the highest eligible rating
IS the result of an open competitive
examination conducted by the United
States Civil Service Commission, un-
der such rules and regulations as may
BE promulgated by the Post Office De-
'artment and the Commission.
Under ythe Wilson administration the
existing law was construed to give pre-
terence to cXSerylce men. This was
an act approved March, 5, 1919, giving
preference in appointments to clerical
and other posit;o ions Of the executive
eminent establishments to honorablv
ischarged soldiers, sailors, and ms
rines and widows of such, if they are
qualified tc hold such positions, which
was amended hy van act approved
July II, 1919 by including the Hw1vcs
Of injured soldiers, sailors, and ma
rines who themselves are not qualified
but whose wives are qualified to hold
such positions
In All executive order, April IS,
1920, President Wilson declared tha,
8 the veteran preference statute shall
apply in the selection of persons for
appointment as postmaste at offices
Of the first, second and thru class. >
In all appointments to civil service
; positions President Wilson was also a
) stickler for the appointment Of the
. highest eligible on the list and this
i rule was insisted upon and carried OUT.
except where preference was given to
} ex-service men, their wives or widows.
!, President Harding's first executive
} order with reference to the appoint
: ment of postmasters, issued May 10,
? 1921, abrogated President Wilson S eN
: ecutive order making it imperative to
2 name the highest eligible on the list
8 end provided that any one of the
, highest three on the list should be
: eligible to appointment. In this way
h if there was one Republican amon-
t?.e three. although he might have the
lowest rating of the trio it would be
G made possible to appoint him over the
: two Democrats who would have a high
; er civil service rating.
s Not content with this overthrow OF
Il TIA ain principle Of the civil service
o law, President Harding made new
t executive order oD Oct. II, 1921, /!
= which he said that ''the appointment
= Of presidential postmasters IS not
: within the legal scope of the civil ser
r vice law and, therefore, as matfe'
= Of law no preference IS applicable
9 there to. and made the provision thai
persons who served in the World Wa'
shnn1d lie aiYar five points IN theiI