River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1921-10-06
Congressman James
A. frear Explains
P. 0. Situation

OF letters and many visitors interested
in Tenth District post offices were re-
ceived by the writer at his home.
Talks at county fairs, at street fairs,
before American Legion meetings and
on other occasions were also made
during the brief vacation. On the
writer's return to this city many adj
ditional letters relating to post Of
fices in the district were found here
awaiting answer. The situation III
vites some public statement because
of those who are interested in post
offices and of many thousands in the
District who are more particularly in
terested in legislation and other dut-
les. The writer believes the first
duty to constituents and to the state
is to represent people on matters OF
important legislation before Congress.
This work if intelligently performed
requires study of hundreds of bills
every session and Of hearings Of var
ious committees and is apart from
Ways and Means committee WORK
which is also of great Importance.
Innumerable requests for other kinds
of public service are also receive.
because every Representative serves
large constituency, including thous-
ands of ex-soldiers and is an agent
or public servantsfor ali.
The Presidents order regarding
post office requires the Civil Service
Commission to give notice Of examina
ton thereby inviting many candidates
reaching from four to ten candidates
for the average vacancy. Under that
order the three highest names as de-
ternlined by he comnl.ssl1 will be
certified to the department an Con-
gressmen may then register their dis
approval or preference If SO desired.
Thus far no names have been certi-
fled to the writer in single case
either by the Commission or by the
Department but over a thousand let
tiers or names on petitions have been
received by the writer supporting the
claims of various candidates. These
include, for illustration, three separate
petitions containing over 70 names
each received from three applicants
for one third class post office, in adj
dition to other petitions and letters
urging claims of other candidates for
this same office. Six applications have
been sent to me for one second class
office and one petition in that instan-
&c contains over four hundred names
gathered from adjacent rural routes.
Ten applicants for another office IN
the same county ask for the appoint
ment of the applicant in each case,
although the Civil Service Commits
sion has the sole determination of
what names are to be submitted in
every case. Nine applications for
third class office are also among those
received.
Personal and political friends found
among the applicants may not be GER
titled by the commission, while on the
other hand personal friends have noti-
fled the writer in more than one case
they will not compete in such exam
nation. The last Administration
filled offices quite generally with par
tisan supporters but on the other hand
the postmaster of my nome city, Re-
publican ex-official, was appointed by
President Wilson because he ranked
highest in the Civil Service examina-
ton. Appointment should be govern,
ed by such examinations or Congress
men left free to make appointments
and then held responsible for Their
choice
One or two courses is open: either
to select one of the names certified
which may or may not be Of persons
known to the Representative or else
abide by the examination in the order
certified. In the first instance, every
disappointed applicant whether certi
fled or not will feel his own claims
have been ignored In any event the
choice is limited to the list certified
by the commission. Because of the
facts briefly set forth, or the advice
of friends, / have decided to adopt
policy pursued by other Representa-
tives with whom ! have talked ana
not interfere with the report of the
commission as to candidates certified
but to let the the Department appoint
in the order of comparative efficiency
reported. This does rot mean that if
an unfit or Objectionable selection is
made or if some special reason is
shown to exist the right to interfere
will not be exercised but ordinarily d
policy of non-interference is intend
ed.
If majority Of electors of any COM