The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-05-15
Department and Members of
Congress Being Swamped
With Inquiries.
REPUBLICANS EAGER
FOR PATRONAGE PIE
Urged That Wilson Order Be
Rescinded and Return to
Old Spells System.
Y5v GEO. II. MANNiNG.)


office department officials and the
senators and representatives are being
swamped with inquiries as to the
method of working out President
Harding's executive order Of May 10
governing appointment of presidential
postmasters.
While the executive order, super
ceding President Wilson's executive
order of four years ago, putting all
presidential postmasters under the
civil service, speaks for itself and
makes it plain that the postmaster
general by and with the advice of the
senator's, representatives and political
leaders will try to choose an accepta-
bic republican from among the three
candidates making the highest rating
in the civil service examination 1t
leaves a multitude of questions unan"
gyvered and innumerable situations
omen for future rulings.
Realizing that he would be peppered
with questions regarding the carrying
out of the executive order under par
ocular circumstances, and wishing to
be fully prepared before answering
numerous pertinent questions, Post
master General Will Hays cancelled
his usual semi weekly conferences
with the Washington newspaper cor
respondents today and avoided all
other engagements and telephone calls
bearing on postmaster appointments.
Mr.. Hays in giving deep study to the
question and hopes in a few days To
be able to establish fixed rules to
govern postmaster appointments under
my set of circumstances.
Until such rules can be worked out
no steps are to be taken in the direc-
lion of appointing postmasters, POST
master General Hays said. The de-
partment has a great many questions
10 settle before it can undertake the
task Of filling the several thousand
postmaster vacancies.
President Wilson in his remarkable
executive order of March 81, 1917, d.
.ected that where vacancies occurred
n the office of postmaster Of the first,
second or third classes through expi-
ration of the four-year appointive
term or otherwise the place should be
filled by appointing the person making
the highest rating in an open COM
netitive civil service examination pro-
yld1d the p6TSOIl itlcb ZIG iSHeiA S'-]>
as to age, character and residence.
Subsequently in 1920 he issued
supplemental order directing that
where the terms of postmasters ex-
pred they should be reappointed II
their service record was good without |
reorganization and providing that
persons should be eligible for appoint /
ment as postmaster who were already
in the postal service under civil SER
vice classification. The latter pro-
vision opened the way for appointment
OF men as postmaster who had been
assistant postmaster, chief clerk, etc.,
in large offices.
The Wilson order instantly aroused
a storm of criticism by republicans
who charged that it was a thinly
yelled scheme to perpetuate democrats
In office. Having appointed demo-
Gratis to all the postoffices during the
first four years of the Wilson admin
ietration the executive ol der was is
sued TO keep them in office, it was
charged.
Postmaster General Burleson, who
came in for severe criticism from
democrats and republicans alike on
account of the order and was charged
by many with instigating it, declared
that postmasters were appointed under
It entirely without regard to politics
He offered statistics in an attempt to
prove It, but while some democrats
believed him only a few republicans
We're convinced.
As soon as President Harding was
elected there was an urgent demand
from republicans everywhere eager to
get to the patronage pie counter, that
the Wilson order had rescinded and
that return be made to the old spoils
system prevailing previous thereto
under which postmasters of the first,
second and third classes We're appoint
cd on recommendation of the political
leaders,. The pressure has been In
s,stent ever since and now, six months
after election and following intensive J
lnvesugation, President Harding has
issued an executive order changing l
"'e system OF appointments: l
Under the new plan present post I
masters will be permitted TO serve out +
'ner 1our-year terms. Where vacan- Q
ces exist or later occur Mt first sac- a
Wv or third class offices the postmas- q
w. Seneral Will request the civil SER
na.,.. commission to hold an open COM
NV examination of the applicants e
Wv. ~ Will then choose the postma ster
,o, .n among the three certified by the
sst ,'ll mission as having made the high c.
M s''''ng. The Wilson order provfd- o.
m F appointment of the first person G
# t .'e list and prevented submission n
rL the one name.
lpnnt,. new plan also provides for re- :. -
md -. of the postmaster at the II,
ret,0t Ms four-year term, at the die =
nut n,. ot the postmaster general. with y. ~
pbtainnther examination, provided he 10
ervio"u the office following civn Ell
'' examination, and permits 70 SC