The New York herald., 1921-05-11
HARDING RESCINDS
WILSON ORDER ON
POSTMASTERSHIPS
Ruling Says Placing Posts
Under Civil Service Is
Legislative Act.
ANNOUNCES HIS POLICY
All Appointments to Be
Made After Open Com
petltlve Tests.
LEGISLATION LOOKED FOR
Opposes 'Cloistered, Scholas-
tic Examination but Seeks
Efficiency.
LEGISLATION LOOKED FOR
Special Despatch to THE New YORK HERALD
New York Herald Bureau,
Washington. ID. c.. May 10.

I
Washington, ID. c., May 10.
President Harding issued an ex-
ecutive order to-day resembling the
order of President Wilson putting all
first, second and third class postmas-
ters in the classified civil service.
The Wilson order would have given
a full tenure to all Democratic post
masters appointed under the Wilson
Administration.
The Harding order provides that all
existing vacancies be filled by ap-
pointment of a man in the classified
civil service, or by the appointment of
a man who shall be among the first
three recommended for appointment by
a civil service examination.
President Wilson's order was re-
garded as a political trick TO remove
postmasters from Executive patron
age. President Harding. in meeting
the issue, expressed the opinion that
such appointments should be governed
by Civil Service law, but that the plac-
ing of the appointees under civil SER
vice was a legislative and not an Ex-
ecuttve function. Civil service pro-
cedure is to be applied to all places,
under the Executive order, which pro-
vides:
when a vacancy exists or hereafter
occurs in the position OF postmaster AZ
an Office of the first. second or third
class. If such vacancy IS not filed by
nomination Of some person within the
competitive classified civil service who
has the required qualifications. then the
Postmaster-General shall certify the
fact to the Civil Service Commission,
which shall forthwith hold an open
competitive examination to test the Mt
ness Of applicants to flll sutn vacancies,
and when such examination has been
held and the papers in connection there
with have been rated, the said COM
mission shall certify the results thereof
to the Postmaster-G General, who shall
submit to the President the name OF
one OF the highest three qualified
eligibles for appointment to AL such
vacancy unless 1t is established that
the character or resid ence of any such
applicant disqualifies him for appoint
ment.
Reappointment Allowable.
provided, That at the expiration OF
the term of any person appointed to
such position through examination be-
fore the Civil Service Commission the
Postmaster General may in his discre-
ton submit the name of such person to
the President for denomination without
further examination.
mo person who has passed his Goth
birthday or who has not actually re-
sided within the delivery of such office
for two years next preceding such va
cancy shall be given the examination
herein provided for.
IF, under this order. 1t Is desired to
make nomination for any office of per-
son in the competitive classified service,
such person must first be iound by the
Civil Service Commission to meet tho
minimum requirements for the office"
A statement given out at the White
House explaining the order said
There are 52.332 postmasters. OF
these 39,433 are in the fourth class and
are now under such civil service laws
and regulations as bring them within
the privileges and conditions of the
classified service
"Of the remaining 12.se9 post Offices.
700 are first class, 2.617 are second class
and 9.5s2 are third class. Obviously.
these offices are business agencies OF the
Government In Legal purpose and should
become SO In fact. The only certain ulti-
mate way to bring this about is to classify
first, second and third class postmastcrs.
Purpose of Examination.
Moving in that direction, however.
the executive order issued to-day pro-
vides that II any such vacancy IN not
filled by nomination for promotion OF one
from within the competitive classified
civil service, then an open competitive
examination shall be held and the APP
pointment shall be made from one OF the
highest three eligibles as required now
by law in the classified civil service.
Under this order the kind OF test
and plan of Investigation and examina-
ton which shall be provided for. -hall
be approved by the President. and shall
be based on the applicants business
training, experience, fitness, organizing
and executive ability. and general quail
fications for an efficient adrninistra-
tion, and shall In no sense be coils
tered. scholastic examination which
might result In a high grade in theory,
but not guaranty Of efficiency In fact
This order applies to all present In
cumbcnts OF post offices, whose terms
have expired and Will apply 70 all other
incumbents as their present terms ex-
pire"