Evening star., 1921-04-20
Talks at Length With Mr..
HAYS About Wilson Execu-
tive Order.
UNWILLING TO WITNESS
sSPOILS' SYSTEM RETURN
Congress May Be Asked to Make
system Permanent So Execu-
tives Will Lose Power.
Ry DAVID LAWRENCE.
IN DAVID LAN

President Harding today tackled the
problem of postmasterships through
out the country, their removal ana
arpointment on basis that would
make for efficiency instead of political
manipulation and inefficiency.
Postmaster General Will Hays talked
at length with the President about the
executive order issued by President
Wilson whereby postmasters were
placed under civil service rules. Ihere
has been much misunderstanding
about the republican desire to revoke
that order. 1t has been called a re-
turn to the "spoils" system. MT
Harding is unwilling to have that
meaning attached to the plans OF MS
administration in respect to post
masters. He does mean, however, 10
see to it that all postmasters SHALL
be appointed on merit system.
Order First to Be Revoked.
Although no definite announcemene G !
can be made as yet, it looks as II the
administration policy would be some
what as follows:
First. revocation of the Wilson
executive order whereby only one
man was eligible for appointment ou.
OF group VI dPPAiSoiANS
PASSED an examination.
Second. substitution OF an executive
order putting all postmaSters unoer
civil service rules and requiring ex-
animation. but permitting appoint
ment from any one OF the top three on
the eligible list.
Third, recommendation to Congress
that legislation be enacted making
the system permanent, so that every
time a new President is elected. the
ho
ject to the whims of executive or
ders, but that the responsibility for
change shall lie with Congress as
whole.
Many May Not Be Disturbed.
In support Of the Harding plan. the
argument is made that many OF the
postmasters appointed under the Will
SON administration were placed in the
civil service classification without ex-,
animation and that it isn't fair to per-
init the democrats to remain in of
flee without taking @theirEhahces IN
an open examination. II is insisted
that both republicans and democrats
who passed their examinations under
the Wilson executive order will not
be disturbed. The new arrangement
would apply only to postmasters who
hold their jobs by political appoint
ment, and who never were obliged to
pass any examination
VI CouTSS, tHcTc arc oOJCStiohS ~
the examination system on the ground
that a school teacher could answer the
questions asked on an examination
paper more readily than most appii-
cants with executive ability and lit
tie book lore. But Postmaster Cen
eral Hays insists that the examina-
tions will cover executive talents and.
indeed, the selection will be based on
organizing ability rather than mere
book knowledge.
FavOrs Merit System.
The Postmaster General is heartily
in favor of the merit system, because
he thinks it is the only way to put
the Post Office Department on an ef-
ficient basis. He is full of enthusiasm
about the future and realizes the re-
sponsibility of his task He. there
fore. is urging President Harding to
make it possible for postmasters to
be selected on an efficiency basis, so
that an improvement in the entire
mail service may result
1t is probab Bile that Mr. Harding will
accept the advice of Will Hays and
put all the postmasters under civil
service rules and require examina-
tions of all incumbent postmasters
who got their job through politics.
Wants L. 5. to Keep Pace.
The new Postmaster General also
has the full support of Mr.. Harding
an the plan 10 humdnlze the fOSt VI
Ice Department. There are many
places throughout the country where
the conditions under which clerks are
working are conducive to bad health. MI.
Hays declares the government should
keep peace with progressive employers
who are spending large sums of money
for social welfare. He has called a
conference of the heads of the en-
ployes' organizations and begins TO-
morrow careful study of the whole
subject. All the energy and industry
which Will Hays exhibited as chair
man of the republican national cam
Daign seems to have been transfuSed
into the Post Office Department. He is
alive with new plans and new
schemes sor efficiency. II Will not be
his fault if the country before long
doesn't find. an improvement in the
mail service.
Copyright. 1921