Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-01-03
CAMPAIGN PLEDGES ARE
FOR INCREASED EFFICIENCY
Wilson's Executive Order Does
Not Expire Automatically
With His Term.
MUST BE wITHDRA WV
Prcsfdcnt-Elcct, to Restore Old
Order Of Appointing, Must Take
Affirmative Action.
Bf J. FREDERICK EssARY.
Stan Correspondent Of The Times
DisDufch

''NH Oi IhC
Dispatch.
WASHINGTON, Jan 2.-Rcpub!ican II
spoilsmcn are showing unmistak- :
able evidences OF uncasincss over the
possibility that Prcsident-Elect War
ron G. Harding may adhere too rigid
l. To his campaign pledges for gov
crnmental efficiency and refuse to
revoke President Wilson'S executive
orders placing first. second and third
class pos,masters and all diplomat ic
officers up 10 first secretaries OK en-
bnsales under The civil service
II was learned here today that more
Than one of Senator Harding's recent
visitors 80 Marion sought to pur-
suade the Senator tina, party in
terests absolutely demand tho revo-
cation OF the pos,mastcrsh!p order.
IL not the other. and while these vis!-
tors came away some what cncour-
aged over the prospect, they failed to
exact any promises from the man
who Will he President after March l.
Approximately 5000 postmasters
are Involved In tho patronage scram-
bic which old-timc Republican lead
ers hope 10 rcinaugurate after March
'. tUtN hic W bc
under all the other executive depart
ments combined. Something like 500
diplomatic positions also are in
volved. all OF which are now under
ihe civil service. not by act OF Con-
Ercss. but through executive order OF
She President.
In order To give these positions a
Htraigh, patronage status Il Will be
necessary for the new President 10
rcscind the orders OF President VIII
son. This must he done by afirma-
tive action. These orders do not ex-
pire with an expiring administration.
They stand until revoked. II they
expired automatically SIR. Harding
might be saved a great deal OF en-
barrassment merely by failure 10 re-
issue them. Blu, In order to undo
wha; has been done, the incoming
chief executive must take afiirma
tive. no, negative action.
Muns Democratic Incumbents.
Otherwise the 5000 or more prcsl-
Dental pos;masters. IA great majority
OF whom at the moment happens to
be Democrats. will he reappointed by
the Republican President and the hum
cry patronage grabbers now outside.
looking in. Will see tho choicest line
OF Federal jobs held by hold-over
appointees OF the Wilson admlnistra-
ton. And this is not more to the
taste OF many OF the pillars of tho
party than 1t Is to the workers in
the trenches.
At the present moment all postmas-
tiers OF whatever class are In broad
sense under the civil service. Fourth
class postmasters were lcgisiated into
the classified service by Congress
. many years ago. That body. how
ever. refused to take first, second and
third class offices, commonly known
as presidential postmaster" out of
the patronage class.
1t was President Wilson who man
aged that end OF the deal. a few
years ago he issued AN executive or
der, the effect of which is that COM
petitive civil service examinations
must be taken by all applicants for
any presidential post-officc. At the
samc time he pledged himself TO ap-
point The competitor having the
highest rating. regardless of his poll
tics. The only reservation was that
the successful applicant should be n
man of good moral repute.
Under this system tho Civil SERVICE
Commission holds such examinations
as often as a postmastership becomes
;.-,,oi -, c,n,onJ p,r,o y "