The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1921-04-21
Possible Plan.

First, revocation of the Wilson exec
utiyc order whereby only one man was
eligible for appointment out Of a group
Of applicants who had PASSED on exam
nation.
Second. substitution Of an executive
order putting all poStmasters under civil
service rules and requiring examination
but permitting appointment from any oneI
Of the top three on the eligible list
Third, recommendation to congress
that legislation be enacted making the
system permanent, 50 that every time a
new president iStrlected. the pOst0tfice
system shall not be subject 10 the whims
uf executive orders but that the RESPONSE
bliItE for change shall lie with congress
as whole. In support of the Harding
plan. the argument il made that many
of the po~tmaStcrS appointed under the
Wilson administration were placed in
the civil service classification without cN-
animation and that it Is not fair to per-
NIT the Democrats to remain in office
without taking their chances in an open
examination. 1t il insisted that both
Republicans and Democrats, who passed
their examinations under the Wilson eX-
ccutiye order will not be disturbed. The
new arrangement would apply only TO
puStmaSterS who hold their Jobs by polit-
zeal appointment and who never were
obliged 10 pass any examinations.
Practical Examination.
OF course there are Objections to the
examination system on the ground that
a school teacher could answer the ques-
tons asked on an examination paper
more readily than most applicants with
executive ability and little book lore.
Postmaster Hays insists that cxamin-
ationS Will cover executive talents aud
indeed the selection will be based on Or
sanizatiOn ability rather than mere book
knowledge.
The postmaster general is heartily in
favor OF the merit system because ne
thinks 1t the only way to put the post
office department on an efficient basis
He is full of enthusiasm about the future
and realizes the responsibility of his
task. He therefore is urging President
Harding to make it possible for pOstmas-
terS to be selected on an efficiency basis
50 that an Improvement in the entire
mail service may result.
1t is probable that Mr.. Harding will
accept the advice of Win Hays and put
all the postmasters under civil service
rules and require examinations of all in
cumbent pOStmaStcrs who got their jobs
through politics.
Other improvements.
The new postmaster general also has
the full support of Mr.. Harding in the
plan TO humanize the pOStotice depart
mcnt. There are many places through
out the country, where the conditions
under which clerks are working are con-
ducive to bad health Mr.. Hays declares
the government should keep pace with
progressive employers who are spending
large sums of money for social welfare.
He has called a conference of the heads
Of the employees organizations and begins
today a careful study of the whole sub
iect. All the energy and industry which
viii Hays exhibited as chairman of the
Republican national campaign seems to
have been transfuscd into the postofIice
department. He is alive With new plans
and new schemes for efficiency. 1t will
not be his fault if the country before long
service