Norwich bulletin., 1921-02-01
WASHINGTON AFFAIRS
Special to The Bulletin,)

Washington. D. C., Jan. 3l. = It now comes to light fthat the msdihcAtiens to the executive order regarding civil ser- vice examinations for postmastkFa above 8 certain grade, and other modiAcatiens of the original Wilson order have been brought about merely through agree. ment of the postmaster general and the civil service commissions and not through order of the president. That suggests | wide range of possibilities. If this or der has been changed at will by the head of the department affected, row many other orders, may have been like wise changed by heads of department without presidential action. during thA two years and more of the presidents in! capacity? More over, what use is it any way, to have an executive order" that can be changed any time it suits the head of department? It new turns cut that the much neralded reform" vas civil service in name only. Persons hold the postmasterships under 1t are net ia the classified service; there is nc ob- ligation on the part of an incoming president to continue them in office after their commission has expired, or place them at the head of the eligible list, aE- cording to the interpretation on the or der in the minds of persons in "a posi-. ton to know. The civil service examin. v | more than $s,2oo. Applicants abeve that grade have merely to answer the question of where they were edueatsd> | and what is their business experience. | Then the commission sends scouts to the 1 city or town to ask questions sk resi- dents as to the rASral and social stand. 1 ing of the applicant. That's AlL et- | cept that under one of the new agree. | ments between MF. Barlesen and the I 1 for such an ofiice the postmaster general l can pop into it man from the classi- 1 hed service-witheut delay or bliAking | an eye. If men following the footsteps 1 of the present postmaster general see the executive order from the same view l point, it may be that Mir Harding wilt
 not find it necessary to issue any medi- | ication of his own in order to ff1i the 1 thousands of post ofhces which officials of | the republican faith, who naturally would be more jealous in carrying oat- the 1 methods of the incoming administration 1 with whose aims and policies they are in entire sympathy. It Is understood here, however, that postmasters now holding office under democratic appointment will be permitted to serve out their fuA terms,
 in cases where the conduct of their of flee is giving satisfaction. After that term expires it is expected they will be
 
 whelming endorsement of republican prin- ciples and policies as shown by the No venber election is not likely to be for gotten by the incoming postmaster gen
 eral when he begins to straighten out the
 sFst'l int which Mf< tBnrleson has tangled up the post office department.
 !, The estimates of unemployed persons l in the United States, as based on re-
 turns made by the depa rtrnent of labor
 show that New England has been very
 hard hit. The total decrease Of ern- } ployed persons in the United States show ed tremendous decrease, the fgures , pointing to a reduction of not less thar 3331,352 since January 1st. 1920.
 A summary of the New England sit uation shows that the metal. machinery and speciality industries are still busy, ant , that around Attleboro, MaSss and othel 5 places where a jeWelry trade is upper { most, the production is on 6 fifty pe. cent. basis with prospect of increase , Cities like Manchester. N. H, with Lowell Lawrence, Fall River, and New Beafard |. show the cotton industry to bs promising although at this moment they are sfea~, 5 The building situation in New England i . summariaed as being very, slow, as it | a l elsewhere. In the lufneer industry ther r 1 is said to be little demand for boxes .
 shocks but reports from wood pulp an
 paper industries of New England shoI l. them to be very busy and hiring help. Tn y metal shpbuilding industry is reperte e very busy at Bath, Me. and Fall Rivel $ Mass. but the wooden shipoailding is re e ducins it's forces owing to the fact tfis
 l there is but little demand for the stnal!
 ] CT type boats.
 Commenting on New England tram = portation facilities. the department Of ls It Dor says, 'it is reported that the steaI Il and electric railways throughout Lrhl h district have contributed very largely
 l the unemployment. It is reported that tn s steam railways have laid of 13,ee6 wort e CTS while the electric roads have laid N approximately 1000 workers. Readjus e ment and conditions of operations al $ given as the reasons for this condition. lr Summarizing conditions of the Ne Q England states the report seems tc sho " textiles. shoes, lumber and building Ai .e in a low condition; textile industries al -a opera ting under reduced force or Il
 duced time; the shoe and easher inda try is slow, excepting certain speci V lines, which show slight increase eA l. neries are reported as being overstoe ,h ed. Rubber footwear is suffering fro o. the mild weather Of the present winte ,+ and reports much unemployment in tn ,s industry.
 - Connecticut. with the saddea cut io of a tremendous amount of war We 10 seems to have been struck the heavie fl blow of ali the New En. gland states, l Tn though the manufacturing cities of Maj m l achusetts and New Hampshire are n nh far behind.
 n Specific figures from Connecticut shS
 the number of unemployed to be es mated in the five leading industrial cit ch as follows Bridgeport, 2e,eea; New H
 ven 10000; Hartford, 5,5ee; WaterSui
 $500; New Britain, 2,Seo.
 ConEressnan Msrratt of Aae, FSpr en Connecticut district is member of t b interstate commerce committee which h
 just ordered a favorable report on t
 Sheppa I'd -Towner maternity and oh
 l welfare bill. MT. Merritt felt that on measure was worthy one but that dt new bureau should he created, as h
 been originally planned He took
 the natter with Miss Julia Lathrs lat head of the children's bureau. and ler strongly of the opinion that it is
 children's bureau, and not separ,
 bureau which should have charge of he matter. It is not unlikely MT. Merl e-o will introduce an amendment when l
 bin reaches the house. putting Flaw
 and Porto Rico in the section te co
 under the benefit of the bill. Connnse om ing on the measure MT Merritt said it's part. This makes the chiidren's burr
 a clearing house for information rel
 ing to the care of mothers and q ng dren and will continue and enlarge nt work of the work Of that bureau ant ,r believe if the work is to be done, it
 the children's bureau that should h
 the supervision" Tbere was some C
 sideraticn given te the idea of includ ee the Philippines in the territory to be I.A