Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-01-05
SPO|LSMEN FAIL
TO GET PROMISE
Urge Harding to Revoke Wilson's
Civil Service Order Affecting
Five Thousand.
Washing ton special to Baltimore sun.

Washing ton special TO Baltimore sun.
Washington. jan. 2-Many Republi-
.ans arc showing evidences Of uneasinoss
over the possibility that President-elect
Warren G. Harding may adhere too rigid
" 10 his campaign pledges for govern
mental efficiency and refuse To revoke
President Wilson's executive orders plac-
;nu FIRST second aud third-class postmast-
ers and all diplomatic oiiioeis
up TO first secretaries OF embassies
under the Civil Service.
IL was learned here today that more
than one of Senator Harding's recent
visitors 10 Marion sought to persuade the
Senator that party interests demand the
revocation of the postmastership order, II
not the other. and while these visitors
came away somewhat encouraged over the
prospect. they failed to exact any promises
from the man who viii be President after
March T.
Approximately 5000 postmasters are
involved more offices than are TO be hiied
under all the other executive departments
combined. Something like 500 diplomatic
positions also are involved, all of which are
now rinder the civil service through eXecu-
tive order of the President.
I,fsrder to give these positions straight
patronage status, il win be necessary for
the new President to rescind the orders ot
President Wilson, which stand until re-
voked II they expired automatically,
MIR. Harding might be saved a great deal
of embarrassment by failure 70 reissue
them
Otherwise the 5000 or more Presiden-.
tial postmasters, n great majority OF
whom happen TO be Democrats, wiii DC
resppointed by the Republican presideht
and Republican Office seekers VIII see ,ne
choicest line Of Federal jobs held 10y hold-
over appointees of the Wilson adminlstra-
tion. This Is no more TO the taste OIL many
of the pillars of the party than II Is 10 'l''
workers in the trenches.
All postmasters of whatever class ar9
now in n broad sense under the civil
service. Fourth-class postmasters Weic
legislated into the classified by Congress
many wears ago. That body, however, re
ferred 10 take first, second and third
class offices. commonly known rs Presi-
DENTAL postrnasters" out of the patronage.
class. -,
IL was President Wilson, who nanaeeo
that end of the deal 4 few years ago ne
ISSUED an executive order the effect OF
which is that competitive civil service eN-
sruinations must be taken by all appii-
enants for anv President postoihoe. At the
same time he pledged himself to appoint
the competitor having the highest fa'lng'
regardless of his politics. The only reservaa-
walton was that the successful apphcfnh
should be man Of good moral repute.
Under this sygtem the Civil Service
Commission holds such examinations as
often as a nostmastersmp becomes vacant,
either nv the expiration OF tenure OF
office. IN removal, by resignation or by
death The field is open TO all comers ana
as soon as the commission announces tine
name Of the successful applicant nus name
is SAINT TO the Senate by the Presldent Tor
conformation. Many Republicans have
been nominated by the President since
this order went into effect
One important difference exists between
the postuaastership examination and that
for other civil service positions Ohder tle
old rule the appointing ofhcer was siVsi'
the names of the three applicants with the
highest rating and could pick any one of
the three for the Job in question. Under
the executive order applying to postnast-
ers the appointing officer could name only
the applicant with the highest rating
Only one name is certified 10 by the
Civil Service Commission.
The President, of course, cannot con-
tinue such q postmaster in office without
favorable action by the Senate. Each
postmaster has four-year tenure, Just as
before. and if st the expiration OF that
tenure he has never been examined ne
must compete with all other applicants
and can only be reappointed If he gets the
highest rating. II he has once been ex-
arnined and holds his Office under super
| ior rating. he is automatically reappointed
at the expiration of his tenure
! This is where the Republicans OF the
more practical turn of mind find reason TO
protest. If the order stands during the
coming administration, Mr.. Harding viii
reappoint without question all postmast-
| ers who now hold Office under the civil
service examination. More than half of
them are Democrats. And even those who
| are Republicans may or may not be party
men of the sort ordinarily entitled to party
! favor.
Although there is powerful pressure
upon Senator Harding 70 revoke the Will
son executive order on the ground that it
has worked to the advantage of Dem
ocrats even if il is found advisable later
20 reissue it, there is doubt in some
quarters if he VIII yield 20 appeals of his