Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1921-04-27
Observation-Disclosures ARE BEING
Considered by President and His Adj
visers-Niay Rescind Wilson Order.

Harding to-day tackled the problem
of postmasterships throughout the
country, their removal and appoint
ment on basis that would make
for efficiency instead Of political in
efficiency.
Postmaster General will Hays
talked at length with the President
about the executive order issued by
President Wilson whereby postmas-
ters were placed under civil service
rules. There has been much mis-
understanding about the Republican
desire to remove that order. 1t has
been called return to the "spoils"
: system. Mr.. Harding is unwilling to
; have that meaning attached to the
plans Of his administration in respect
to postmasters. He does mean, how
ever, to see to it that all postmasters
shall be appointed on merit system.
Although no definite announcement
can be made as yet, 1t looks as If the
administration policy would be some
what as follows:
! First. Revocation Of the Wilson
executive order whereby only one
man was eligible for appointme ent
out Of group Of applicants who had
passed an examination.
| Second Substitution of an eXecu-
tive order putting all postmasters
: under civil service rules and rcuuir-
ing examination, but permitting ap-
/ pointment from any one of the TOP
! three on the eligible list.
Third. Recommendation TO Con-
gress that legislation be enacted to
make the system permanent, so that
every time a new President is elect
cd the post office system shall not be
subject to the whims of executive Or
ders, but that the responsibility for
changes shall lie with Congress as a
whole.
In support Of the Harding plan, the
argument is made that many of the
postmasters appointed under the
Wilson administration were placed
in the civil service classification
without examination, and that it is
Iot fair to permit the Democrats to
remain in office without taking their
chances in an open examination. 1t
is insisted that both Republicans and
! Democrats who passed their exami-
nations under the Wilson executive
order will not be disturbed. The new
arrangement would apply only to
postmasters who hold their Jobs by
political appointment and who never
were Obliged TO pass any examine
tions.
OF course there are objections to
, The examination system on the
ground that a school teacher could
answer the questions asked on an
examination paper more readily than
most applicants with executive abil-
ity and little book lore. But Post
master General Hays insists that the
examinations will cover executive
talents, and, indeed, the selections
will be based on organizing ability
rather than mere book knowledge.
The Postmaster General is heart
lily in favor Of the merit system be-
cause he thinks it is the only way to
put the post Office department on an
efficient basis. He is full Of enthusi-
asm about the future and realizes
the responsibility Of his task. He
therefore is urging President Hard
ing to make 1T possible for postmas-
ters to be selected on an efficiency
basis so that an Improvement IN the
entire mail service may result.
1t is probable that Mr.. Harding
will accept the advice Of Will Hays
and put all the postmasters under
civil service rules and require ex-
aminations of all incumbent post
masters who got their jobs through
politics.
The new Postmaster General also
has the full support Of Mr.. Harding
in the plan to humanize the post
lice department. There are many
places throughout the country where
are working are conducive to bad
health. Mr. Hays declares the gov
ernment should keep pace with pro-
! gressiye employers, who are spend
/ ing large sums Of money for social
welfare. He has called a conference
ence OF the heads Of the employees
organizations and will begin to-mor-
row careful study of the whole sub
| ject. All the energy and industry