South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-04-28
BARTLETT ISSUES
WARNING TO CIVIL
SERVICE employees
Assistant Postmaster General
and Former Commission
Head in Tilt.
WASHINGTON An~i1 o-

WASHINGTON, April %. - A
warning that the civil service status
of every government employe IN the
country would be endangered If Gre
dence was placed in the doctrine OF
Franks and fanatics was sound
ed Thursday night by First Asst.
| Postmaster Gen. Bartlett, who Gre
ated a stir at a mass meeting called
! by the National Civil Service Reform
| league when he resented what he
characterized as mi.statements by the
| league. William Dudley Foulke. for
/ mer president of the civil service
/ commission. replying 10 Mr. Bartlett
Jcriticized the attitude of the admin
ftstration toward civil service. and de-
cl4-ed there appeared to be move
ment on the part of high govern
ment officials to return to the "spoils
/ system"
The meeting was called by the
/ league 20 combat what il termed the
sinister Influences Of some admins
trauon leaders and members of con-
gress who were working for the de-
structiOu of the merit system of civil
service, Mr.. Bartlett and Sec'y OF
Labor Davis were charged by the
league with opposition to civil serv-
ice advancement and the former re-
piled TO the allegation by appearing
in what he described as hostile
gathering" while Sec'y Davis was
represented at the meeting by As
sistant Sec'y Henning Both govern
favor Of civil service betterment.
Mr. Foulke had addressed the meet
ing briefly, outlining what the league.
Of which he is acting president,
hoped 10 accomplish in the interest
of civil service workers. when Mr.
Bartlett was called upon 20 speak
and launched into an attack upon
those who had staged "a mass meet
ing under the nose of the president
and who had deliberately misrepre-
scented the position Of the admins
tration and myself Mr. FOu.ke
during his reply elected much aD-
plause through arguments advanced
in the interest of government
workers.
Operation Of the government
would be clogged without a rational
civil service law and a civil service
commission. but some of the present
employees or the government care so
partisan and so friendly 20 the last
administration that they do not want
This administration TO be a success.
Asst Postmaster Gen. Bartlett de-
clared.
There is absolutely TO cause for
alarm on the part of the great body
Of civil service workers who do their
work well. the assistant postmaster
general said. adding that "this pres
eut alarm is an apparitiOn, a phan-
tom a scare put UP in order that
few now under civil service who
ought to be put out may hide be-
hind it,.
Mr. bartlett declared that the
president has the legal right "as n
did iu the case of the removal OF de-
partment heads Of the bureau or en-
craving and printing. 10 remove Of
dcers and offices from civil service
when ne deems 10 for the public
good
Mr.. Bartlett declared further that
'sWe shall be fair with our presi-
dent"
las head Of the civil service com
mission" he added II had every
reason 10 know Of the sympathetic
attitude OF the president toward civil
service"
Mentioning by name ATTY Gen
Daughe-ty. Secy Davis Postmaster
Gen. Weeks. Sen. Moses OF Ne"
Hampshire and Sen. New ~ Indiana.
Mr.. Bartlett said
II know positively that none 81
them is correctly represented by the
league notice calling for the mass
meeting and that no one OF them has
any idea os disturbing the funda-
mental principles OF civil service.