The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-04-20
THE sPo1Ils BUGABoo.

President Harding by modifying the
executive order of President Wilson so
as to permit the appointment of pres
idential postmasters by selection of
one out of three instead of the ap-
/ pointment of the first man on the list
/ in every case has permitted appoint
ments to postmasterships thru politi-
/ cal or personal considerations, accord
/ ing to a statement OF the special COM
mittee of the National Civil Service
Reform league. in it5 report to the
/ lea ue's council. The scheme of Sc
lection under the provisions of Presi-
dent Harding's order of May 10, 1921.
the committee says, has resulted in
the adoption of the policy of the Sc
lection of Republican in practically
every case if he is among the first
three. The report criticises particu-
larly the policy of the postoffice de-
partment in submitting the eligible
list to members g. congress for their
recommendation.
The report characterizes the order
of President Harding as "a step in ad-
vance over the old spoils system under
which postmaSters were appointed
without any examinations" but it goes
on and criticises it as "a step back
ward from the order of President Will
son, whereby the first name on the list
was selected" The report further
! states: TT must not be forgotten.
however. that the great weakness of
President Wilson'S order was the fact
that it did not apply to the vast ma
jority of the vacancies in postmaster
ships which occurred on account of
the expiration Of the terms of the in
cumbents" 1t says further that the
order of President Harding was "a
distinct concession to the demands of
congressman for spOils. 1t was a
compromise believed to be the best
thing attainable; not the best thing to
be desired"
The report commends ex-Postmas-
ter General Hays for his stand in at
tempting TO resist this pressure from
the politicians. tho "he admitted that
congressman all had the opportunity
OF making these recommendations;
that he consulted with them very fire.
quently, but that he tried in every
case to make the best appointment"
The report says further that day
after day the postmaster general is
beset by the opportunities of crowds
who are demanding appointments not
only of the inefficient but often in
actual violation OF the law
The league probably will find it diff
ficult to arouse any great public in
terest in the matter of which it COM
plains. In Topeka, for instance, the
citizens, regardless of politics. would
be greatly surprised II President
Harding should appoint a Democrat,
even the present incumbent, to fill the
office of postmaster in this city, and
even tho he stood first on the eligible
list. II the president were disposed
to make such appointment, there is
the senate with its power and prob
able inclination to veto such action.
President Harding at the time of is
suing his executive order expressed its
intention in the following language:
Under this order. the kind of test
and plan of investigation and exami-
nation which shall be provided for
shall be approved by the president
and shall be based on the applicants
NAoA4l-As' cAPetAeHSer AlIneSS,
organizing and executive ability and
the general qualifications for an eff
cient administration and shall in no
sense be clustered. scholastic exanli-
nation which might result in a high
grade in theory, but not a guaranty
OF efficiency in fact under this order.
Probably few outside the civil service
league will question the wisdom or
Justice of the presidents course.