Evening star., 1923-03-17
P. 0. EXAMINATIONS
HELD UP BY NEW
Efficiency Tests Suspended
Until July | Here and Over
U. S. for Economy.
THEN TO BE MODIFIED
Effect Upon Promotions Not Ger.
tain, Though Change
Pleases Employees.

Postmaster General New today dis
continued case examinations for post
office clerks throughout the nation
until July /. as part of the economy
program of the postal service made
necessary as result of a deficiency
in funds.
Mr.. New announced that the tests
are suspended, both at the Wash
ington city post office and every other
post office in the country, in recogni-
ton of the great efforts postal en-
ployes are making to handle the in
creased postal business, following on
the heels of business prosperity.
He also stated that when the exam
nations are resumed after July i.
they will be modified and made less
exacting The examinations are the
tests clerks take regularly to deter
mine their efficiency in sorting letters,
both for city distribution and for all
points.
Promotion Effect Uncertain.
What effect the abolition of the case
! "exams" will have on the matter of
promotion of clerks to the higher
position OF special clerks is YET 10 re
! seen. At the Washington city post
| office today it was a matter for con ,
! lecture. All case examinations there
| are at standstill, following the or
der of the Postmaster General.
1t was thought that perhaps the
! exams might be given in the sum-
| mer, when the appropriations Tor the
| fiscal year are available, and those
who passed be given positions as
special clerks, retroactive to July J..
of q a
probably will be greeted with en-
| thusiasm by thousands of postal en-
| ployes. however. who every year
| have looked forward with more or
| less dread to the rather exacting
work which they must perform to
pass them successfully.
Everywhere postal employees are
working at top speed to transfer the
huge mails being given to the postal
system by mailers everywhere, both
private individuals and business
firms. The increase of business. as
previously explained in The Star, is
| far beyond the fiscal estimates based
| on previous experience, and the 3oo,-
effort to keep the mails moving
promptly. Since the appropriations did
| not anticipate the boom, extra clerks
on whom the burden could be dis
| tributed are not available.
This latest curtailment in the in
terest Of economy follows an order to
all postmasters issued last night by
! Postmaster General New, in which he
urged the practice Of the strictest
! economy commensurate with public
convenience. Recently he ordered end
| ing of overtime" work and use of
auxiliary help at post offices until
| after July 1.
This is such an emergency as may
occur in any great business enter
prise and it is temporary" Mr.. New
declared "On July 1 the appropria-
ton for next year becomes available
and we will then be able to extend
and perfect the service in many i'm
portant ways, and to discontinue this
extraordinary campaign of economy.
TT should be understood that this
effort which must be made between
| now and June 80 is not a part |of any
policy to save money at the expense
| of the service or the men. 1t Is SIM
n1y and solely an emergency in which
we are caught by the unexpected
growth of the business. which, by the
| Way. should be a cause for rejoicing.
! as it is an unmistakable sign of ma
! tional prosperity