Evening star., 1923-02-28
Urges President to Place Ap.
pointive Power in Hands of
Department Head.
WOULD ABOLISH CIVIL
SERVICE EXAMINATION
Declares Strictly Business Methods
Should Be Used and Only Best
Men Named.

Postmaster General Work recon-
mended to President Harding today
that selection of postmasters should
no longer be considered a political
perquisite Of senators and represent
atives, but should be vested in the
Post Office Department alone.
At the same time the Postmaster
General, who retires from his present
position on March 4 to become Secre-
tary of the Interior. recommended
that present regulations requiring
master by the Civil Service Commits
sion also be abandoned.
Should Not BE Handicapped.
The Post Office Department is
| strictly business organization" said
DR.. Work. "and 1t ought to be aided
| in putting the right man in the right
place, as any private business con-
| Germ would endeavor to do for It's
own advancement, and not be handi-
| capped either by political considera-
tions or by the restrictions entailed
in the present plan requiring exam
| ination by the Civil Service Commits
| sion, which does not even give civil
service status"
DR.. Work pointed out that the pres
ent rule limits the Presidents choice
| in each case to three civil service
candidates, none of whom may have
! had any real business ability. though
| being rated as good fellows" by
their neighbors. He suggested that
| men trained and experienced in really
postmasters only by reversing the
| method of appointment.
Instead of having the candidate
! seek the Office. he said. the Office
seeking until it finds the right man.
| to be retained in office as long as the
| service IL successfully conducted un-
\ der his management.
Would Ban Politics.
There should be no more term
| appointments" and no politics. ma
tional or local, in the appointments
of postmasters. DIR. Work added. He
wanted 1t understood, he explained.
that he was not in favor Of relaxa-
tion of the civil service regulations
as now applied to employees of the
Post Office Department generally. but
| felt that the proposed change in the
appointive method of postmasters
would enable the department to give
! civil service theory by making pos
sible the selection of qualified busi-
ness men.
| After two years experience" the
| Postmaster General said, lin connec-
| ton with the appointment of presi-
Dental postmasters, L am convinced
! that the procedure and policy is not
only impractical in form, but unbusi-
nesslike in principle. / can say this
now. without charge Of being in
siderations. The great bulk of the
presidential appointments already has
been made. OF the approximately
! $4,000 presidential postmasters about
10000 have been appointed, and this
includes the more important ones of
postmasters were put under civil
service by President Taft.
THE plan by which the Civil Service
Commission selects three names for a
dent. entirely ignores the practical
| business principle of expert and in
telligent selection"
Value Already Proved.
Appointment of experienced and
successful business men as assistants
to the Postmaster General. DR.. Work
said, had proved to be Of incalcula-
BILE good to the service" and had fur
nished an example to guide in post
master selections.
"It would be essential in the prac-
tical business administration of the
postal service" DR.. Work said. Ito re-
| lieve the Civil Service Commission on
the one hand. and political party
referees on the other, from their OBJ
legations and participation In connec-
tion with the appointment of post
masters.
"'The turnover of the Post Office
Department amounts to over three
billion dollars annually. Fifty Of the
largest cities handle 54 per cent OF
It, Selecting postmasters to do this
business by appointing the highest
eligible, by the previous admins
| tration, was absurd beyond argument.
My predecessor sought to. permit.
through executive order. an option
among three eligibles. conforming
that far with the civil service law.
This failed because the system is
wrong and the functions OF the post
master are not considered, nor his
qualifications intelligently weighed
in examination"
DR.. Work outlined some Of his sug-
gestions, as follows:
Appoint without term. subject to
removal for inefficiency or moral de-
linquency.
Consult local chambers of COM
merce and similar business organi-
cations in their selection.
Remove residence requirements.
so that postmasters for central ac-
counting Offices now branches of the
Post once Department in the field,
could be filled by promotion on