Evening star., 1939-10-11
Postnldsters
To Hear Talk
ByRooseveIt
Civil Service Head
Explains Operation
Of Laws

After spending the morning get
ting acquainted with the executives
who run the Post Once Depart
ment in Washington, more than 1000
postmasters planned to 60 to the
White House late this afternoon to
receive a message from President
Roosevelt, who was scheduled to
speak from the south portico.
Postal officials throughout the
morning introduced members of
their staffs from the speakers plat
form in the ballroom at the May
flower Hotel.
The postmasters, in 39th annual
session here, heard President Harry
B. Mitchell of the Civil Service Com
mission discuss new legislation Of
particular interest to the service, in
cluding the Ramspeck- Mahoney
Act for the classification of first,
second and third class postmasters.
Between the passage OF the act
and the adjournment of Congress in
August, Mr.. Mitchell said, 1854
postmasters were appointed in the
three classes, or nearly 26 per cent
of the total presidential positions.
About TOO of these were the result
Of open competitive examinations.
Few Raised From Ranks.
Slightly more than 1900 incum-
bents were reappointed following
competitive examinations. Only
q few promotions from the ranks
were made, Mr.. Mitchell said, and
Comparatively few of the non-com-
petitive examinations resulted in
the disqualification of the incum-
bentS."
The speaker pointed out that after
next January l postmasters who
have attained classified status will
be brought under the retirement
law. Mr. Mitchell described the
workings of the Federal retirement
law for the benefit of the new
beneficiaries of the system.
Many Ride in Planes.
Today, as Yesterday. hundreds of
delegates and their families went
to Washington Airport for a free
20-minute ride over Washington in
four 21-passenger transports brought
here by Eastern Airlines, T. w. A.
and American Airlines. Almost so
flights were made today and they
will be continued tomorrow. More
than 1000 delegates are expected to
take the hops before the convention
closes tomorrow
Many delegates wore badges pro-
claiming Il am an airmail booster"
81, A feature of the session this after
noon was to be the presentation of
. huge twin cheese to the Michi-
gan section of the association by the
Wisconsin section in payment of
bet on a recent membership drive.
Michigan won a 100 per cent rating
as against Wisconsin'S IS per cent.
The presentation was to be made
by John T. Murphy of Delavan,
Wis, president of the group from
his State, to President Al c. Maurer
OF Monroe, head of the Michigan
delegation
Farley to Receive.
Another high light of the day was
an open house at the Post Office
Department from to Z pm, when
Postmaster General James A. Far
ley and his official staff were to re-
ceive the visitors in the Postmas-
ter Generals suite and the various
Offices of the department.
After the convention was called
to order this morning in the main
ballroom at the Mayflower Hotel by
President George w. Purcell, speak
ers included Assistant Postmaster
Generals William w. Howes, Am
brose O'Connell, Raysey S. Black
and Smith w. Purdum.
Others to address the second day
session were j. Austin Latimer, ex-
ecutive assistant to Mr.. Farley;
Chief Inspector Kildroy P. Aldrich,
Controller William l.. Slattery, So
licitor Vincent M. Miles and Pur-
chasing Agent Harrison Parkman.
Visit to Engraving Bureau.
Hundreds of postmasters were ex-
pected to visit the Bureau of En-
craving and Printing this afternoon
to learn something about the pro-
duction >of the stamps which they
sell.
Postmaster General Farley will be
guest of honor tomorrow night at
one of the largest banquets ever
staged in the United States. Some
$500 members of the National As
sociation of Postmasters and the
guests will be seated in the main
ballroom and connecting rooms of
the Mayflower for the closing event
of the convention. The overflow"
will be accommodated in other ho-
tells.
The grand ballroom promenade,
presidential room and all adjoining
public rooms will be converted into
one huge banquet hall. An elaborate
two-way amplification system is be-
ing set up to keep the speakers
table in touch with all the other ia
bles extending over a large part of
the lobby floor.
The convention program tonight
includes visits to the Bureau of En-
craving and Printing and dancing
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