Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 111, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 May 1913 — BURLESON PLANS BIG P. O. SHAKEUP [ARTICLE]

BURLESON PLANS BIG P. O. SHAKEUP

Removal of Thousands of Republicans is Expected Very Soon if Plans Are Carried Out.

Washington, D. C., May B.—Postmaster General Burleson, acting with the approval of President Wilson, has ordered ’the biggest shakeup of the postal service that institution has experienced in many years. The moves made in the direction of reorganization are:

Postmasters who have aroused dissatisfaction with the service fur.nished their communities will be removed before the expiration® of their terms and replaced by democrats. Postoffice inspectors have been ordered to report all complaints to Washington. All fourth class postmasters appointed without a merit test will be required to submit to an examination of their fitness for retention. Eventually second and third class postmasters will be subjected to a similar test. As a result of the first move the administration of every first, second, and third class postmasters in the country will be investigated. The scope of the order has astonished republican members of com gress who have begun to hear from the postmasters affected. It appears that the chief postofflce inspector issued secret instructions, known as circular order No. 117, in which posoffice inspectors are commanded to “search diligently” in every community for complaints of the service furnished by the postmaster and to report the findings to headquarters forthwith. The inspectors are now at work in Illinois and letters describing their operations are pouring in upon Senator Sherman and the republican and progressive members of the house from that state. The republicans charge that the move is merely preliminary to a replace ment of republican with democratic postmasters wherever the shadow of an excuse for removal of incumbents can be found. General Burleson says that republican postmasters will serve out their terms “unless removed for cause.”

The order affecting fourth class postmasters was signed by the President Wednesday. As a result of the Roosevelt and Taft orders 49,682 fourth class offices were placed under civil service, but only new appointees are required to undergo tests of fitness. About 11,000 under the Roosevelt and 1,000 under the Taft order have been appointed after civil service tests. The Wilson order subjects the remaining 37,600 postmasters in that class to the test. The number of fourth class offices in Illinois and adjoining states follows: Illinois -t, ;. vr.v.~. ............1,325 Indiana 947 lowa 955 Michigan 1,090 Wisconsin 896 Those postmasters receiving SIBO or more a year will be required to take a civil service examination, while those under that limit will be selected by inspectors.