Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 57, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 March 1917 — ALL POSTOFFICES QUT OF POLITICS [ARTICLE]

ALL POSTOFFICES QUT OF POLITICS

Burleson’s Sweeping Rule Stirs Up Hornet’s Nest—P. M.’s Subject to Competitive Examinations. Postmaster General Burleson announced, Wednesday that after . April 1 the appointments of all postmasters of the ’first, second and third class would be subject to competitive examinations. Nominations will be sent to the senate as in the past, but in making* selection# the president will be guided by the results examinations and will send, in the names at the nr-ul of the lists. The president’s forthcoming older will provide for a form of modified i civil service classification under which j all vacancies, whether caused by resignation, removal or death, will be j filled by competitive examination! .Those already in the service will continue without examination until tha ej-piration of four years’ term, beginning with their last appointment, and will then, it is understood, have to undergo the competitive test. A hornet’s nest was stirred up by the announcement at the capitol. Many members construed the order as a move to get combined democratic and republican support in a poldti-

caiiy uncertain house. A group of democratic membersVd the legislature called <xn the postim :t----ter general and werl.toM about the plan! Democratic Leader Kitohin of the hou&e delayed his departure for North Carol ilia to go to the postoffice department to register his protest. The postmaster general id quoted as having told the congressmen that it was too Ipte to protest.. One member suggested that the order would put many republicans in office, as many of the more active assistant postmasters are republicans retained by the democratic postmasters. and still another wanted to know what would happen if the one man certified from the examination -were a negro. The postmaster general replied that the examinations would have to take place and there would he po special privilege to anyone.