All three of these “jokers” are in the government civil service laws and the extension of those laws to the various divisions of the federal civil service is left largely or wholly subject to the orders of the President. I object to a classified merit service under such statutory “jokers.” They provide a service more partisan than efficient. They permit a payroll raid upon the revenues from which employes are paid. They retain incompetent, inefficient persons in graded positions for partisan purposes--often “grafting” purposes--rather than for service reasons. They leave the promotion or advancement of honest, industrious and competent employes largely, if not wholly, subject to the will, wish and whim of a partisan appointed or elected superior or to a partisan civil service commission. They provide for advancement on an “experience”--a time service--which may not, and which in many cases does not, constitute an experience of any value whatsoever to the service. I have said that the office personnel of the government’s postal service embraces a large number--_thousands_--of raiders on the postal revenues. I repeat that assertion here. Most of these raiders occupy the higher salaried positions--postmasters of the “Presidential” classes, assistant postmasters, chief clerks and others who secured their positions through partisan “pull” or “drag.” These do little work of service value for the salaries paid them. Many of them are so occupied with affairs of their party that they have little time for service work even if they were inclined to do it. Most of them are not so inclined. Many of these raiders know of--some of them have been parties to--railway mail-weight, contract and other raids upon the department they are supposed to serve. But this is only generalization, some one may say. In answer I say kick off your blanket of apathy. Go do a little investigating and then do a little--just a little--hard thinking. See what you shall see in even such a modest effort to put two and two together. Visit a “Presidential” postoffice in your county, preferably the one at the county seat or the one at the capital or at the metropolis of your state. These cities are the storm centers of partisan activity, likewise of partisan manipulations, bubble and crookedness. If you know the postmaster, so much the better. If you are of the same party affiliation as the postmaster, still better. If you are not, do not let that deter you. You visit him to see things for yourself, and an investigator is not only warranted but fully justified in appearing to be what he is not. Fix upon some subject of inquiry before you reach the “presence” on that particular “Presidential” P. O. throne. Then, with ears spread and eyes shrewdly as well as interestedly open, go to it.