Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1872-12-26
THE CHICAGO PosrorrIcE.

THE CHICAGO POSTOFEICE.
"Colonel Eastman, in resigning the
Chicago Postoffice, recommended Tho
appointment of his deputy, L. C.
Squires, testifying that he was thor.
oughly competent, and that, under thu
civil service rules, he was eligible. The
President did not follow the recon.
mendation, nor the rules of the civil
service; but appointed Gen. Macarthur
Ion the recommendation of Senator
Logan and Congressman Farwell."--
Iosca State Register. .e
The Register is attempting to be Sc.
we're and "sarcasticYiapon the Presiden,
at the expense Of the facts in the case
To say that he appointed Gen. John
Macarthur P. M. at Chicago solely on
the recommendation of Logan and Far
well In the absence Of any other in.
formation, and in violation Of the go
called civil service rules, is stopping
over about something which the Reg.
ister don't understand, and which ii
the most charitable Interpretation
which we can put on its covert sneer
at the Presidents action.
John Macarthur Is a gallant and &C.
complished Scotchman who, at the
opening Of the war, was lucratively
engaged In the foundry business at
Chicago. At the sound Of the first
gun he offered his services to his
adopted country and aided in raising
the 18th Illinois Infantry of which he
became the first Colonel. He served
oil the time until after the capture OF
Vicksburg under the immediate eye OF
Gen'l Grant, arising to the rank of Ma
jor General. After the capture Of
Vicksburg he was made military COM
inandant of that city, which position
he filed for many months with pre-
eminent ability, fidelity and satisfac-
tion. He subsequently commanded a
division in Canby's army, which cap
tured Mobile and ended the war.
During the great portion Of his very
creditable service, his command was
largely composed Of Iowa men who
will all testify as to his gallantry and
general intelligence as an officer and
gentleman. =
He was doubtless appointed by the
President because he knew personally
of his fitness and claims for the posi-
ton, Under the cireumstances to
have required John McArth To- have
gone before . civil service board oi
examiners, there to 60 through the
catechism of the school master, we
think the Register will agree with us,
would have been absurd, especially
when the President was SO well fitted
from personal knowledge of the man
to judge of his capabilities.
Besides all this, 1t il said that the
deputy, Squires, was not all applicant
for the position, and was dissatisfied as
was Col. Eastman with the rules of the
Department as to the liability Of the
P. M. for the loss of registered pack
ages.
However all this may be, the Presi-
dent knew his man, in the appoint
ment Of Gen. Macarthur, and, feeling
the iustness of his course, he did not
fail to act promptly as he has always
done, though not exactly within the
prescribed civil service rules. The
fact that he knew Of his own knowl-
edge what he was doing precluded the
necessity of having any intermediate
action by an examining board.
Does any intelligent man suppose
that Deputy Squires, who may have
been for half a dozen years nosing
around through the mail-bags and
pigeon-holes Of the Chicago Postoffice,
is any better qualified or deserving OF
the Postoffice than man whose intelli-
gence and business capacity put him
at the head of large manufacturing
establishment at Chicago before the
war, and whose skill and gallantry
promoted him to the highest rank in
the army through the smoke aud storm
of battle?