The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1885-09-29
d. B. EATON HAS RESIGNED.
Beginning of a Clean Sweep of the
Civil Service Commission.
Contemplated Important Changes
In the EatOniau Code of Rules--
Eaton Sees stormy Times Ahead
and Prefers to Retire.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 81 -Dorman B
Es,ou has resigned as Civil Service
c ,mmissirner, and his resignation will
be accepted He has an understanding
with the President, however, that no
change will be male until The question
If the consti,utionaiity OF the Civil Sr-
vice law 10 decided in the case set down
for trial ia New York on Friday next
Mr.. Eaton. it is said, does not resign be-
cause OF any friction between himself
and the Administrator. He could prob
ably av 10 office If be wanted to. But
whether he STAYED or not, there would
certainly be some material changes In
the present code of rules, and in one
important respect, which might be called
aim ,st the keystone of the Estonian svs-
TEN, the rules will be. modified This
concerns the range Of choice among can
iidates who have passed the competitive
examination, and who are known by the
name OF eligibes. At present only four
names are furnished the appointing Of
ficer by the Commissioners. Experience
proves that this Is too marrow field oil
choice. The more liberal friends Of the
law uow admit that thi. feature some
times results badly. Often the choice is
merely between poor men and poorer,
8, that 10 some cases an incapable clerk
has been retained ra'her than still
poorer clerk taken, the responsible oin.
Ger bearing the i'll he has rather than fly.
log TO others he knows net OF.
Then sgain. and particularly IN local
examinations where the candidates are
known to the examiners it Is possible.
and it has occurred in practice, that Can.
dida,es have been Disseminated agains
from personal and political reasnns -
For instance, abuses OF this sort have
occurred:
After the papers OF the candidates
have been handel in the imperfections
of certain mans papers are noticed
and scale Of marks then decided upon
which will throw him out. Whatever
happens then. whether the present Board
stays or goes, the rules are to be so
amended as to make fav 'ritism impossi-
Bile. so far as NAV he, and to give re.
sponsible officers who are held account
ble for the conduct OF their clerks such
a wide range of choice as shall enable
them TO get satisfactory suboriinates.
. Mr. E,ton is not bind to the faults oil
, his system, hut he does not care to un.
dertake TO correct them; nor does be
, want to stand by passively and let Others
change the system. He s,vs he never
intended to remain on the Commission
, permanently, and he now feels that II th'
Court sus.ains the Law the opening chap
ter in the history OF the reform is ended
He sees stormy times aheai, and feeli
tha, it might be an emharras sment to th'
service, as we'll as uncomfortable to bin
self, to continue al the helm. II he goe'
undouhtedly there will he clean sweel
, OF the Commission. This will enab
the President to reorganize the Boar'
' on D, mocra,ic basis, and in shap
/ that will commend the system to Dem
ocratic Administration and House o
4 Representatives.
The Administration would not have
. understood, in accepting Mr.. Eaton
9 resignation. that they had lost faith I
e the principles OF the Civil Service la"
J. On the contrary, they believe that th
n present rules Can be 81 perfected as I
Y make a system of civil service whic
E sh III he OF the highest value. The Pres
n lent and Cabinet are unanimous in ds
,. claring that there must be some bulwar
|. OF defence against office seekers an
e their friends, such as is contemplated
"a the present law. Mr. Cleveland intend
" to live up to his promises Of reform fu
"a lv; and even in case Of the abolition
a the Commission and an adverse decisio
by the Court. he would probably mail
o tain in operation much the same syste
d that Is now in force. Bat be has con
RI to the conclusion that certain ma'eri
ct changes in the rules must soon be mad
10 and the Cabinet agree With him that p'
n. litical and personal influence must M
es be the basis upon which TO make a
in pointmen,s in the public service. III
W growth of the country makes necessaI
r. some system Of appointments Whit
he shall relieve the heads of department
o. from the pressure of Office seekers, az
at it only remains 10 find out what syste
ct is best.