Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-09-24
FROM WASHINGTON.
The Resisnation Of ID. B. Eaton-Letter
Of Acceptance by the Pre.ident-Ap.
pointment Of Assistant Inspector Gen.
eral-A Water Famine Feared.
WASHINGTON. Sept. 9

WASHINGTON. Sept %.
The President has today sent to Mr.. Dor.
man B. Eaton, chief of the civil service COM
mission, long letter setting forth his views
and policy in relation to the civil service, and
accepting Eaton's resignation to take efiec,
November LIST.
Col. Absalon Baird, assistant inspector
general, was Wednesday, appointed by the
President to be inspector general of the army
with the rank of brigadier general, to sue.
ceed General Nelson II. Davis, who has re-
tired. General Baird was appointed to West
Point from Pennsylvania, and graduated in
lS49, when he was appointed second lieuten-
ant of artillery. His record of service dur
ing the war, in command of volunteers, is a
brilliant one. He was mustered out of vol
unteer service Sept. /, 1866.
Capt. Henry j. worth, Of the sth
cavalry, has been appointed assistant inspec-
tor general. with the rank of major, to fill
the vacancy created by the promotion of Gen.
Baird.
This city is suffering from water famine.
break ofseven or eight feet in size occurred
in the principal main in GEORGETOWN, and
materials are not at hand with which to make
immediate repairs. The city is receiving
only half supply of water today, all of
lower portions. Materials for repairing the
break have been sent for and may be expect
ed within two or three days. Its found that
the valves which were designated TO shut oil
the water from the damaged main, in emer-
gencIes OF this nature, leaving the othe r
mains 10 serve the city as best they could,
are not in working condition, and it is prob
able that when the repairs are begun the
water will be entirely shut off in order to
clear the damaged main. Dwellers upon the
higher grounds. including about one-half of
the city, are loud in their complaints of those
in authority, who are responsible for the con-
dition of things.
The President today appointed S. NJ.
Stocklager of Indiana, to be assistant COM
missioner of the general land office, vice
Luther Harrison resigned
The letter OF resignation by Dorman B.
Eaton. chairman of the civil service commits
sion, and the Presidents reply thereto which
was received by Eaton this forenoon, has
been furnished the associated press for pub
lication. Mr.. Eatons letter is dated July
2Sth, and in it he refers to the fact that he
wished to resign;earler, but out of Difference
to the Presidents wishes did not urge its ac-
ceptance until such time in autumn as the
President might find convenient for new
appointment. In explanation of his present
course he states that prior to the passage of
the civil service act, Jan. l6. 1888, he had
held under three earlier Presidents and was
then holding under President Arthur an Off
cial position closely analogous to his present
office as civil service commissioner. For
nearly the whole period he had served with
out compensation and had been compelled to
bear his own travelling and other expenses
including those of a journey to Europe and
the preparation of an extensive report made
at the request of one of those Presidents but
printed by Congress. He had taken an ac-
tive part, by which his time was largely taxed
in connection with his preparation and pas
sage of that law. When the time arrived for
the execution of its provisions it seemed to
him that he could not fairly be called uron
to make further sacrifice OF his private inter-
ests in aid of the civil service reform Be-
sides the enemies of the reform were so kind
to charge that he had promoted the
act for the treble purpose of gaining notoriety
of office and salary, but President Arthur
without the least Information to him of his
purpose nominated him, and he was confirmed
as commissioner. He was reluctant to ac.
cept. but the friends of reform with whom
he had labored many years in its behalf, in
sisted he was in duty bound to accept, and
iiOoe eHeluies Will CONSISTENCY mdue
clear their purpose of charging any refusal
on his part cowardly shrinking from the
speedy and disgraceful failure sure to follow
any attempt to execute so chimercal and
impractlcable a statute. He entered upon
his official duties with declared purpose of
remaining hardly more than a year. At the
end of that time he had become more deeply
than ever interested in the practical appl-
cation or the new system.
Its great utility and easy processes had
gained the commentator of the President {;
united more largely the party in power,
in its support and secured from
committee of thirteen members
of democratic House of Representatives an
unanimous report declaring the great use
fulness OF the law and rules, and commencing
what it described as the intelligent. efficient,
noD-partisan and conscientious work of the
civil service commission. He could then see
no obligation to remain longer. That had
been done which the enemies of reform had
declared impossible. He then wished to re-
sign. but friends dissuaded him by urging
that there would be critical period in case
new party should come into power, and he
saw plainly from hostile journals that he
should be charged, if he resigned with flee
ing from the perils of that crisis. As a pub
lie officer, his being in a private way some
what identified with the canse of civil servica