Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1885-09-24
,,srrxe CORRESPONDENCE.
.,rssosrs EATos RESIGNS.


49,. n resignation of Mr.. Dor
/ sts Eaton. chairman of the Civil
l 50 Dc.rnmission, and the Presidents
,bereto, which was received by Mr.
w ,his morning. They have been
bas.bsd the Associated Press for put
egs Cvn sKsvIoE Commission,
WIBrsGros, July rs. los5.
Il In the execution Of the purpose
ss;,h informed you several weeks
vary respectfully tender my re-
4 &c. A. Civil Service Commission
- cot Of Differences to your wishes
e. ~ urge its acceptance until s1oh
10 the autumn as you may and
.sniest for a new appointment. IL
~. hope, be thought inappropri-
- add some words Of explanation.
-, "a the passage Of the Civil service
isnuary Is. 1888, had held under
-. earlier Presidents. and was
= holding under President Arthur,
I ofieisl position closely anal
4 90 70 my present Office As
1 II Service Commissioner for nearly
- ykole period. / had served with
= .,npensation. had been compelled
: hsar nv own travelling and other ex-
,..sss, ineluding those of journey TO
Ssrype, and the preparation Of an eI-
& ..rrye report made at the request of
- Of those Presidents, but printed by
eanaress. | had taken an active part,
= sbich nv time Was largely taxed, IN
snceosion with the preparation and
sage Of that Law. When the time
rived for executing its provisions, 1t
.eped 10 me that could not be fairly
lid upon to make farther sacrifice of
1 :. priyats interests in aid OF owl ser
,fpfm we're so kind a. to charge that
y promoted the act for the purpose
4 ninino Hotoriety, office and salary,
sPresident Arthur, without thei least
ranstion to me Of his purpose. nomi-
I'D me, and WAS confirmed ~ Com
,,sionsr. When | was about 10 de-
.sp,. friends of reform With whom
"a ahored many years 10 its behalf,
i,asssi mat was in duty bound to &C
..Ut sud those enemies, with amiable
.suasssucy, made clear their purpose
! A cbsfQing any refusal on my part as
svsrdly, and shrinking from the
ussdy and diseraoeful failure sure to
taJov any attempt TO execute so chi
usfica and impracticable a statute.
n su,h q situation l had hardly the
hbsrsy of choice, but l entered upon
nv oifcial duties with the declared
Ourposs OF remaining hardly more
itsn O year, within which at least
he constructive work of making
mlss and regulations, aud of
Enforcing the new system at its
most difficult shape could be accom-
pliaAed. At the end OF that time had
bseoms more deeply than ever interest
Il in the practical application Of the
NV system. Its great utility and easy
goQress had gained the commentator
q the President, united more largely
shs party in power, and secured from q
unmittee OF thirteen members Of the
Democratic House Of Representatives a
unanimous report declaring the great
ussfulness of the law and rules, and
Oumending what it deems the intelli-
snt, efficient, non-partisan and con-
rieutious work OF the OWL Service
Commission. ] could then see no obi
utioH TO remain longer. That had
bssn done which the enemies of reform
had declared to be impossible. The
nv and rules we're vindicated, but there
sore impracticable methods which were
DOT fully matured, and / remained TO
hke part in their development. When a
iev months later / was about to Insist
upon being relieved, those friends dis.
scsded me by urging that there would
ks critical period in case a new party
ihould come into power, and l saw
olasulu kAatstA tnneaalu that
should be charged. II | resigned, with
tseing from the perils of that crisis. lt
vas clear enough that no excuse of my
sae service, and no declaration of my
uuidence in the reform policy Of the
Residential candidate and statesmen
Il the Democratic party, would relieve
% from the damaging plausibility of
ach charge.As private citizen could
nrn she imputation. but a. a pablo
a1osr, and as being in a private way
nUsvhat identified with the cause of
CIVIL Service reform, had no right TO
sake an opportunity for its natural en-
smies In either party 10 use such charge
10 Its injury. There was another rea-
ZOE wby could not tender my resiRns-
tion, and should have refused to do so
had 10 been requested at or near the
time Of your accession to office, for
should regard IL as pernioious preoe
dent, utterly repugnant to the spirit Of
tbe Owl Service act to treat the office
Of Civil Service Commissioner as politi-
Al, and hence as one TO be filled at the
beginning of each President's term.
These considerations constrained me to
continue in my place until the reform
policy of your administration. 50
asarly defined in your declaration.
should be as Enthusiastically developed
n your acts as President as it has been
IN your acts m Governor of New York.
That time has arrived. No candid man
can longer pretend TO regard that policy
- indefinite or doubtful. For i've
months your Administration. during
which the Civil Service Act and rules
have been enforced With NJ much
sssadth. hrmnsss and fidelity as uader
hat Of President Arthur. has not only
sdded new evidence OF the utility Of
ne new system upoa which that Presi-
dsnt congratulated the country, but has
made more definite the settled purpose
u your Administration TO faithfully
snferoe both law and rules in future.
he few changes 700 have made IN the
ruies have but added to their justice
md efficiency. 30 far M have been
able 70 learn there is not q member
your Cabinet who has not, ~ . result
Of his experiences In office, q higher
lssass than before of the need of en-
fstcing that meritorious system 10 the
pahlie service which the CIVIL Service
~ and rules have essAbl ished, . nd ir I'm
Aese 81 the bead OF the m my Offices
% The postal and customs service to
vhioh EXAMINATIONS extend in all parts
Of the Union, whe her they bs Re
paelicsns holding over or new officers
no0 the other party. there has come
% reason for believing that the merit
u We system IL not welcomed as q
efsai bsneht 10 the public service. The
Great influence fer honesty 10 politics
sad the great relief 10 heads In sffice
- The principles Of justice upon which
ustsystem 10 based. ltstendency 10 sup
pr patronage monRering and official
nsofitism, Its great encouragement OF
hs public school and It's support Of all
eieh character and manhood In politics
~ nov being more rapidly compre
seoaed BY the people than ever before.
! tsel sure that 10 IL in the near future
nave not only q greatly enlarged bot
- almost snchallenged enforcement
rally an issue between the people
~ We politicians. q contest for the
0n system Of office On one eide and
- ~ merit system of office on the
wes. The friends Of the latter coz
~ Tor free opportunity for every
A.. ar1- - 4. A.