The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-06-26
THE coLLRcroRsaIP FOR THE PORT OF
CHICAGO.


An important Office to which the presi>
dent is soon expected TO make an appoint
ment is that of the collector of customs for
the port of Chicago. The following article
from the Ottowa Free Trader is so ex.
actly in accord with our views on the
subject, that we reproduce it in its entries
ty, fully endorsing every word therein
contained
At a recent netting of the Democratic
County Central committee of Mclean
county, the following resolution, asking
at the hands of the president the appoint.
ment of the Hon. John II. Oberly to the
position of collector of customs for the
port OF Chicago, was unanimously adopt
ed
"Resoloed, That we, the Democratic
Central Committee of Mclean county,
most earnestly request and petition the
President OF the United States to appoint
the Hon. John H. 0berly to the office of
United States Collector for the port of
Chicago
Inauguration of President Cleveland, un~
til the above resolution came under our
notice, have we felt that we were called
upon discuss at length either the dis
position that should be made of any offs
fee within the gift of the president in the
state OF Illinois, or the character of the
person upon whom such office should be
bestowed.
We have RETAINED from such discus
sion because thus far The federal positions
disposed of in this state have been more
or less local in their nature and effect,
and We believe that it is democratic TO
allow the largest liberty to each commun
ity in the disposition of all matters that
most nearly affect the interests OF that
community. To the Office of collector for
the port of Chicago no such local char
acter attaches, and therefore no such reas.
on intervenes to prevent full and free
expression of our views upon the whole
subject.
1t is an Office whose interest touch up
on and affect in degree the interests,
not alone of the people within the state
of Illinois, but as well the interests of
those who reside in the states adjacent.
The great commercial interests of the
northwest are brought in direct and con
tinuous contact with it. giving to it Dig
nifty of character that attaches TO no other
government Office in Illinois.
The receipts collected from customs
duties thereat reach into the millions OF
dollars each year, and the disbursements
thereof are correspondingly great, max
ing it an office of no less responsibility
than it is of dignity A large force Of
employees is necessary to do the work Of
the office properly, most of whom are re-
CURED to possess knowledge and exper-
fence peculiar to the customs service. In
the selection and direction of this force
it is imperative that the soundest iudg,
ment be possessed and exercised by thu
one in control. This dignity and this re-
sponsibility combined make the office o.
collector for the port of Chicago state
Office and not q local one, and give the
man whom the president appoints to dis.
charge the duties o. it state instead oil
local Importance. In short, the people
OF the state look upon the collector fol-
the port of Chicago as the presidents di-
rect and legitimate representative. in Hi.
nois, and when man is to be chosen tC
that office 1t is but just to them to appoin
some one who is a state man and who i.
strictly representative one.
He should be one who is in every wa,
competent to discharge the duties of th(
office; one who is Of good character ant
Of approved integrity. In himself b,
should represent the best elements of the
party to which he belongs. He should b,