The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-04-14

parties, means the ascending to
power Of their adversary. But
when il is governmental under
tie hereditary form of government, it
must necessarily follow that it will prove
of benefit arepublic as the only true form
of government. Civil service In this
country is a new name for an old prin
Iciple; the very essence of our constitution,
and teachings of the founders of our gov
eminent embody this principle. Wash
ington and Jefferson The latter OF whom is
our patron saint, taught it; urged its me-
cessity, for they knew by the lamp and
camp fires of the past the evils il wrought
upon the colonies. Thomas Jefferson
vigorously maintained that in the vulgar
terms the spells system was beneath the
dignity of any honest form of governs
ment. The patriot fights for his princi,
pie; not that he nor his friends may re
ceive profitable berths from the ascen-
dancy Of the party championing his
cause, but that by It's ascendancy the gen
eral welfare of his country will be much
improved. Lord Catham, in speaking of
the abuse in England said, ''if the parlia
ment be not reformed from within, it will
be reformed with vengeance from with :
tout. Public officers should belong to the
country and not to the administration III
you do not put 1t down it will put You
down. said Calhoun. Friends, how is il
to be improved BY the turning out OF Of.
fee or employment experienced. oompe
tent and honest employees. or retain the
Experienced ones to perform the service
they have become skilled in by long ex-
lperience, and filling their places by a
lclass of politicians whose only ambition
IS the salary and honor annexed thereto,
and whose only claim to SAID office 10 the
service rendered to The dominent party
To meet this abuse which Of late, III
to the present administration, has cast a
stigma OF dishonor upon our lair repub
lice. the law OF civil service WAS pissed
comprising three commissioners. not
more than two of which shall be selected
from either of the political parties
lneither OF sad com missioner shall hold ANY
other position under the government.
l. No person in said employment
shall use his official authority or inflaenc
ieither To coerce the political aciion ot
any person or body, or to interfere with
Ian election.
No person in the public service
shall for that reason be under any oblige
ttion to contribute to any political fund
or to render any political services, and he
will not be removed or otherwise preju-
diced for refusing to do the same. There
lshall be three branches of the service
classified under the civil service act a.
follows: Those classified in the depart
ments at Washington shall be designated
The classified department service
Those classified in any custom district
shall be designated. The classified
custom service" Those classified under
any postmaster al any postotice, shall he
designated. The classified postal ser
vice" The classified cnstom service
shall embrace the several custom districts
where the officials are as many as fifty
The classified postal service shall en-
brace the several postoffices where the
officials are as many rs fifty. The APP
lplicants shall be presented for appoint,
ment with reference to the states and ter
ritories, each state and Territory having q
right TO be represented according to lis
population at the last census. No one
will be entitled TO be examined for AL.
mission to the classified postal service Il
under the age of l6 or over that of IS; oil
TO the classified custom service, or to tn,
classified department service if under /,
or over As years; but no one shall be ex'
amined for appointment to any place in
the classified custom service except tina
OF clerk or messenger. who is under 81
years of age; but these limit,tio shall
not apply to honorably discharged sol
diers or sailors of the last war who ar,
otherwise duly qualified Whenever any
officer having power of appointment o
employment shall so request, there shall
be certified to him by the commission
four names for the vacancy specified Il
be be taken from these grades, the highes
selection to be made with reference L
the states and territories, and from sal,
four a selection shall be made for tn
vacancy.
. No person shall be certified more tina
, three times to the same office; no
shall any one remain eligible NOR
than one year on the register
and no person while. remaining elgibl
on any register shall be admitted to
new examination Of the same grade
Every original appointment or employ
ment in said classical service shall be 70
the probationary period Of six months. a
the end OF each time if they give general
, satisfaction, the probitionist shall b
absolutely appointed or employed bu
otherwise shall be dismissed Ever
, violation by an Office of the section relat
ing TO political assessments, shall he goot
cause for removal. The examination tt
which each applicant is submitted, con
sists of the elementary branches, viz.
Arithmetic-through interest, book keep
ing. elements of the English Language
and elements OF the geography, histor
and government of the United State.
The general average of sixty five TO on
hundred being the basis, is required G
each applicant before passing. 1t is T.
be regretted that the examination is nc
more thorough as 1t may be very mucl
doubted. If the present mode is of an
assistance whatever IN selecting publ
servants.
Sheriff j. M. Reticker presided over III
feast in manner tina! was perfectio
personified, and the toasts were all re
. sponded to with aptness. eloquence an
, wit.
ii ELECTION OF OFFICERS.
5 President Burial called busine,
meeting of the club previous to the ban
quet when Messrs. Dan Oorken, Charlie
. Engel, John Aster and L. f. Kayst
, were elected to membership. The ele,
ton of officers resulted in the unanimor
choice of the following: -
IL Presi dent-Arthur Burial
, Secretary. X. Johnston.
' Treasurer-L G. Banding