Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-12-03
IN GENERAL.

TIE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
The il terests of the people of the
district Of Columbia should not be lost
sight OF in the pressure for considera-
ton of measures affecting the whole
| country Having no legislation of its
| own, either municipal or general, its
people I1ust look to congress for the
regulation of those concerns that are
the subject of local control. Our whole
| people have an interest that the ma
tional capital should be made attrac-
4 tive anC beautiful, and above all that
! its repute for social order should be
maintained. The laws regulating the
sale OF Intoxicating drinks in the dis
! trict should be revised. with view to
! bringing the traffic under stringent
| limitations and control.
In ex scutiOn of the power conferred
| upon me by the act making apprOpTia-
| tion fol the expenses of the district OF
| Columbia for the year ending June 30.
! 1889, | did, on the 18th day of August
last, APP point Rudolph Herring OF New
York, samuel NJ. Gray of Rhode Isl
and, and Frederick Z. Stearus of Mas
sachust It's. three eminent sanitary
enginee rs, to examine and report upon
the system OF sewerage existing in the
district of Columbia. Their report.
which is not yet completed, will be in
due cot rse submitted to congress. The
report of the commissioners of the
district IL herewith transmitted, and
the attention of congress is called to
the sue questions contained therein.
THE WORLDS FAIR.
The proposition to observe the 4OOth
annive sary OF the discovery of Amer
lea by The opening of the worlds fair
or expo sitiOn in some one of our large
cities viii be presented for the consld
Grafton of congress- The vstffttssse al q
Interes5 of such an exposition may
well claim the promotion of the gen
eral government.
TIE CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
On the l4th of March last the civil
service commission had but a single
member. The vacancies were filled on
the I'll day of May. and since then the
| commissioners have been industriouslv.
though with an inadequate force, en-
! gagged in executing the law. They
! were assured by me that a cordial sup
| port would be given them IN the faith
ful AMI impartial enforcement of the
statute, and of rules and regulations
adopted In aid of it. Heretofore the
book of eligibles has been closed to
are m lde upon the request of the ap-
pointing officers. This secret was the
source of much suspicion and of many
charges of favUritsm in the admins
tratiol of law. What is secret is al
ways suspected, and what is open can
be JUG ged. The commission, with the
full approval of its members, has now
opened the list of eligibles to the pub
lie. The eligible lists for classified
post ofiice and custom houses are now
publicly posted i'll the respective Of
fees, as are also the certliica
tions for appointments. The purpose
| of civil service law was
absolutely TO exclude another consid-
Grafton in connection with appoint
ments under it than that of merit, as
tested by the examinations. The bust
ness proceeds upon the theory that both
the examining boards and the appoint
ing officers are absolutely ignor-
ant of the political views and
assoc iations of all persons on
the C vii service list. 1t is not too much
to say, however, that some recent con
gress tOnal Investigations have some
what shaken public confidence III the
impartiality of the selection for appoint
msnt. The reform of the civil service
will make no safe or satisfactory adj
vanc3 until the present law and its
equa administration are well esta0-
lishei in the confidence of the people
1t will be my pleasure, DIS it is my duty
to se3 that the law is executed with
firmness and impartiality. If some OF
its provisions have been fraudulently