The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-01-06
THURSDAY, JANUARY 6. 1908.
The Daily Republican is
read by more people than any
other paper in Delaware ex-
cepting none.


I'm the midst OF lie we arc IN DEATH
Never was the above more forcibly called
70 mind than yesterday, when word was
received at the REPUBLICAN office that the
Rev. Lafayette Marks, pastor Of Hanover
Presbyterian Church, had fallen dead in
Mr., s. H. Baynard's jewelry store, corner
Fifth and Market streets. of heart failure.
He called o. this Office on Monday with a
copy of his sermon preached on Sunday
morning and appeared to be enjoying his
usual good health. He has been pastor Of
Hanover church since 1869, and was much
beloved by his congregation as we'll rs all
who knew him. He preached his last ser.
mon on Tuesday evening in Central Pres
bylerian church, taking as bis subject,
asking Questions Of Godj DIR. McCur-
dy said last evening during prayer meeting
that it was one Of the most mastery ser.
mons he had ever heard and he was deeply
impressed with the prayer made by the de-
ceased. DR.. Marks was born in Hancock
county Va, near the town Of East Liver
pool He was In his Goth year. He stud
led for the ministry in his youth at the
United Presbyterian University in Western
Pennsylvania. He served as a chaplain in
the Union army, during part of the Re-
bellion. after which he accepted call to
tho Presbyterian Church ut Fifteenth
and Master streets, Philadelphia. DR..
Marks was married twice. Ho leaves q
widow, seven sons and one daughter. His
widow is ncarly Frustrated at her sudden
bereavement.
+. SECRETARY Gage, yesterday sent reply
to the Senate resolution of December 18th,
calling upon the heads of the several exe.
cntive departments for information as TO
what position in their respoc;ssvo depart.
ments should be expected from the Civil
Service laws and rules. He says:
Il believe that experience has taught
that the order of May 6, 1906, was too
sweeping, and hat there should bo taken
out OF the classified service considerable
number of places that were at that time
classified. The most important Of these
places are in the internal revenue service.
The difficulties which the department has
experienced In the administration of the
rules as they now exist, Us applied To the
internal revenue service, have become in
tolerable. | believe that al positions of
deputy collectors OF internal revenue
should BIO made excepted places, sdbjnct
however. to non-cdinpetitve examina-
tons The Collectors who appoint tho
deputies arc personally responsible for the
conduct OF their subOrdinates. This re
sponsibility covers not only the fidelity
, and integrity of those subordnates in their
relation to the government, but extends
to II personal liability to those who may be
injuroi in person or in property by jncon-
siderate or maliciou. trespass committed
~ such subordinates in the course Of their
luties.
Another branch of the service whore OK.
perience has demonstrated that ol.assiGca-
tion was ill-adyised Is the custodian sol
vice in the public buildings throughout
the country. The employees Of the light
house establishment have been under civil
eervice rules since May g. No improve
ment has resulted but, on the other hand,
yexatious delays have occurred in filling
vacancies.
Secretary Gage has always been an earn
est advocate of Civil Service and his
change of heart means great doal to the
Republican party.
CHIEF Dolan, accompanied by Willard,
son of George b. Farra, loft yesterday for
Petersburg, Va, to identity Il colorod pris-
oner arrested at that placo as Thorn. The
tripwas fruitiess one, as the man was
not Thorn. 1t begins to look as if Thorn
had given our authorities tho slip ana left
for parts unknown. Its a pity our author-
tiles did not have a BLOODHOUND for lust
such purpose, as then there would have
been possibility of catching the murdcr-
er The theory has been advanced that
Thorn was killed as well as Earri., and his
lulv dsDOse6 nf