Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1903-12-17
CIVIL SERVICE MAY GOVERN on
TuMWA POLICE AND FIRE
DEPARTMENTS.
is APPROVED BY ALL
Paper Read Before Commercial Asso.
citation by DR.. E. T. Edserly at spe.
cial Meeting Last Evening May Lead
to Adoption of Merit System.

From Wednesdays Daily
The placing of the fire and police
departments of the city of Ottumwa
upon civil service basis may be the
result of a communication prepared
by DIET. .Edgerly and read last even
ing at special meeting of the board OF
the Commercial association held in
the Office of Secretary ]. II. Mitchell.
The communication which referred es-
pecially to the fire department was
strongly endorsed by Mayor T. H. Pick
Ter and every member of the board
present at the meeting and commits
tee was appointed to investigate what
legal steps would be required for the
proposed change in these depart
ments in the city of the class of Ottum-
wa.
The committe was composed of A.
w. Enoch, Major T. H. Pickler and DR..
E. T. Edgerly.
There was a good attendance at the
meeting, which was called to order by
President S. H. Harper The paper
prepared by DR.. Edgerly, suggesting
and advocating the placing of the fire
department upon a strictly merit and
civil service basis was read. Mayor
| Plckler who was present, was called
upon for statement of his views upon
the proposition. He declared that the
proposition was all right, and that he
was heartily in favor of the suggestion,
but that in his opinion the suggestion
/ was not broad enough. He suggested
that the police department should be
included in any steps looking toward
the placing of the fire department on
the merit and civil service basis. He
believed that by taking both the police
and fire departments out of politics en-
tfrely, the service in both would be
greatly benefited.
/ Favored by All.
H L. Waterman favored the propo-
sition and stated that he believed that
/ if the Commercial association did not
take up the matter and press it, the
! citizens themselves would begin the
4 agitation for the change. He beliey-
1 ed every citizen III Ottumwa favored
! the placing of the two departments on
the merit system. An expression of
4 opinion frem practically every mem-
her slowed thaI the sentiment of the
members of the board was unanimous
ly in favor of the suggestion.
The Legal Status.
\ The question as to the legal status
in city Of the class of Ottumwa of
4 the proposed change came up and a
4 committee of three was appointed by
President Harper to investigate and
i rersrt at a later meeting. The COM
mittee was instructed, in case the law
/ was found to oppose the placing OF
the police and fire departments on a
s merity system or basis to confer with
the representatives and county offici-
ais with the view to having the laws
so changed that the proposed changes
could be made.
The U. 6. Consular Service.
Following the discussion in regard
to placing the police and fire depart
ments on the merit system a number
, of communication were read. One OF
these was from the National Business
Mems association advocating the early
passage of the Lodge bill or some sim
liar one, placing the consular service
of the United States on the civil serv
ice list. The communication not only
} suggested the placing of the service or
t the civil list but advocated the abolish
: ment OF ices ana the substituting or
stated salary.
Factory Propositions.
Several letters were read from pro
moters and from Others with estab
lished factories desiring change OF 10
r cation, but all were of such nature
and their demands so large and un
reasonable that all were laid on the ia
BILE.
: The Banquet.
. The president was authorized to ap
& point a committee of five to attend tt
. all the preliminary arrangements fo
/. Continued on Page 4 Fourth Column.