Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-08-08
The Mayors Strange Awakening.

Mayor George W aSAlnStOA -hCOa0h
rim awoke to the importance OF making
municipal appointments last night, long
enough to name a few, but from the
nature of his position relative 10 one
of the selections at least. the natural
inference may be drawn that he is stu
doing. The mayor has succeeded IN
involving the branch OF the municipal
service that is nearest TO the people
and upon which the safety OF property
and the cfty's reputation most depend
into politics He has cast fitness
and experience TO the four winds and
used an office Of great responsibility as
q means of reward TO one of his own
admirers and followers, in the appoint
ment of Fred Tubbs as chief OF the fire
deDartment. This view of the case I'M
plies no personal reflection upon the
lappointee There is no occasion mere
to discourage him or 10 prejudice MN.
II is the principle that is deserving
of criticism II is the action OF the
mayor in dragging into politics the
most important department OF the city
government that is condemnatoTy. Ihe|
wisdom of conducting the fire depart
ment as close TO civil service lines as
possible has been fully shown. The
| folly of the opposite course has been
demonstrated with equal force. The
policy of the last two preceding admin
! istratiOnS has been 10 recognize the
principle that experience and fitness
are the essentials to the promotion OF
| first class fire service. and through
this commendable course of action the
! ha ir Generally had hnpn
! led TO recognize this one department at
least. as beyond the reach of the grasp
| ing politician who expects to be re
warded for his campaign energies at
public expense. But along comes
| George MCCaskrin. with such exceed
! ingly high notions of his all around ca
liabilities. that before he had been in
office a week he drove the most capa-
BILE and efficient chief the fire depart
ment had ever had from his place, and
then after leaving the service without
head for months. names for the pc
sitfon a man absolutely without eXper-
Hence in the matter of fire fighting.
Overlooking such men as Assistant
Chief Frey with his years of expert
ence and improved opportunities To
perfect himself in the details of the de
partment.
When Chief Hastings in selfrespect
gave up his position because he felt
that the new mayor was meddling with
the details of which he knew nothing,
and was not expected TO know, The
Argus sought 10 urge upon the mayor
THE prompt filling of the vacancy, either
| in the reappOintment of Chief Hastings
or the promotion of Assistant Frey or
the selection of some other capable
man. But for months the department
was permitted TO run along without
head Chief Frey, while clOaked with
| Temporary authority. could not be eA-
Ipected TO look at the position with the
same interest that he would if given
| absolute control. And now it has come
that after waiting all this delay under
| the representation that he was simply
anxious TO pick out the right man, the
mayor has gone outside the department
| and repOsed the responsibility of its
control in one to whom he felt politi-
cally obligated.
The Argus hopes Chief Tubbs will
prove his worth. but if he does, the fact
will not insure the retention by the
city of his valuable services. The very
act under which he acquired his posi-
ton has set aside the precedent of rec
ognizing fitness in this respect in pref
erence to political pull and influence.