Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-11-27
Miss Sellers, Dismissed
b State Clerk, is Ordered
Reinstated.
Is TO GET BACK SALARY
Attorney Generals Office Files
Motion for Appeal to IIIi-
nois Supreme Judges.

Chicago. III. Nov. 27-Judge Thomas
C. Windes. sitting in the circuit court,
yesterday refused 20 hold unconstitu-
tionaI the state civil service law. as
yss demanded by Attorney General
Lucey in the case Of Mary 4. Sellers
against state Auditor james J. Brady
The attorney generals Office fled
the necessary motions for an immed-
late appeal To tine state supreme court
on the ground that the 1911 amend
ments and the original act itself are
unconstitutional.
This action was the signal for i'm
mediate attack from the civil service
organizations upon Attorney General
I.UCey. the assertion being that the
attorney general g. placing himself in
a questionable attitude when he at
tacEs a law rather than defends IL.
Whose fingers are crossed now ,"
asks the civil Service Reform associa-
tion over the signature OF its secre-
tsry. r. r. BlackwoOd. preceding the
Interrogation with the prediction
pledge made 20 ~ both by Attorney
General Lucey and State Auditor
Prady that they would attempt. as Of
ficials. 20 enforce the letter and the
spirit OF the merit Law.
Robert CatherVoOd. member OF the /
Cook county civil service commission. I
expressed his gratihcatiOn at the 4
Windes decision. and adds:
Il cannot say too much nor speak f.
too strongly in expressing my criti-
cism Of Attorney General Lucey. He.
himself has violated the spirit Of the
civil service law by persistent re-
fusals TO recognize the state commits
sion in his own Office and by the re-
peated use OF temporary appoint
ments.
He has advised State Auditor
Brady to disregard the law. and now
he is In the avoWed public and official
attitude OF attempting the break down
The entire fabric OF civil service
Proof Is sufficient 20 me that spoils
politics is completely in the saddle at
Springfield"
Acts Without Authority.
Judge Windes handed down his de
csion orally. He ruled that the state ;
auditor had acted without authority Z
in refusing To pay the salary OF Miss .
Sellers after the civil service commits 4:
sion had ordered her reinstatement as
stenOgrapher in the banking depart
ment. He directed that the writ OF :
prayed by the young wom- 7
an be issued; that she be restored to /
her position. and that she receive her
back pay from the time OF her suspen !
sion. aggregatinE S4O7. The appeal |
taken by the state 10 the supreme '
court operates TO hold up action under
the mandamus writ
Il think there H. a serious question
presented here as TO the uncOustitu- i
.iOnality OF this statute by the several 7
points raised by the defendants. and Z
as TO the manner in which 4,
lie last amendment in 1911 vas passed
By both houses. but / am unable 10 =
.ay that with regard TO any OF the =
questions raised IL is clearly unconsti- i
utiOnal beyond all reasonable doubt 4
INVOLVING, too. 50 important a matter :
o the whole state as the employment II
4 approximately 1000 state employees, e
{ is the duty OF this court 20 sustain
he statute unless IL Is clearly settled $
y the supreme court OF the state that &
{ Is unconstitutional" n
Miss Sellers said she doesn't care X
about the money awarded r
er and doesn't want her job back el
i determined TO give them a fight "
rhen they showed me they were not sS
laying fairly" Miss Sellers said. i Z
ont care anything about the position.
VI / wanted vindication from the un- 4
rue charges which were fled by the
tate auditor. and ] have won that" -