Eaton, Dorman Bridgman

Eaton, Dorman Bridgman, 1823–99, American reformer, b. Hardwick, Vt. He was a law partner of William Kent in New York City. His major interests were reform in municipal administration and abolition of the spoils system in national politics. He drafted the Metropolitan Health Law, passed in 1866, which gave New York City its present health department, and drafted bills organizing the New York City fire and dock departments and reorganizing the police department. In 1873 he became chairman of the National Civil Service Commission and with George W. Curtis and Carl Schurz led in gaining support for civil service reform. He drafted the Pendleton Act of 1883, which has remained the basis of the federal civil service system.