National Republican., 1878-09-17
THE DISTRICT GOTERyYEET
Republican Heads Failing Into the Basket
and COnfederates Taking Their Places,

Republican Heads Failing Into the Basket
and COnfederates Taking Their Places.
As q Republican the President has no occa-
sion for pride aud satisfaction over the Board
of Commissioners he has furnished the Dis
trict OF Columbia as its government. Tho ap.
pOntmCnt of Mr. Dent as a Democrat Is per.
haps as iaultoss as any that could have been
made on that side, for he performs his duties
as Democrat and Lothng else. The an.
pOintmcnt of Mr.. Phelps rs u Republican was
tho perpetuatiOn of fraud that was uuugu.
rated by President Grant through 3 mistake.
or otherwise. which, from political anil other
considerations. should never have been con.
tinued, for it is really an inficliOn tho should
have been saved the District. The third Com.
missioner is Major Twiuing, Of the Engineer
Corps, U. s. A.. and IS \ E,ir-mnlel capable
upright man, but OF limited experience In civil
affairs and with but little taste for the
duties and responsibilities Of his now position
Nevertheless. II he had the power, the District
government would wear far different aspect
than that which enshrouls it. II he could
have his way the government would be fair
toward the Republican interest but under the
alliance formed between Commissioners, Don't
and Phelps he Is puwerlCss, and !, forced to
submit to superiority Of numbers, II not OF
ability. 1t aIps1!s t. hC the highest anbil ton
uf Phelps to award late COnlcdGratcs, while
Dent has no constitutional ol jectipn To such q
policy, aud hence they get along well together
in the work OF decapitating Republican sub
Ordinatc5.
The Washington correspondent Of the phia-
delpha Prew gives the following specimens Of
the persons selected by the Commissioners t.
do their work
Captain Hickey, All cx-ConfelerGtc soldier, In.
sIvcl"r If the seventh stree: pavement now being
lnid GENERAL Ni!HuX"x Conf. Gratn and formerly
u'ircT ii rhc United 81 'eS army, G>SIStant en-
Yin, a. n the UnCpVCIng ui the TCf Creek sew "
Colonel Washington, Of Texas. an cX.COnlrdc.pte
Is d drHughtilnGH in the Engineers Department /;
Go'nnel Alexander, CN.COI!Gderdtc, the same; /;
iOn!mOir!u Van kensHe. r Morgan, end Cap ain
T. +. sheppard. Of WarTeutOn, Va, both Of WhUn
let the navy in 1851 10 Join The rebellion Rru cNcrl
who went south il lo'l. is clerk in tho Engineers
office, ir. Page who was a surgeon In the navy
IN iSGl, and >vrFul on the side r. the rebellion
was, until recently physician at the Washington
AImshuHNs - y. Penn, mn assistant Inspector In
the Water Department, Is an GX Cguc !gIate ulrcr:
rHiv by eN rpn.eirutu lien Ders ul Congress fTuIn
Virginia ami Mary land 1t Is also conpiainu that
lhrrr Hre number o! NONRESIDENT OlnCN., from
those state, !NslluciHg NmSJa, Inc A MOT 4 the
District iI1T TeT!Ilen Voter IN Maryland Francis
Miller, member u the liTIur license board ant
assistant attorney Tor Ihu B,Str!Ct Commissioners
u!.p citizen vi Maryla 1t is stated tina, three
Oi .hr ox-Ionte'i~Fatc officials wore shipmN.e, II
Commissioner Phelps hetOre the rebellion and 70.
CgIvtd their appointments through him. IL Is cuNl-
. pHincd " lAe people who psy the taxes that thur
Interests are the last subjects o! consideration 10y
the Commissioners, and that the Offices are ilr,l
hy llcuerHut GunS!.tut'i's oi Cungres>nen ind the
CiusS mentioned, instead or PERSONS who actually
reside ECrc and have a property concern III the
welfare Of the District.