National Republican., 1878-07-01
Retiring Of tho Old Commissioners.

Tho District Commissioners who have beef
In Office as the executive head Of the Distric
government, and who wero retired from thei
position by the recent act Of Congress- sevoret
their connection with tho official affairs Of tn
District at three o'clock last Saturday after
noon, with the exception Of Captain Phelps
who has been reappointe' under the new law
He being the only ono Of the three now admin
istrators conversant with the routine ant
manipulation of tho business affairs, will doubt
less act as the wheel horse so to speak, unit
his colleagues secure al insight into tho man
ncr Of conducting affairs. Since the bill DO.
camo law creating the now form Of gov.
ernment, aud 1t became an assured fact that
tho late board was dccapitated, those gentle.
men havo been constantly and faithfully en-.
gagged In arranging the official papers and
records, and putting them In such shape as
would assist their SUCCESSORS In obtaining an
early and thorough knowledge of the duties
they wore called upon to perform. That the
new Commissioners might bc as little embar.
| rasSed as possible upon their induction into of.
flee by having to consider outstanding unset
tied accounts which the retiring officials should
| have disposed Of tho Commissioners gathered
in, as near AS could bo done, all claims and
bills against the District government con.
tracted under their administration and paid
| those that could be settled without any detri-
ment to the District. In matters whore diff
ferences existed to be roconciled
these accounts will 20 over for the considera.
tiOn aud decision Of the incoming fficials. 1t
was the aim Of the lato board to Gle ar up oil
indebtedness created by thom, aud thoy take
commondablc pride In tho knowledge and be.
lief that all the obligations that they entered
| into have either been met or money sufficient
has been left IN the hands Of the Treasurer to
meet them. The relations between the Com
missoncrs aud the officers and employees of
tho District government have always been Of
the most pleasant and agreeable character.
THE EMPLOYEES
entertained high respect for their superior
officers, and have anticipated the dissolution
with feelings Of sincere sorrow and regret.
About ono o'clock last Saturday they held q
meeting. Mr.. Thomas G. Cox, Water Regis
trar, was chosen chairman. and Mr.. Joseph G.
Rock, chief clerk of the Engineers office, Sec
rctary. Mr.. William Morgan, Superintendent
OF assessments and taxes; DR.. William Tin
| dali, secretary Of the Commissioners, and Mr..
c. Reidell were selected as a committee to pre-
| pare proper expression Of the feelings Of the
employees at the approaching separation. They
reported the following letter, which was pre-
| pared in triplicate-ons for each Commits
| sioner:
GESTLENES: On your retirement from the I'D.
| mniStration Of the Temporary government OF the
| District OF Columbia whose affairs you have 50
ably and satisfactorily controlled for the past four
years, we, the officers and employees thereof do.
prcciStiSh Of the Uniform pc personal al and and oil oiicsl
courtesy and kinduess you have manifested toward
| Us on every occasion, and u assure you OF our
wishes for your abundant future happiness and
prosperity.
Mr.. Cox was directed by the meeting to pre-
sent the lottors to the Commissioners. At
three o'clock the clerks proceeded In body to
| the Office Of the Commissioners, and, In n few
wcl.choscn words tho Water Registrar per-
formed the duty assigned him.
GOVERNOR DESSIsoT
responded for his colleagues and himself. Hc
referred to their long existing official relations
complimented the clerks on the faithfulncss
with which they had performed their duties,
aud declared IL the Commissioners were entitled
| 10 any praise for the success Of their admins
tration of public affairs, no small share of 1t
belonged to their assistants. He received tho
letter with very great pleasure, aud was glad
| to have such a testimonial Of their regard. The
Commissioners would always feel identified
with the interests and welfare of the District ;
they rcjoiced at its present prosperous condi-
| tion aud the more prospective prosperity OF its
future. At tho close Of the remarks there was
q general hand-shaking, and the employees
retired.
ENGINEER HoXIE
held quite a levoe In his office dufing the day,
| and was the recipient of many expressions Of
good will on the part Of his friends and those
with whom he had enjoyed official relations
| He has been faithful. upright officer, and In
the management Of his department ever had
the welfare and bost interests Of tho District
| at heart.
| Mr.. Josiah Dent, ,tho new civil Commissioner,
was at Columbia building during tho day, and
remained an hour or more in consultation
with the retiring board, probably receiving his
first lesson In the management OF municipal
affairs.
| What programme will be laid out by the new
board, who will be sworn In to-day, Is not yet
known but the impression prevails that very
| few, II any, clerical changes will be made and
that In the conduct Of public affairs economy
will prevail and the best interests Of the Dis
| trict be subserved. Time will make manifest
tho contemplated developments.
| THE WATER DEPARTMENT.
| Sometime since tho water registrer Topped
off what ho regarded as extra employees in his
department aud then said that ho should, when
the service would admit, still further reduce
| his payroll. Last Saturday tho following
discharges were made: G. VI. Barton, clerk,
and T.. G. Checks, John Darby, Alex. Dubant,
7. J. Fitzsinimons, C. l.. Freeman, aud ii. b.
Tyler, inspectors This discharge Is not
brought about through any fault Of the men
or manner in which their work has been per-
formed, rs no complaint mas Decn inilc against
them. but tho expenses Of tho department vt
present do not warrant continuing such large
force on duty. This discharge, together with
the previous one, added to the water rent
arrearages collected, will make difference IN
the annual expenses Of that department from
$4,000 to $4,000 or more than enough ia
purchase the new steam pump and stand pipe,
which is quite IN item Of saving to the Dis
trict treasury.
| THE OFFICES TO DE FILLED
To-day the new Commissioners enter upon
their official course of duty, aud many an anx
iOus ear will bo turned in the direction of the
Columbia Buildings Tho subOrdinates all
feel little uneasy although 1t is said that twl
of the incoming rulers have expressed them.
selves as opposed to any changes where officer,
have proven competent and worthy. The ap
pointmcnts TO be made are those Of Health OF
ticcr, School Trustees, Superintendent, or Other
officers for the Police Department. For tht
last named positions there are many applicants
and an effort will be made. II Is said, TO pre-
vent the roappOintment Of some Of the Ole
ones who have proven themselves unworthy
There Is sono uncertainty regarding tn,
management under which police affairs will b,
placed Transfer of tho duties to tho Fir,
Commissioners Is limited at, and In event o
such a step, several parties are ready to pusl
claims for the position OF secretary, which 1t i
thought will pay pretty good salary. A goOt
many think however, that Major Morgan vii