Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-09-23
The District Situation.

The District situation.
It's undoubtedly the fact that previous to
the Presidents departure for the west he had
decided to make speedy change In the board
of District Commissioners; to the extent, at
least, of one member. 1t appears that In COM
ing to this conclusion he was influenced by
what seemed, from many complaints. to be
Wide-s spread dissatisfaction with the present
administration OF District affairs. The fault
finding has grown TO big volume. There is no
end OF complaint OF the management of the
water department. There Is dissatisfaction In
regard to what seems TO be extraordinary priv
neges granted to paving contractors, in allow
ing them to take their time In the execution OF
contracts, and In permitting them to carry
Oh their asphalt boiling nuisances In the
cheapest, crudest, and most offensive form
In the center OF the city. 1t is complained that
the Commissioners allow the telegraph compa-
MES to plant huge, unsightly, rneouth trunks
OF trees Iacetiously called '.polesa along the
streets in way TO damage property, and that
the property-holderS have no redress It is
cOmplained that there Is a general want of
system, energy SNAP" In the prosecution of
Wofk.-that, for instance, in the matter Of the
erection OF the school buildings authorized by
Congress the Commissioners have dawdled over
the plans until the contractor has thrown I'D
his contract In consequence OF the increased
cost OF building materials. There is complaint
OF deterioration In the scavenger service-that
the garbage Is not collected adequately, and
that the contractor is allowed to cart it
through the streets in open barrels, In
stead OF III odOrless receptacleS as formerly.
There is complaint of inef1ciency and blunder-
Ing In the law department OF the District gov
eminent, by which the Commissioners have
been misled. as in the case of the recent water
regulations upset by the courts; In the cases of
the disputes between the board and the Treas
ury and the Interior departments; and In the
case OF the Illegal increase of the salary of their
legal adviser. 1t Is complained that the general
expenses Of the District government are too
heavy for the government of so small a commu-
nifty; that District people have not a fair show
In the appointments; that the recommendations
OF congressman and one or two wealthy citi-
ZeDs Of Washington, together with the personal
leanirgs OF Commissioners towards old .chums"
have Influenced appointments; that In this way
places, some OF them sinecures, have been
found for fossils and 'nincumpoops." 1t Is
complained that the board are autocratic,
bureaucratic, not easily approachable, and
that citizens who have grievances are snubbed.
The list might be extended, but these are sam
pies OF the burden Of complaint
Much of the fault-fnding Is doubtless unjust,
and Is such as any municipal administration
some time In Office is pretty sure to Incur But
the President appears to have come to the con-
clusion that on the whole the administration
OF District affairs was not reasonably satisfac-
tory to the people, and that some change should
be made to secure more popular government.
Capt. Phelps, as the president Of the board.
and as the Oldest In Office Of the members,
has naturally drawn the most of the
fire Of complaint, and 1t is understood
that In reconstruct1ng the board his
place was the first to be filled. 1t
Is learned, however. that the President has
recons1cered the purpose OF making an 1mme-
diate peremptory change In the board. The
considerations that induced him to suspend
action were doubtless the representations made
to him of the injustice that would be done to a
Commissioner by removing him summarily
from An Office to which he had been appointed
Tor q liked term. 1t was doubtless urged that
such removal would be direct imputatton
upon the official integrity of the Commissioner,
and should be based only upon the results OF an
investigation into his official conduct upon
charges preferred. Now, though the COM
plants made against the Commissioners have
Deem numerous, there Is no charge whatever,
we believe, OF want of integrity against them.
or any one OF them. Whatever their faults of
commission or omission, it will be admitted that
their financial administration has been entirely
honorable. Those who should know, too
say that In making q change it might
be very easy to do worse; that In fact
In the chorus OF fault-finding the real ex-
ecuttve capacity Of Captain Phelps and his
colleagues has been very much underest1mated.
At any rate, there Is justice In the representa-
ton that any change in the board should be
made In way not to sehect upon the integrity
OF the members. Should there, however, be no
improvement In the health Of Capt. Phelps it
Is PROBABLE that he will by bis resignation afford
soiutlon OF the difficulty. 1t Is understood
that his present condition is not reassurtnp
and that he will soon leave the city for the Hot
Springs OF Arkansas In quest OF relief.