Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-08-23
THE JARRlNG COMMISSIONERS.

THE COURSE OF GEN. wEST-wHAT Mr.. SYPHER
sAYs-ALL Mr. WEST WANTS Is TO SECURE HON.
EsTY AND EFFICIENCY" IN THE DISTRICT GOV
ERNMENT-HIS PLAN SUBMITTED TO AND INDoRsED
BY THE PRESIDENT-IF THE PRESIDENT sUSTAINs
HIS ACTION He WILL GO AHEAD-IF NOT HE CAN
DRAW HIS SALARY WITH GRACE AND EASE AND
DO NOTHING
Commissioner j. r. West is in New London.
Conn.,, with his daughter, and is not expected
back Immediately. His friends say that he has
not seen the President since he left the city, but
that the President is fully informed to what he
has done. EX-COngresSman, j. Hale Sypher,
of louisiana, who is an intimate friend OF Gen.
Vests, said TO STAR reporter to-day that this is
not Mr.. Vests fight, but the administrations, and
that Mr.. West, having submitted his plan for
securing honesty and efficiency - in the District
government, Will await the action Of the Presi-
dent III the latter supports him in his plans, he
will at once begin to carry them out; but If not.
he can draw his salary with much grace and ease,
and take no further part in the government In
taking this position he had regard first for his
own reputation and then for that OF the adminiS-
tration which appointed him to Office, and he was.
or allowing the present careless, inefficient system
ID vogue In the District government to continue.
WHAT COMMISSIONER WEST DISCOVERED.
He had not been in office but few days when he
began to make discoveries which convinced him
that If the present conduct the District govern
nesSlike. He found that employees were retained
after the appropriations for their pay had been
exhausted, and they were paid from other appro-
priati0nS that contracts We're approved before
the appropriations were made and that a general
loOSeneSS OF management characterized the entire
Office. He told Cabinet officer of the condition
OF things in this District and was advised by the
latter TO go and inform the President Mr.. West
replied that he did not consider 1t his duty run
to the President with such matters, but Ia a few
days he received request from the President 50
call and see him. Mr.. West did so and had an in
teryiew OF two hours with the President, during
which he explained the situation and what he pro-
posed TO do. Mr. Sypher understands that Mr..
west submitted the same plan for reorganization
or The District government TO the President which
he afterwards submitted to the Commissioners,
ana that the former approved OF it. He had in
tehtlon OF making political capital from these
Changes. but he was actuattd by desire to secure
''honeSty ana efficiency" in the government.
Mr.. Sypher says that Mr. West is
BACKED IN THE MATTER BY THE PRESIDENT,
and II the President chooses to cast aside these
efforts made In the interest Of "honesty and eff
cency," the responsibility must rest with him and
not with Mr.. West. He thinks that great injustice
has been done Mr.. West by the papers OF the Dis
tr1ct and that when his side of the story is heard
there Will be a change in public sentiment. This
SIDE Will be heard before long and the people OF
the District made acquainted with some facts
which Will surprise them. Mr. West he says, has
discovered evils in the present system, and pro-
posed q plan Tor their reform. His opponents have
only decried this plan, and not proposed anything
in its place.