Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-08-21

For some days there have been rumors afloat
concerning disagreement between the members
o. the board of District Commissioners and va
rlous conflicting statements about the matter
have been published The following is believed
TO De an accurate narrative OF the affair:
AT meeting Of the Commissioners held Monday
14th inst, Commissioner West submitted paper
to the board proposing reorganization OF the as
S1gnment OF the various departments as they now
stand This plan Of reorganization proposed to place
the affairs Of the Fire, Police and Health depart
mentS; the telegraph and telephone service OF the
District government; the bureaus OF the tax col
lector and the AUDITOR the coroner and his office;
the Washington asylum and workhouse; the po-
lice control of all street and steam railroads, under
the special charge OF the president (West) OF the
board. The health officer to be charged with the
cleaning and sweeping Of the streets, alleys and
sewers, and with the prohibition and abatement
Of nuisanceS, subject to the control OF the prest
dent Of the board. The affairs Of the public
schools heretofore under the control Of the pres-
dent OF the board, were to be assigned to COmmiS-
Sioner Morgan.
The most notable feature OF this plan, it will be
seen, was the transfer from Commissioner Morgan
OF the police health and fire departments to Com
missioner West, and from Engineer Commissioner
Lydecker OF the cleaning and sweeping OF the
streets and alleys to the health officer, all Of
which-polica. fire, health and street sweeping
1t was claimed by Commissioner West that by
an order made by the board of commissioners in
1873 these departments were assigned to the pres-
dent of the board; that that order had not been
rescinded, land that therefore they belonged to him
as president Of the board. On a careful examina-
tion OF the record order was found entered at
the first meeting held after the appoint ment Of
Commissioner Morgan, at which all of the three
Commissioners were present, namely. Messrs.
Dent, Twining and Morgan, in which order it was
directed that the duties of supervision over the
departments of police, fire and health, heretofore
assigned to the president of the board-Captain
Phelps-by the Commissioners, be transferred to
Commissioner Morgan. Under this order Commits
sioner Morgan has since had special charge of
these departments.
Major Lydecker objected to any change being
made in the assignment OF the work, and eSpe-
clally that proposing to transfer to Mr.. est the
police fire, health, and street and alley cleaning.
The discussion OH these points was full and free,
and when the two members, Lydecker and Nor
gan, refused to concur in the pro yram Commits
sioner West said he would withdraw from any
further action with his colleagues, and that he
was going away and would not return until the
remaining Commissioners had reorganized the
work of the District government. He would
demand, however, that the chief of po-
lice, chief engineer Of the fire department,
and health officer be removed at once, which de-
mand was not acceded to, and Mr.. West withdrew
from the deliberations Of the board, and the re-
naming members proceeded to complete their
work. The board then adjourned. AS Commls-
sioner West withdrew from the room he remarked
to Commissioner Morgan that he was going away.
and would not return as long he (Morgan) re-
mained in the board: that either he would have
to go or Morgan. He reminded Commissioner
Morgan that he had promised to stand by him, to
which remark Mr.. Morgan replied that he would
with great pleasure in all proper things but that
he would not surrender his individual judgment in
reference to the administration of public affairs to
any man.