National Republican., 1883-03-31
The District Commissioners.

The opinions of newspapers are not pro.
mulgatcd in the news of the day. The readers
of them expect to be informed of what is
going on, and the current events of the times
are recorded upon the information received.
1t is to be regretted that among other inter-
osting matters of news, it often occurs that
disputes will be found between gentlemen of
high official standing A newspaper is not
called upon to enter into each con-
troversy of that kind, but when it
states what is made to seem correct,
and is severely censured for it, the reporter
who made the statement is usually permitted
to give the reasons on which it was based 1t
is unfortunate that difference has occurred
between our district commissioners. The fact
and its supposed causes were stated in our
news columns ofThursday. Commissioner Ed
monds takes issue with portions of the state.
ment.
So long as the orders of the commission are
executed, it really does not greatly mat
ter who does the work. We feel sure that
neither side to the controversy will allow the
public interests to suffer on account of it,
Each commissioner is worthy the public con-
fidence, and neither of them will ask the
public TO concern itself over any individual
| grievance. II is entirely possible that the
first distribution of duties by the written
order of the board would have been adhered
to but for the fact that Maj Morgan was
an expert in police matters, and that
these, by common consent, went to him
without any formal change of the order
! When Mr.. Dent was succeeded by Gen. West,
the latter was disappointed that the usage
which had grown up concerning this and
other matters was confirmed bya vote of
the board in lieu of an order re-establishing
the original division of duties. The latter or
der would, ifit had been adopted have stripped
Maj. Morgan of some of the duties he had
! been performing, and might have been con-
strued into reflection on him. At least
this was doubtless the feeling which prompted
Maj. Lydecker to decline voting for it.. Gen.
West thought this reduced him to n cipher,
and was much annoyed by it. When Mai.
Morgan was succeeded by Mr.. Edmonds Gen.
West no doubt thought the natural thing
would be for the extra duties assumed by the
former to return to the president of the board,
to whom they had been assigned when the
commission was first organized. But tho
other commissioners appeared to think that,
as they had been so assumed while Dent was
president, and continued by vote under
Vests presidency out of Difference to Morgan,
it would be slightupon the latters successor
to make change. Maj Lydccker was
obliged to meet the case and decide by his
vote whose expectations, in this regard, were
the most reasonablc-thosc of Gen. West or
those of Mr., Edmonds With his decision,
which no one will doubt was honestly made,
we have nothing to do. All the pub
lie wants is that every law shall bo
executed and every order of the board exc
cuted promptly and thoroughly. In this each
commissioner will certainly corporate. Gen.
West deserves well of our people. He has
great sagacity, much experience in affairs,
a clear head, and an honest purpose. SO have
his colleagues. Neither one is on trial. We
hope all three will sustain each other,
and that timo will convince Gen. West
that his associates had no intention of,
as they could have had no motive
for, humiliating him by their action. As
to what really was done tho readers of
The REPUBLICAN will be able to judge for
themselves, by the evidence before them,
whether Mr.. Edmonds had any reason for his
somewhat heated statement that its report
contained but two grains of truth to bushel
of misstatement.