Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-01-29
The District C0mmissionership

From the Sunday Herald.
Mr. EDITOR: Why should the President contine
himself to his own party in looking for Commits
soner7 The writer Is, and always has been, a Re-
there are SO many good reasons why this appoint
ment should not be party one that we feel COM
pelle,H, to sdvoeate exception to the custom Of
our own local affairs during the past few years,
while both parties have been represented
| the complaints, charges, and Investigations
common when these oficials were from one
f and has Been resta to our citizens and
dent IS mistake; 1T is relapse: it is going back
to the shortsghted policy of "spos; it is reced-
Ing from the reform which requires appointment
for the fitness OF the officer for his duties; and
while no man worthy Of the Office will be found
without them would be OF little use to us in Con-
gress-yet the appointment OF democrat is step
away from the questionable influence which so
! often governs political patronage. democratic
Commissioner is the representative Of and the
only mouthpece for wealthy and powerful mi
| nority here-not minority In numbers necessa-
riy but solely minority in influence, and who
possibly may be majority In our 10000 people.
Without such representative they have no one
Congress. they have no officer to whom they can
complain or petition with the confidence which
party aton and sympathy thy inspires and the
to us Republicans. TO keep our whole people
satisfied with this nopdescript government which
| never hears the direct voice OF its subjects and
daily illustrates the blessings Of deSpOtsm 1t is
imperative that, until the law is made expressive,
we Shall adhere to the custom Well begun. Let US
make IL unWrftten law; and whatever may be the
experiments yet In store for this garden patch Of
our venerable uncle, and although our voices may
without regard to party, insist (as we believe was
the intention OF the law that one OF our
commissioners shall be from each OF the
two great parties, and that both shall be of the
people familiar with our needs our past history,
and our experience in legislation, taxation oiciai
mistakes and reckless extravaganza The brief
become
our needs and peculiar government, and the six
days in which they consider the interests OF our
with our officials at once that they shall meet an
officer with whom they have party af1lliation, and
In whom they have confidence. Holding our purse
our veal or woe. No argument or representation
coming from officials Of opposite political views
will receive that care and consideration it would
receive II coming from or through political
friend. To get tOlerable consideration even Or
our people and their large interests we must have
sfoner. That Democratic Commissioner will
receive more consideration and have more
influence alt,s1 with the coming Congress will
nardiy be questioned, and should we have a
change In the Executive departments soon his in
fluence there will also be greatest The present
civil Commissioner Is good Republican, but his
acquaintance with peculiar experience in diff
ierent forms OF government; with our people: the
value OF property; our varied Interests; and the
necessarily be limited. We now need a Commits
S1Oner more local than national In hiS character,
and II the President would appoint a democrat he
should be one whose familiarity and acquaintance
with our people, our property and past experience,
and his shrewdness and integrity would be his
competent gentlemen we'll known to the people OF
the District, and by lifelong residence Identified
with its interests could be found. but one, least
has already been named who uniteS all the quail
ncatfons required, In the person OF Mr. William II.
Clagett, who is respected by Republicans as a
Democrat, and who IS alive to the interests Of
people and the needs OF the nations Capital.
REPUBLICAN.