National Republican., 1883-04-02
COMMISSIONER WEST.
His Views on the Duties and Responsibilities Of
the President of the Board,
Tho Recent Controversy-Th VIII Nc
No Hating In Needed Reforms.


had to say. reporter was accordingly sent
to that gentleman last Saturday and he was
asked If he was willing to state his side of the
controversy.
al have no objection, ;" said the interrogated
official, "to answer any questions which may
seem to touch tho public interests. Pro-
pound"
"What about your dignity, Mr.. Commits.
sioner that some people insist has been en-
croached upon" asked the reporter.
I" am not so much concerned about my
dignity as some people insist upon supposing
Had that been in question, would have taken
a rebuke as patiently as my sense of self re-
spect would permit, but there was n much
more serious question to my conception be-
hind all that and one, too, intimately con-
cerning the interests of the good government
of the district"
"Well, you seem to indicate that other than
personal considerations have influenced your
action?"
al should hope so. A man should discharge
the duties of public Office regardless of per-
sonal considerations"
"Of course, but what about the considera-
tions of public character which have iniu-
enced youY
perhaps | should trouble you too much
were to give expression to my view"
"THE REPUBLICAN, will be the judge of
that. Go on"
"All right Let us assume then that q
commissioner learned in the law, whose OK
pericnce had tended to qualify him for dealing
with and determining the multifarious legal
questions, involving the interests of the peo-
pie of the district, and who had given eight
months earnest study TO such matters, es-
pecially to pending questions litigating be-
fore tho courts, the determination of which
affected the public pocket, held Office
and was, according TO his best ability, pro-
tecting the interest of the people. A new
commissioner Is appointed whose experience
has been greatly different whose field of ac-
tion has been mostly executive, who is not u
lawyer, and should with great diilidonCc
claim to be as competent to deal with the sub
iect under the control of his associate as he,
especially when great interests are pendingat
the moment. The new conner prOnOunces his
verdict that he is the better lawyer, and that
he caI9 without experience of the past or ac-
quaintance with the present subject-matter,
better conduct affairs entirely novel to him,
and he takes hold of the helm, remitting his
associate TO duties, the responsibility of
which he feels should be confded elsewhere,
and which he assumes under compulsiou."
"You seem to think that your associate
and yourself are not III your right places in
the district government
ITO this extont l may not be able to per-
form executive duty any better than he, but
certainly he ought to be more able to preside
over departments where legal training is es-
sential than | can"
But why did you decline the presidency
when your associates so plainly manifested
their wish that you should retain it?"
"That brings up the whole question of how
] think this triumvirate should be conducted
with u view to producing the most satisfactory
results. No man in congress is better con-
versant with the affairs of this district than
Senator Aldrich. In commenting upon its
1,a pn,1
tory abounds in examples of failures of forms
of government in which executive power is
vested in several hands, by whatever name
they may be known. % When the re-
sponsibiiity for all acts is distributed among
several keen sense is felt by none"
at is preposterous to suppose that tho
district government can be conducted by
three in one. Each commissioner must have
his allotted duties, attend to the details, sub
ject to the control in general of n majority of
the three whenever an appeal from his action
is taken or when the board cOnsllts as TO his
intended action. From the day the commits
sion entered upon its duties in June, 1873,
this has been admitted to be a necessity, and
the present commissioners have recently con-
frmed and arc now acting under that
method"
Eyes, but how does that affect the presi-
dcncy"
Better ask how does the presidency of
the board affect that method? The president
should review all the correspondence daily.
This keeps him informed of all that is going
ON in all branches of tho government; en-
ables him to assign each communication TO
the particular commissioner or officer in
trusted with the subject. The president is
the first person asked for; grievances are laid
before him demands and requests are made
of him. Tho subjects that most interest his
callers are their personal rights and safety.
ia ln Uun nf
the security Of their property from con-
tlagration; this the fire department effects.
Third, the health of their persons and tho gem
eral salubrity of tho city are their next con-
cern. Protection here lies with the health
department, and all three of these depart
ments, police, fire. and health, arc intcrde-
pendent III their management, and must be
controlled by one commissioner, and certainly
by the one with whom the people come most
in contact, ask for and expect relief and pro-
lection from, without any second hand reicrs
cnce to an associate"
"Then you did not want the presidency
without those powersY
"What forY to merely be the medium of re-
ferring nearly all callers to an associate for
redress, and to be held responsible in public
estimation for what / could not directly rom
cdy? No man should have the shadow of
power and the substance Of responsibility
laid upon him. Without the power the re.
sponsiblity was too great, and | declined it.
1t has been conferred somewhere else and
acting up to my convictions of what was best
for the interest of the people of the district,
! made way for the man TO whom the power
was given"
"Yes; but you do not appear to have voted
for Mr.. EdmondsW
That might bring up some personalities
that were unpleasant. But ] did, at the mo-
ment of the assignment to him of the duties
spoken OF, move that he should be made pres.
ident at once. This was declined, and so was
my resignation. After waiting three days, [
had no other course to pursue but to decline
acting any longer as president and COuhde
the responsibility where IL belongs
Have you any idea that there will bo any
haltng in the needed reiormsY
at does not look likoit If thought that
there would bo would not stay in the board
either rs president or private. / have as
much right 10 measure the capacity of my
associates rs they have mine. think that
they have put the cart before the horse-they
think the team is all right, but il shall be run
any way to some purpose either end first as
long as | am part of it, Tho first commits
siOners placed the powers so recently con-
tended for in the hands Of the president of
the board-they thought that was the best
way to conduct the government in the inter
ests of the people think so, too, and | have
followed their example, Whatever duties
are specially conGded to me shall attond to
with fidelity, and my associates can count ON
my cordial cooperation in All matters whore
advice and counsel are required OF me, ana |
shall ask for aud expect theirs i'm. return"
Yes, but what Is your logic with reference
TO the other departments of the government