National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-03-18

Let the Good work Go On.

The police department has at last opened
its records to public inspection. This is ono
step in tho right direction, but it is a short
one. There was never any reason why the
public should be refused access to those rec
ords Neither was there, nor is there, any
good reason why the records of any depart
mont of the district government or the
Official acts of any Of the district officials
should be kept secret. Tho reform has begun
in the Office Of the chief Of police. IL should
have begun in tho Office of the district COM
missioners, aud it ought to extend through
every department. There is no more reason
why the district commissioners should sit
with closed doors than for the common coun-
Gil of Now York or Philadelphia to hold
secret sessions. Tho fullest information as
to the manner in which we are governed and
the way in which our money is spent is our
undoubted right.
Over 100000 is expended annually in
this district by and under the direction of the
district commissioners. These commission.
crs assume the right to keep their actions a
profound secret for year. Then, after the
money is all spent, they make meagor
report from which we may or may not dis
cover what they have DONE The time for
tho citizens to know what the commissioners
are doing is when they arc doing
it, Then, If tho commissioners are
extravagant, impracticabe, or dishonest,
objection can be made to thoir course. OBJ
lection can be made with such force that no
commissioner dare disregard it. In every
other great city in tho nation tho meetings
of city councils are open TO everybody and
tho proceedings are reported fully in tho
newspapers. The people are informed as we'll
of what is proposed to be done as what is
done. If the people do not like the thing
proposed they say So and the wholesome
effect of public sentiment is felt in every
municipal governing body except ours. 1t is
not so in Washington.
Recently the commissioners proposed to
make the most radical change in the entire
system Of taxation in this city. They con-
suited with u few leading men in several
branches of business. 1t was only because
some of these men spoke about it that news
paper reporters heard # it aud gave the
scheme to the public. This was matter of
the most vital interest to every citizen of
Washington, yet while these star chamber
sessions and conferences of the commissioners
and few business men were going on every
reporter who inquired at the commissioners
office for news was met with the stereotyped
reply, Nothing of interest to the public"
or with tho important information that lamp
post had boon ordered to beput up in front Of
John Smiths house, or some such valuable
news. What can the commissioners be doing
in these secret sessions if the matters con-
sidered are not of public interest? If pub
lie officials arc considering matters Of private
interest the public have the right to know
Of that fact and to object.
All sessions of the commissioners ought to
be open. Every public record ought to be
accessible. If the commissioners or other
officials persist in carrying on the public
business in secret congress should compel
them to open their doors and their books.
Tho great evil in this district is the ire
sponsibility of its government to its citizens,
The tendency of men in authority is to grow
into a feeling that they are a law unto them
selves, and to act accordingly. This ten
| dcncy is intensified in a place with such an
anomalous government as that ruling the
District of Columbia. Men who are in theiI
official functions the creatures Of law for
mulate rules aud make constructions outside
of the law, and observe their own creations
with degree of strictness they deny to tn,
statutes under which they hold power. The
servants of tho people consider themselves
the masters, and spit upon those who ar,
taxed to pay for their bread. The NATIONAL
REPUBLICAN has nothing but words of com
mendation for officials who do their duty
without forgetting the just rights Of the citi
zens but it will not cease to make war upoi
the petty official arrogance with which th
city has been so afflicted.