National Republican., 1888-04-25
The District Government.

EDITOR NATIONAL REPUBLICAN: As u mem.
Der of the Citizens Committee OF one Hundred
! desire to say that have cndeavored to con
slider impartially the bill proposed by that
committee for the government Of the District
Many animadversions have been published
assailing its provisions. II has been kicked
and cuffed from many sides, but 1t seems to
me that II has not been fairly treated. As
look at IL. the central idea of the bill Is TO so
change the law that the executive of the Dis
trict shall be single officer and not triple
executive as now. Why should the District
be made the stalking horse of Il system which
has never worked well, and has been repudi.
ated wherever 1t has been tried; BY the state
ment Of the commissioners which have ap'
peared IN the press of the city the system Is
condemned. refer to the notable instance
where the officer solemnly sworn to execute
the law was the very one who disregarded II.
In the teeth of an injunction of the District
court TO restrain the commissioners from
making Il road through the German cemetery
grounds, one of the commissioners per.
sisted in making the road regardless of the
Injunction OF the court, thus furnishing the bad
example of setting the law, at defiance. Com
ceiyed the injunction Of the court, and sup
posing that copy oi 1t had been sent to the
other commissioners sent u to the attorney
for the District. Commissioner Ludlow not
knowing that an injunction had been issued,
proceeded with the work of making the road
In serene disregard Of the mandates Of the
law. Is not this explanation OF the cOmnS-
siorers an indictment Of the bad system under
which the District Is now governed! Does
any sensible man suppose that II Comnls-
SiUner webb had been the sole executive otii'
Ger of the District such miserable blundcr
would have, occurred, There Is, nobody who
believes il, but II becomes possible under the
triple executive System which rules here. If
such blunder could occur under so careful
and capable an officer as Commissioner WeDh,
what may not be expected when he Is sue
cceded by an officer who may not be SO care
ful and so capable
Every state territorial, and municipal GOV.
eminent IN the United states except the Dis
trict of Columbia. has single executive head
to see that the laws are faithfully enforced
Why should this District alone have different
and a less efficient system than all others:
II any good and sufficient reason exists why
this triple, executive government for the Dis
trlct should be continued would be glad to
the fear that some unknown danger may be
incurred II change hould be attempted, no
sufficient reason has been adduccd showing
why the proposed change should not be made,
The lmnented President Lincoln once said
that he would rather entrust an army TO one
bad general than to two good ones, Under
concentration of effort, while under two com,
manders there might be two good plans of
campaign, hut unity of effort would be i'm
possible, and confusion and defeat would rc,
suit Has not experience shown that many of
| our dinicultcs are the result of our triple exec
utivcy
Men and brethren, lot us exercise our com
mon sense; let us abandon the triple executive
system, which the commissioners have shown
Ms Is mistake, and let us unite in an effort to
have single person exercise the functions
| of executive officer of this District. The Citi
zens Committee deserve commcndatol
rather than Ccnsure for their wcl-considercd
effort to secure a better system of govern
ment for the District. If il be true that moth
ing is ever settled until II Is settled right" ;" LET
| Us sustain them in this effort,
\, NJ. GANGIwER,
of sixth District,