Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-02-06
Although the congressional inquiry into tn
course pursued BY the District Commissioners,


Although the congressional inquiry into the
course pursued by the District Commissioners
in purchasing property for school purposes has
not closed, the announcement is made that the
Commissioners will be exonerated from culpa-
bility in the matter, while the methods prac-
ticed by them will be disapproved.
Whether this is true or not and whatever
the report of the committee may prove to be.
1t is quite certain that the public has made up
its mind in the case; and one point upon which
all are agreed is the fact that the Commission
ers and their friends have been their own
worst enemies throughout the miserable affair,
and that no testimony offered in the case has
been so damaging to them as their own back
ing and filing explanatory confessions
In regard to their official conduct. No
body, so far as this paper knows, has ever
charged or imputed to them any thing criminal
In connection with the matter; nor, in spite Of
their attempts to make it so appear, has there
ever been any thing like spirit of persecution
shown in any stage of the proceedings or in
any quarter. The worst that has been alleged
was improper and indefensible methods in GER
tain transactions, a want Of grasp and firmness
In the conception and discharge of their
general duties, with an occasional expression
that both gentleman referred to had been called
to position for which they had no special fit
ness. All this has been so abundantly estab-
ished by the investigation that it must be ap-
parent to every person capable Of reasoning,
whether entertaining friendly or unfriendly
feelings toward the two central figures in the
affair.
This is most unfortunate result in every re-
spect It is especially unfortunate for, as it
must also be humiliating to, the civil side of
the District government, since 1t has been
officially demonstrated that its members are
lacking in capacity to comprehend the respon-
sibilties Of their high Office, as well as in ability
or disposition to properly discharge its duties.
To this community it is unfortunate, because it
must hereafter feel want of confidence in the
future administration of its affairs by the hands
in which that duty is now reposed.
But even more unfortunate for the Commits
sioners was the effort to create a diversion by
dragging this journal into the matter and at
tributing to it improper and malicious mo-
tives, on account of an alleged business dis
appointment experienced by its publishing
department. Nothing could be farther from
the truth than an insinuation so base and so I'M
founded, as the readers Of the papers all know,
and as Commissioner Wheatley himself well
knew, and as was most conclusively shown by
his own testimony, brought out, to his great
discontinue, a little later on. In the first
place, The STAR had nothing whatever to do
with the investigation in question beyond
laying before the public certain things which
the public had the right to know, and which it
was the duty of paper having the in
terest Of the public in view to make
known; and the member of Congress who
moved the investigation expressly stated in
doing 50 that he was led to that course by one
of the Commissioners own explanation of the
transactions referred to, and not by any
charges or insinuations made in any other
quarter whatever. Furthermore, so far as the
alleged animus of the paper in the case is con-
cerned, Mr.. Wheatley was obliged to swallow
his own words, and admit in effect that it did
not exist, when he subsequently avowed that
the official conduct of himself and his COL
leagues had been frequently and freely criti-
cised in its editorial columns long before the
business letter to which he referred was writ
ten, and in fact before there existed the occa-
sion for writing it.
The trouble with Mr.. Wheatley is that he has
fallen into the error common to little men in
big places,-and shared also, to some extent
by the unthinking portion of the public
the advertising patronage" dispensed by
public officials is thing of vital consequence
to well-established Independent newspaper.
and that the granting or Withholding of such
''favors" has the effect of influencing the ex-
preston OF editorial opinion therein. Mr..
Wheatley Is yet young man, but he is sadly
behind the times in this matter; and if he lives
few years longer and improves his oppor-
tunities he may yet learn many things that will
be useful to him. 1t may ultimately dawn upon
him that newspaper well-grounded in public
confidence cannot hazard that confidence for all
the patronage within the control of any official
or set Of officials on this continent; and when
he impertinently insinuates, as he did, that
TIE STAR has been actuated in this matter by
unworthy motives, he both overrates the i'm
portance of his patronage" whether relative
or positive, and misunderstands or misrepre-
sents the principles and purposes of modern
journalism.
The chief value Of government advertising
in these times lies not in the amount of reve-
nue. 1t yields to a live paper, but in the news
quality contained in official announcements, in
which the public has interest; and it was on
this ground, on the ground that the public by
@~~S~A VI VIC "a" VI SustOHl IN most
places has come to look upon the bestowal of
such advertising as testimonial of widest cir
eulation to the paper receiving it, and on the
ground that the public had the right to have
such announcements printed where they could
be seen, that The STAR framed its communi-
cation on the subject, to which Mr. Wheatley's
pompous ignorance attached SO much conse-
quence.
The truth is,-and this is as good time and
place as any to tell 1.-THE truth is that if
there Is any person or class Of persons to whom
newspapers owe allegiance, in recognition of
patronage" enjoyed, it is to the live, active,
sasscious business men Of the several commu-
mites IN which they are published, and not to
public ofhcials Of any grade. So far as TIE
STARS relations in this respect are concerned.
fairly wel-developed boy can stand in front
OF Its ONCE any day and with sling cast a stone
into the windows Of a number of business
houses the advertising patronage Of any one of
which Is worth many times over that coming
from the District government When any one
Of these customers sends an advertisement To
TIE STAR IL is because the sender believes that
In that way he can get the best return Tor his
money 80 expended, and ON precisely that