Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-05-17

Inc PROOF OF the pudding is in the eating,
and the virtues Of new District Commissioners
can be fully appreciated only from the obser-
vation of what they do officially when put to
the test But the Districts prospects under its
new municipal officers are in the highest degree
encouraging. The President has performed his
duty Of appointment with thoughtful and wise
discrimination. and the great body Of District
citizens, including those who have favored
other candidates for these Offices, are satisfied
that their interests have been intrusted to hon.
est. capable and safe men, and are pleased both
at the fact that the long controversy over the
matter has come to an end and at the manner
in which it has ended.
The first specific requirement Of model Dis
trict Commissioners after that of the possession
Of honesty and general capacity is identified
ton with the District and its interests, and this
requirement is fairly met by the new APP
pointees. Both have resided for many years
In this city, and concerning neither of them
can it be said that he is District citizen for
Office only. Mr.. Hine has been prominent in
local affairs, has a wide circle of acquaintance
and Is Intimately acquainted with the needs of
the District. Mr.. Douglass has not been SO
active in local concerns and his circle of local
acquaintance is narrower but all his inte tests
are those Of citizen Of Washington.
The second requirement upon which stress
has been laid is that in the appointment of
Commissioners the pr 'spect of fair treatment
In the matter of impro ements and protection
OF local interests should be given to all the Sec
tiOns of the city. Both Of the new Commits
sioners indicate that their policy will be to ad-
vance the city as a whole, and not be one of
narrow, sectional discrimination. Mr. Douglass
Resides in the western section of the city. Mr..
liine has lived in s 'uth Washington, and now
has his home outside Of the city limits, in the
eastern section of the District Ability
as speakers to present the Districts
needs to committees Of Congress has also
been specified a requirement Both
OF the new Commissioners as lawyers are trained
speakers. Both are men of pleasing manners
and address. Attention has been called to the
importance Of preventing the use of the Dis
frlct government as a mere political machine
The fact that extreme partisans on both Sides
while cOncedIng the personal fitness of the new
Commissioners from their respective parties
are inclined TO complain that they have not
been active politically, and are not prominent
representatives of the two parties in Washing
ton. gives promise of an administration which
viii put District interests before partisan inter-
ests, and which will be in position to present
the needs of the District without political en-
barrassment to the representatives of both par
ties in Congress-
Perhaps no Commissioners ever entered upon
their official duties with better opportunities to
win or confirm the respect and regard of the
people of the District. The administration of
their immediate predecessors will furnish an
admirable background, showing to full advan-
tage every wise and vigorous act for the public
welfare upon which they may determine. The
opportunity is open to them of being courteous
and cOnsiderate in manner, without lacking
backbone in time of action; of knowing what is
done IN the departments under their charge and
not merely Of refraining from personal wrong
doing, but OF discovering and correcting the
wrong-doing of subordinates. Not only NAV
they earn the gratitude of the people OF the
capital by intelligent and energetic efforts to
correct. by securing new legislation, some Of
the evils under which it labors or to advance
Its general interests; but in contrast with the
weakness, the ineficiency, and the active faults
of their predecessors, they can make their ad-
ministratiOn notable merely by strict enforce
ment of existing law,-against corporations as
against individuals, and against the wealthy as
against the poor and uninAuential, and by i'm
Partially between the sections and between
conflicting interests or cliques