The Washington critic., 1889-03-20
S'0lNl{ {Al[Il5ilE[ NS( lllIEN
ASSESSOR FISH REMOVED.
An Important Change nc the District
GOvernment HulIdInga.

An Important Change nc the District
Government Buildings.
At board meeting held yesterday after
noon the Commissioners promulgated the
following order:
"Ordered, that Roswell A. Fish is hereby
removed from the Office of Assessor for the
District OF Columbia, to take effect from
this date.
"2. That Roger Williams is hereby ap.
pointed Assessor for the District OF Colum-
bia, TO take effect from this date.
49, That Alexander II. Mccormick, jr.,
is hereby appointed clerk ut 81 400 per
~. That Daniel Curry is hereby appointed
clerk at 81 200 per annum."
The Commissioners were non-committal
about the removal OF Mr.. Fish. II was
learned that they did not approve of some
OF Mr. Fish's actions In discussing District
matters In public that were clearly ques-
tioDs for themselves.
They declined to go into particulars, but
II is well known that these questions we're
In relation to the assessment Of property.
He insisted that the Commissioners had the
right to reduce the taxes, as the language
in the assessment act passed by Congress In
1873 stated that the rate "shall not exceed
$3.50 on the $780," He argued from this
that they had the power TO place the rate at
any figure lower than sl,50, but could not
go beyond that sum. His persistence was
regarded as uDbecoming In respect toward
his superiors, and as arrogating to himself
! n sense OF authority that did not become
his official relationship with the Commits
sioners.
The breach was widened on Monday last
by Mr.. Fish giving out for publication a
letter he received from an official In one OF
the Departments, which sustained his atti-
m Ia tnxs ar1 fh. tnstNt Ia
q kind of "a last straw" to the Commits
sioners. The letter referred to was read
and commented on In the board meeting,
and II was decided to summarily remove
the Assessor.
Commissioner Wheatley when questioned
regarding the matter, did not care TO dis
cuss the causes governing the action Of the
board, but he admitted that Mr.. Fish's at
titude toward the Commissioners was the
principal ground. Mr.. Webb was also
seen; he intimated that the reason was as
stated. He did not wish, however, to say
anything about It,
The new assessor, Mr.. Roger Williams,
is lawyer, and his intimate knowledge Of
District law has been found invaluable to
the Commissioners on many occasions.
Mr.. Williams is 35 years of age, of medium
height, and was born in New York, and has
been In the employ Of the District Govern
ment for number of years, and has rem
dered valuable service in the executive
office, special assessment division and on
general assessments, and has always been
regarded as an exceptionally accurate and
efficient clerk.
Mr.. Fish was Assistant Assessor Of the
District under Assessor VIM. p. Dodge.
He resigned this position to accept that of
Assistant Register of the Treasury. He re-
signed this appointment about two years
ago to accept the Office of Assessor Of the
District.
Mr.. Mccormick, promoted to 81, 400
clerkship, has been employed for some time
in the Secretary's office. Mr.. Curry, ap-
pointed to 81 200 position, has been con-
nected with several Of the city papers for
number Of years. He has been CRITIC
reporter for over five years, and established
reputation for energy, promptness and
accuracy. His appointment came TO him
unsolicited.