The Washington critic., 1889-03-20
S!QNIlf fLl(Il3ilE( NNl IN
ASSESSOR FISH REMOvED.
An Important Change at the District
Government Buildings.

An Important Change at the District
Government Buildings.
Al a 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.
"3. That Alexander III. Mccormick, IT,,
is hereby appointed clerk at $l,5oO per
annum.
~. That Daniel Curry is hereby appointed
a clerk at 81 200 per annum."
The Commissioners were non-committal
about the removal Of Mr.. Fish. II was
learned that thcy.did not approve OF some
OF Mr.. Fish's actions In discussing District
matters in public that were clearly ques-
tions for themselves.
They declined to go into particulars, but
II is well known that these questions were
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 s'shall not exceed
81 80 ON the $100.n lie argued from this
that they had the power to place the rate at
any figure lower than S1.50, but could not
go beyond'that sum. His persistence was
regarded az unbecoming in respect toward
his superiors, and as arrogating 10 himself
o 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 q
letter he received from an official In one Of
tho Departments, which sustained his atti-
tude toward the Commissioners. This was
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
he Assessor.
Commissioners Wheatley,w y,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 tho
principal ground. Mr.. Webb was also
seen; he intimated that the reason was as
stated. lie did not wish, however, to say
anything about IL.
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
uent lor u nuinper VI years, anu nus rti-
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 $l,400
clerkship has 'beenemployed for some time
in the Secretarys 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 a CRITIC
reporter for over five years, and established
reputation for energy, promptness and
accuracy. His appointment came to him
unsolicited