Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-10-31

| that faithful, ef6cient and honest officer will
| not be dismissed for the sole reason that he il
q democrat or republican"
When Major Raymond was approached by q
saying that he had nothing further TO say on
the question.
COMMISSIONER DOUGLASS
In speaking to STAR reporter said. "when the
order Of yesterday was prepared, drafted and
the board adopted, paragraph 8; the necessity
for which will appear to the officers in the Dis
| trict building much more forcibly than to
Others Paragraph 4, or the political fulmina-
ton, was Objectionable not only for the
reason-which was business one-that gave
yesterday, but it is Objectionable for two other
considerations: First. The District COM
mission was not organized to pro-
nounce upon abstract problems, whether
OF sentimental or practical politics
Second There is o danger Of paragraph four
oeing misunderstood, either as q covert criti-
cism upon the past action Of the present Dis
trict administration Involving, more or less,
the reputation OF the national administration,
or an ingenious attempt at the obstruction Of
possible future actions. This would be unfair
to ourselves and discourteous to others. OF
course nothing Of this kind was intended; but
| the possible Misunderstanding shows the danger
OF executive officers making incursions into the
regions OF legislative jurisdiction or political
economy"
VIEWS OF cIrIzENs
Lawrence Sands said he thought it would be
great mistake to allow politics to run the
District government He said be thought IL
politics were allowed to run the District govern
ment Congress would take away its support
and that the government should be run on
civil service principles.
mond was on the right track; that inasmuch as
suffrage was denied the citizens Of Washington
politics should form no part whatever in the
management Of District affairs.
Mr.. b. II. Warner, president Of the Columbia
national bank, said II regard the system of
largely clothed with humbug. Government
Office ought to be run on business principles and
not entirely given out as q reward for political
services 1 am republican and believe that
to certain extent To the victors belong the
spoils,' but think that business qualifications
ought to DO considered every time and
that a man should not be put in
Office simply because he can make Q
speech or is a frst-class ward manipulation
believe when q vacancy occurs an officer
efficiency in the particular position where his
services are to be used. There are many
virtues about civil service and also many OBJ
jections. We will now take case where q man
in Office proves himself efficient. am decid-
eddy opposed to his being put out for purely
u
ought to be retained unless there is some
personal reason that he should be dispensed
with. The executive officer who is held re-
sponsible for the success of his administration
ought not however, to be tied down by any
cast iron rules. think it would be God send
for any young man TO get out Of Office, bnt
where man has been faithful and given Q
large portion of his life to the work of the gov
eminent he ought to be treated with the same
consideration as is extended to employees in
business institutions. Business is business"
c. B. Church said: II heartily endorse Major
Raymond's position. think that all political
questions should be eliminated from the Dis
trict government. What We need is business
men who will look after our interests and let
politics alone"
Chas H. Parker said he thought Commits
sioner Douglass was right in his action. He
said he was a spokesman and believed that the
party in power should have the Offices.
Philip n. Dwyer said: Il am heartily in favor
OF District affairs being run by republican bus
mess men who fought for the success Of the
republican party and who are perfectly capa-
BILE of carrying out the affairs Of the District,
Notwithstanding the high opinion l have of
Maj. Raymond as an executive and engineer
officer, which he has proven by his past admin
istraton."
Collector Davis said: 'The theory of the
District government is that it is non-partisan
On that theory think the clerks should be
selected with view to efficiency and compe-
tency."
Mr.. 8. C. Clarke makes the following COM
ment:
1.-The order contains the following rule as
unanimously adopted by the board: q. No
removal from Office shall be made until tho
vote of the Commissioner in charge Of the de-
partment to which the Office belongs, for or
against such removal, has been duly recorded.
Should the two civilian Commissioners earn
estly desire to displace a clerk Of the water de-
partment and vote accordingly, if the Engineer
Commissioner should prefer not to vote, his non
action would control and subordinate the action
Of the majority. The one, saying and doing
nothing, would be superior to the emphatic
voice and the vote Of the other two"
Perry Carson happened in at the District
buildings today and in conversation with a
STAR reporter upon the action of the
Commissioners in passing the order rela-
tive to appointments said: 1.-The action
OF the Commissioners ID their own business,
II they don't change some Of the officers here
why they know best. They are Caesars, but
between you and me, will have to get some
stronger cigars to smoke when come into this
building to kill the odor of democracy. 1t is
terrible"
Have you given up all hopes of securing an
Officer asked the reporter. '1reckon have" he
replied ~ have served the republican party
faithfully since 1864 and if they do not
recognize all l have done, why it cannot
be helped. shall continue to serve the grand
old party. This is the last day of the license
year, and have not filed an application for
liquor license. I'm going out OF the whiskey
business and try real estate"
LAWYER AND POLICEMAN.