Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-07-05
There exists and has long existed among The

There exists and has long existed among The
people Of Washington the feeling that the Dis
trict Commissioner selected from the armv is
given BY law or custom too great power in the
plan Of local government. and the manner in
which this power has been exercised and as
serted by some of the predecessors of the
present engineer Commissioner has at times
provoked the people to inquire why the army
should be called upon at all to perform purely
municipal functions, for which military train
ing and experience do not furnish the
slightest preparation. In Colonel Rob-
erts case the public has however, no
exhibition Of personal arrogance to resent. 1t
is not now possible TO divide the board into
civil and uneivil commissioners. But the feel
ing is still strong that; without reference TO
the individual VINO may fill the Office. the Engi-
neer Commissioner should, if tine army is to
continue to furnish one Of the board, be at
least no more powerful than his civil colleagues.
The STAR expressed this view OF the matter
editorially just before Gel Robert succeeded
Major Raymond. Influenced by this opinion it
has seen with satisfaction the lively interest
which the Engineer Commissioner has taken,
presumably with the assent OF his colleagues
in matters outside of the engineering depart
ment so-called The public has had the bene-
fit of his diligent service. and by
breaking down Of his own accord
the real or imaginary barriers between the
spheres Of the civil and military commissioners,
he has opened up to his colleagues equality of
privilege in the far more important depart
nents over which he has been treated as having
special control, and has rendered logical their
request that his assistants in these departments
Dc made, hereafter, the assistants Of the board
The STAR does not think it wise to discourage
action of the army commissioner outside of
what is popularity called the engineering de-
rartment. 1t does not believe that the act of
1874, which, by its terms. contosses itself to be
merely temporary, in stating the duties OF an
engineer assistant 10 three civil commissioners
give, any binding indication of the duties
OF the engineer commissioner created
By the act of 1878, establishing the
permanent form Of government. Under
the makcshift act of 1874 there was no
engineer commissioner. and the office, whose
duties it is sought to transfer to the engineer
commissioner of 1878. was abolished by that
act. and there is no indication in the act that
tie engineer commissioner succeeds merely to
the former engineer assistants duties In APP
Forthcoming functions among the Commission
tAS VOilu naturally
largely to his share; and the act of 1878 pro-
eeeds on this assumption by referring to him
as Engineer Commissioner" and by giving
him two assistants from the engineer corps to
aid hun lin the discharge of the special duties
imposed upon him b. the provisions of this
act" The expression special duties
must hays reference to the fact
that the duties OF District Commissioner are
h.,
corps special in relation 10 his duties as an
army officer. 1t cannot indicate that the en-
gineer commissioner has under the provisions
OF the act special duties which distinguish
him from his colleagues, for there is no state
ment Of such duties in the act and there is
abundant evidence that he is on an equal foot
ing with them in respect to the general duties
o; Commissioners Two persons from civil
life and an officer Of tine corps of engineers are
declared by the act of 1878 commissioners,
successors to the powers Of the board OF COM
missioners OF the act OF 1874 all Of whom were
from civil life. Provision is made for 1.-The
commissioner who shall be an officer as
specifically as for 1.-The two persons
appointed from civil hfe." Any one
Of said three commissioners" may be
chosen president Of the board. The Commits
sioners" mot merely those appointed from
civil H'e) are empowered to apply the taxes to
the payment OF the current expenses, ''to the
support OF the public schools, the fire depart
Inent and the police" and all are deemed
officers" OF the corporation Of the District
OF Columbia There is nothing anywhere III
the act to indicate that the Engineer Commits
sioner has less authority in the general duties
OF the board than either OF his colleagues. IF
he has special powers as Engineer Commits
soner they must be in addition to those which
lie possesses as one-third OF the board. TIE STAR
Is opposed to a construction OF the law which
would turn to him control OF by far the
most important District concerns,-highwavs
streets, avenues and alleys, roads, bridges rail-
roads, telegraph and te!eph zee lines, stree.
lighting, water supply, sewers. surveys and tine
h6rbor front.-merely to keep him from ex-
pressing an opinion which will often be OF
value in respect to liquor licenses and the mer-
Its OF policemen. TEE STAa hopes that the law
viii be 50 construed that al. the Commissioners
may be treated as on precisely the same foot
ing, and that the authority in respect to all
municipal concerns may be viewed as in the
board collectively. II it be necessary III order
TO effect this condition of things, the law of
1878 should be amended The board should a.
u OO0N uSuEDllne tne distribution or work
among its mcmbers. The engineering ability
OF the military Commissioner will naturally
suggest that in subordination to the board COL
lectively he should handle among his special
assignments matters necessarily involving en-
cheering skill and that the other army off,
GERS detailed as assistants should engage in the
same line OF work. But no opportunity for a
clash Of authority between the Engineer Com
missioner and the board collectively should be
permitted TO remain.
Liberty On the Capitol dome got up this
morning with headache. But she is now do
ing as well az could be expected The trouble
with the great goddess was that for the first
time since she saw her Capitors dome con-
structsd she put On airs and ran out the ma
tiOnal flag in four places, representing the
four sections Of the Union, North, South.
East and West Heretofore she has contented
herself modes;ly with a bunch OF turkey feath-
ers No wonder this excess of uatriotiS,-,lua