Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-14

ton, as he regarded it of extreme importance
that entire harmony should exist among the
Commissioners Of the District He also asked
that his successor be named as soon CO the
Presidents other duties would permit.
DIFFERENCES
The differences that have arisen from time
to time among the Commissioners have been
made public. An effect was made by the civilian
Commissioners about the LIST of July to remedy
what they considered defect in the plan Of
government, and what has caused considerable
friction. This is the provision in the organic
law for assigning two officers of the engineer
corps as assistants to the Engineer Commits
sioner.
These officers, to whom is intrusted the su-
pervision Of a large share of the work done
under District appropriations, have been prac
tically independent of the Commissioners as a
board and subject only to tho orders of
the Engineer Commissioner. The civil
ian Commissioners prepared bill to
so amend the law as to make these
officers assistants to the Commissioners instead
Of assistants to the Engineer Commissioner.
This bill, though presented nearly six weeks
ago, has never been reported from the District
committee, to which it was referred. The fail
ure of Congress to act on this measure, which
the civilian Commissioners thought would better
the state Of affairs at the District buildings, is
one of the reasons why Mr.. Hne resigns. The
differences and unpleasant relations that have
arisen between Mr.. Hine and Col. Robert,
growing out Of the lstter's activity in the de-
partments of work assigned to other Commits
sioners, have been well known, as both gentle
men have frankly spoken their views.
All of these matters combined to bring Mr..
Hine to the conclusion that it would be better
for him to leave Office, conclusion that may
have been expedited by the fact that Mr..
Hine has private interests that demand his at
tentlon and has been invited to resume, at a
salary much larger than that of District Com
missioner, the presidency of company which
he resigned when he was appointed to his
present Office.
Mr.. Hine today when spoken to by STAR
reporter was disinclined to talk about his res
ignation for publication. He said he thought
his friends who had presented his name to the
President and to whom he felt under obligation
would be satisfied that he was right when it was
all explained.
THE SITUATION FROM MR.. HINES STANDPOINT.
A friend Of blr. Hine familiar with the rela-
tons existing among the Commissioners, gave
STAR reporter to understand that Mr.. Hines
resignation was undoubtedly directly due to
the action Col. Robert has taken in many mat
tors and to the unsatisfactory condition Of the
law relating to the assistants to the Engineer
Commissioner. Col. Robert, it was stated,
thought he had mission to perform, but, un-
happily for the harmony that should prevail at
the District buildings, this mission did not re-
late to the engineering work Of
the District, but extended into fields
assigned to his civilian colleagues.
Then the present organization is such
that Mr.. Hine considered it too great fnan-
cial risk to remain in an Office where he was re-
sponsible for work and for large expenditures
over which he had no control. This financial
risk, Mr.. Hine considered, increased when
the engineer officer did not give
personal supervision to the work
OF his department, but gave his time
to matters usually left to the civilian Commits
sioners. Mr.. Hine, too, has strongly objected
to Col. Roberts methods, which he has spoken
of as those Of q detective, and he has expressed
his d,sapprobation quite strongly.
COL. ROBERTS INVESTIGATIONS.
Col Robert was appointed Engineer Com
missioner in February and soon after his ap-
poIntment began taking a much more active
interest than has been customary with the En-
gineer Commissioner in the management Of
the police and in the issuing Of liquor licenses.
Mr.. Hines objection to Col. Roberts investi-
CATION in the police department, which is di-
rcctly under Mr.. Hines supervision. was that
Col. Robert went into matters that occurred
years ago and which should DO buried
THE CLIMAX
The trouble in the board Of Commissioners
| came to a climax July 2 last, when Mr.. Hine
frankly stated in q board meeting his belief
that the Engineer Commissioner had nothing
whatever to do with the administration Of local
affairs, except those of an engineering char
| acter.
After this for Q time there was . threatened
| deadlock in the business at the District build
| ings, as Col. Robert declined TO afix his name
| to papers relating to other than engineering
duties, but the matter was for the time appar-
| ontly arranged amicably. The civilian Commits
sioners, it is stated, hoped for favorable action
| on the bill relating to the assistants
| to the Engineer Commissioner. Col Roberts
| views on the bill were requested by members OF
the % trict committees and no opposed the
bill He expressed doubt whether engineer