Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-04-05
The nomination of Col. John Tracey as super

The nomination Of Col John Tracey as SUPER
intendent Of charities for the District Of Co
lumbia brings to . close the official relations
which have for some time existed between DR..
A. G. Warner, the retiring superintendent, and
this community. The severance is most I'M
fortunate. because there were united in DIR.
Warner all the qualifications needed to fit q
man for that important position. When the
law creating the Office went into effect there
was considerable popular discomfort because it
provided that the superintendent should be a
nonresident With this feeling in existence a
hearty welcome would have been unnatural
and insincere, but it did not take the people of
this city long to discover the excellence Of him
who had been chosen by President Harrison to
bring order out Of our somewhat chaotic char
liable conditions. DIR. Warner was the man
for the work. he had investigated and thought
profoundly on just the lines which he was here
required to follow, and in quiet, effective way
he gave proof Of fitness that satisfied even the
unfairly critical His training and his inclina-
tions were all in the line of admirably sys-
tematizing efforts to alleviate the suffering Of
unfortunate humanity and it was his efficiency
that softened and finally subdued the asperities
which grew out of the legislative provision that
arbitrarily compels the District Of Columbia
to pay three thousand dollars year to anon-resi-
dent After having done much DIR. Warner came
to the conclusion that more might be &C
complished by .'board of charities and eorrec-
tons composed Of citizens interested in
those phases Of philanthropic effort, so
he unselfshiy labored with Congress
to bring about the abolition Of his own Office.
In this he failed, not because his idea was in
correct, but because congressional procrasti-
nation prevented proper consideration Of the
plan He became thoroughly convinced that
the non-residence requirement was a mistake,
and that local board with expert resident
secretary could best accomplish the work. DIR.
Warmers tact and admirable fitness for charity
organization were all that prevented his labors
here from being a dismal failure. If he had
been politician, knowing all about campaign
speeches, and assessment circulars, and politi-
cal tricks of trade, and knowing nothing Of
charities, and the Office had been tossed
to him as q reward for political serv-
ices, or because he was a personal friend Of
the President or Of Mr.. Halford. he would have
worked irreparable injury to this community
of Q quarter million Of people at the capital Of
the United States, and would have made an ex-
hibition of incapscity in an extremely trying
position which would have been exceedingly
notifying to any one Of self-respect, who cared
for anything else than the salary which he was
pocksting. The STAR does not know how
much study and practical investigation and
labor Col Tracey has unobtrusively given to
the subject Of charities and corrections while
building up his military, journalistic and polit-
ical record, but at the best he can hardly excel
in fitness Superintendent Warner, and TIE
STAR consequently feels no hesitation or scruple
in urging upon the new superintendent to fol-
low the course of his distinguished predecessor
in calling loudly and continuously upon Con-
gress for his own Official snnihilation, as a
necessary sacrifice for the welfare of the people
Of the capital city.