Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-04-06

One Of the most obnoxious features of the
great rush for Office that quadrennially excites
o large percentage Of American manhood is the
pressure which politicians bring to bear upon
the District Commissioners. With pertina-
cious effort that would result In fortunes if ap-
piled to mercantile ventures Congressman who
fail to interest the President or his cabinet in
their candidates proceed to the District build
ing aud there hamper governmental business
by endesvors to have capable msh removed to
make way for untried somebodies who yearn
for place in the public service. Such pro-
cedure would be indefensibly wrong even if the
applicants were legal residents of the District
but il is worse when they cannot establish any
closer relationship than that found in the
fact that they are citizens of the great
republic Of which this is the capital From
the day when the general government estab-
hshed its home here this scrap Of territory has
suffered more or less-generally more-at the
hands Of politicians and now another but
less hungry generation of those who have ever
regarded this place as a common experiment
station is bent on acquiring positions now flied
by competent and worthy men. Such disor-
gsnizing pressure should be resisted to the
us.ermost, and all the weight of solid public
they but do their whole duty by the community
they govern. Doubtless in a few instances the
service would be benefited by change. and in
these cases changes should be promptly and I'M
hesitatingly made, but it would not be at all
surprising il such exceptions TO the general
rule of fitness should turn out in the main to
be non-residents who achieved salary originally
through political influence. Thoughtless demo-
order to secure "a fair share of the Offices
cannot be acquainted with the true condition
of affairs at the District building All through
Harrison's administration republican poIiti-
clans loudly complained that democrats we're
retained in the local Offices, and the eli
max of their sorrows was reached when,
a vacancy occurring in the health Of
fee, a democrat was appsinted to the place.
OF the seven heads OF important departments
SIX are democrats, and such held Office
through a republican administration. The in
coming OF President Harrison brought With it
no surprises in local affairs. The chief of po-
lice. the chief of the fire department. the coli
lector of taxes, the auditor. the building in
spector and the health officer are democrats;
the assessor alone Is a republican, aad he was
appointed under a republican administration
to MI a vacancy made when the board Of Com
m.ssioners was democratic. In view of these
facts II would seem. if there must be revolution
and If the democrats wish to retalate fairly
reciprocste, that republicans should be APP
pointed TO six good positions instead of one. |
But there is no necessity for sweeping changes |
The District OF Columbia is non-partisan; it |
cannot participate in national politics and it |
should not be regarded as spoils upon which |
the vietors may feast 1t should be protected, |
and it doubtless will be soon as President |
Cleveland has opportunity to look into the mat |
ter. Z i that opportunity arrives it will be /
impossible fer the Commissioners TO devote /
attention to the many complex mu-
nicipal problems that await solution