Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-03-23
Err BUSY DAY
The Commissioners Doubly Guarded Against
Intrusion.
A Policeman mt the Foot OF the Stair
way-The Saturday
Rule. -

This has been gala day for the Mystic
Order Of Three in their lodge rooms on
LIST street. If only the rules that are in
effect on Saturday could be applied to the
other days of the week 1t is safe to pre-
sumo that the triumvirase who have the
destinies of the District in the hollow OF
their hands would be sereneiy blessed
Saturday is the day set apart by the Dis
trict fathers as the one when the public
must keep aloof and leave them to COM
mune with their own and each others
thoughts.
1t is supposed that with one free day al
their disposal they can get through with
an immense volume of work, as they are
not bothered by Interruptions from out
side. They can ponder and deliberate al
their leisure and sign orders and plan I'M
provements to their hearts content. The
seal of secrecy which is placed upon thefI
official acts. however. is no less strong
than on other days, and the sign that
hung outside the door, Board In session.
was a bar to the hopes and ambitions OF
for something with which to illuminate the
minds Of the people Of Washington who
pay the taxes.
What went on within the sacred precincts
OF that star-ceiled chamber today will ever
remain shrouded in the veil of mystery.
1t is understood. though. that the Mystic
Order of Three considered the desirabilfty
of having Saturday come six times week
altogether of the bother of giving public
hearings, and the board room then would
be a star chamber in very truth.
At the Foot OF the Steps.
A blue-ct ated minion Of the law today
sat at the foot of the royal stairway which
leads to the holy ground on the second
floor, where the presence of the outlaw re-
porters seems to be as dreaded as though
they were really pariahs and social out
casts.
To the ignorant visiting citizen. who
thought that not being under the journals
tic ban they would be treated with con-
sderation, the policeman pointed to sign
which stated that, desiring to have one day
set apart for uninterrupted business, the
Commissioners had fixed upon Saturday
and that the public must be rigidly exclud-
ed. The rule was strictly enforced and only
Maj Moore and one or two other officials
of the District government succeeded In
passing the sacred portals.
MIR. TruesdelPs Hours of Duty.
In The Stars story of yesterday which
pointed out the conditions that interfered
with the efficient performance by the Com
missioners of the duties Of managing edi-
tors of District building news. it was
questioned when between the public bust
ness hours of and 2, Commissioners
Truesdell and Powell could find time TO edit
copy
1t was suggested that they had numerous
duties as Commissioners to perform, dele
cations of visitors to receive, municipal
problems to discuss, and that in Commits
sioner Truesdells case, who comes late to
his desk in the morning and gets away
early to lunch, the hours that were avail
able for his journalistic labors within the
period between 0 and 2 were abbreviated.
1t is to be distinctly understood that in
this reference to Mr.. Truesdell's hours
there Is no intention Of implying that he
is remiss in the performance Of his official
duties as Commissioner.
1t is stated at the District building that
it is doubtful if any of his predecessors
have averaged more hours a day in at
tention to the District than has Mr.. Trues-
dell.in the course of his service as Com
missioner, and that 1t is not at all unusual
for him to devote his evenings at home to
his duties.
His hours of labor, however, are so timed
that they disqualify him as a satisfactory
managing editor of District news, and 1t
was to this fact that allusion was made.