The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-06-15
Tho Government Of Washington.

T.
Tho Government Of Washington.
The municipal condition OF Washing
ton was treated by Frederick L. SID
dons. who introduced his paper by
careful and detailed review of the four
kinds of government that has marked
its history, the first three covering the
period of 1871, when the present form OF
a. board of three commissioners went
into effect, consisting of the civilians
appointed and confirmed by the senate,
and an officer of the engineer corps,
also designated by the president. Inc
1000 persons. white and colored' VINO
make up the population of the Distfict'
are under the rule of three men VINO
appoint and dismiss all subordinates'
except two assistants to the engineer
member designated like himself from
the state corps in the army, and teach
ers In the schools.
Under the direction of the commits
sion all assessments for taxation are
made and taxes collected; all contracts
for school and fire engine houses are
awarded: and also for making streets
and other improvements and repairs;
school teachers and superintendent,
all police and fire department officers
are also appointed. and with the excep-
tions noted not an official In the Dis
trict has an existence, except at the
will of the commission. Congress, now
ever, is the legislative power in the
District In other words, it is the board
of aldermen and common council, ana
from it is obtained all authority to spend
the money raised by taxation ana all
other legislation. All money Is nan
died by the treasurer of the United
States, and the treasury accounting
officers pass ON all District accounts,
for the reason that the federal govern
ment furnishes half the money for the
Districts expenses: also 1t Is the owner
of more than half the Districts taxable
property.
Congress is supposed to consider the
making of laws for the District on three
or four days in a month, but so great
has become the apathy and indifference
to local legislation that District Day
has become a signal for emptying both
house and senate, and the managers
of the local bills, with increasing diff
Guilty, struggle for recognition, a hear
ing and quorum; while in the District
committees, the absence of quorum
frequently precludes consideration and
preparation of needed local measures.
There are no circumstances to war
rant different form Of municipal gov
ernment for Washington than would
be considered desirable for any other
city of its dimensions in the country.
The present form is source of increas-
ing dissatisfaction and the utter failure
of congress as a municipal legislative
body threatens the future of the Dis
trict. And yet it should not surprise
thinking persons that a body charged
with the parliamentary affairs of TO-
900, 900 people and formulating currency
and tariff policies today, finds difficulty
tomorrow in considering whether 1t
will grant an appropriation or pass an
ordinance affecting community OF
lessthan 100000 persons. This never was
contemplated by the constitution max
ers and certainly congress is not adapt
ed to such legislative duties.
AS to the executive department, Mr..
Siddons says the commissioners have
been, in the main, men who are hon.
est, alt least to the extent that 1t has
never been charged that they personal
ly profited by their positions at the
public expense. But only one section
of the city, the Northwest" has ever
been represented on the commission
and no men not satisfactory to the
real estate ring" so called, can be
nominated or confirmed as a member
of the board. Corporations owned OF
controlled by the ring are treated
tenderly and violations of the law by
them meet with but feeble rebuke.
Mr.. Siddons' objections to the general
conduct Of affairs were carefully con-
fined to the system, not the individuals
in control, and set out with much clear
ness the features, which, he claimed
would not be tolerated for a minute in
any other city in the land. Particular
ly was this said to be true of the mill
tarism which dominated the conduct OF
departments, by reason of the presence
on the commission of an officer of the
regular army. With the great mass oil
the people he never becomes acquaint
ed; If they venture into his oficia
presence with petitions he wearies Of
their opportunities. If they criticise HI
frets, and If they censure, they are tht
"Proletariat" Arbitrary and auto
cratic as is the commission 1t l:
strangely weak and inefficient wheT
it attempts to deal with the rich ant
powerful street and steam railway cor
porations. Infinitely stronger than th'
commissioners or citizens are the rail
roads on the floor or in the lobby O
congress.
Mr.. Siddons also considers the vari
Gus associations which exist for th'
protection OF the section of the Distric
which they specially represent, ant
says that the effort to have "Hom
Rule" again permitted Is hampered b.
the fear that the financial contribution
from the national treasury will be with
drawn, which prevents many persons
who find existing conditions unbeara
bic from advocating a change. Thes
associations have all sprung into ex
istence since the people were deprive,
VI Noioe III tHeiI SoNeTHIHeiht anu al
an unconscious protest against so un
American system Of municipal rule.
H.
Tho Government of Detroit.
Donald d. MacLaurln, of Detroit
Mich, acting president Of tn
Civic Federation. read a pape
treating OF the government O
that city. Its Legislative de
partment, he said. consists Of a com
mon council of two aldermen from eac
of sixteen wards, with control Of street!
granting franchises for railways, ga
and electric lighting, ferries, the regu
lation Of expenditures and the provid
ing of funds for boards and commits
sions, etc. A few years ago the exper
NJ ~ ho vi, q n, n MI n WI