Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-06
THE NATIONS CITY
An Estimate Of Its Present Form of
Of Government,
FORCE OF LOCAL PUBLIC OPINION
Value of Citizens, Associations and
Board Of Trade.
INDIVIDUAL. AUTHORITY

Such in outline Is the existing city gov
eminent of Westinghouse system Quite
different from that of any other city in
America. More puZzling to the average
citizen is the absence of the usual facilities
for getting rid of an obnoxious admins
tration at the next election. What, then,
can be done in Washington? What if this
system gets crusted with barnacles or
wrapped in red tape? What if the Commits
sioners become naughty and arrogant, and
the army officer begins to show that con-
tempt for civilians that seems inse2arable
from a soldiers profession?
The best guarantee against these dangers
is the gauntlet a man must run to win the
prize, and the keen scrutiny to which he is
exposed after getting 1t. In all actions
touching the municipality the President of
the United States is in a position to he
as free from improper personal motives
a man can be in this world Neither
friends nor foes can rise up in the city to
make or mar his fortunes, because the
citizens, being excluded from the polls, are
utterly Insignificant in any national matter.
Having no further lot among the people
than a soiourn for a limited number of
years, the President can act solely with an
eye to a perfect administration. Congress
men also occupy, to some extent, the same
elevated plane. Many Of them, being prac-
IS,
comings keenly as the ordinary man.
but with the advantage that they can stand
in the Capitol and utter their criticisms in
the hearing of the whole land They can
speak for their fellow citizens, and BY
congressional inquiry can have the smallest
details of municipal business laid open to
public inspection.
Finding the Best Men.
From the establishment of the system in
1878 the President, in appointing Commits
sioners, has usually taken special pains to
find the best men-through his personal
knowledge, if possible, or through conf
Dental interviews and thorough study of
lives and records. In several cases the post
has been offered to MEN who had never
even thought Of receiving the honor. The
story is told of President Garfield that,
having very reluctantly received COM
mittee of citizens who wished to urge the
appointment of a Commissioner from GER
tain section of the city, he ended long
hearing by not only granting the petition,
but Offering the position on the spot to one
of the committee In selecting army Off
Ger as the third member the President can
most easily disregard social and political in
fuence and choose from merit alone. In
some cases, perhaps, he has delegated this
duty to the War Department, but in others
he has Enthusiastically spent time and effort
in his search for the most suitable man
President Arthur, for example, with the
q
the record of every man eligible for the
detail. Particular attention Is paid to the
civil side of an officers characterize his
tact and affability in dealing with people.
Nor does the Presidents vigilance relax
with the signing of the Commissioners. His
potential if not active, influence is exerted
SO long as he is in the White House.
commissioners Removed.
Twice has the military member been re-
moved: once because of complaints at what
appeared to be arbitrary conduct in open
ing street through cemetery; and again,
1t is said, because of arousing the hostility
of certain congressman and the anger of
a large corporation staff. One of the early
civilian Commissioners also felt the sting
of the same supervision. If we are to credit
the chief daily paper in Washington. He
was superseded before the end of his term,
after "a big volume of complaints" had
been made that the board are aristccra-
tic, bureaucratic, not easily approached and
that citizens who have grievances are.
snubbed." Finally it was announced: "The
President appears to have come to the con-
clusion that. on the whole, the admins
tration of District affairs was not reasona-
bly, satisfactory to the people, and that
some change should be made to secure a
more popular government" Throughout
the incident it was believed that the Presi-
dent acted solely from the standpoint of
the common good. 1t is long step toward
ideal government when subjects have the
general conviction that neither "favorit-
ism" nor prejudice" dictates the changes
made in offices.
The Test of Confirmation.
A man approved by the executive for the
post of Commissioner has still to face the
Judgment of the SenateAperhaps a severer
test. because more public. With the Sem
ate committee his enemies have fair field
for their assaults. At this stage three
nominations have been bitterly and sue
cessfully opposed. On the first one over
ten years ago, the committee held public
hearings; and mass of accusations and
charges were filed, with resolutions from
civic organizations and petitions from all
classes. In the second case, equal oppor-
tunity was afforded to all to raise objec-
tions. In the third it was asserted that the
nominee was obnoxious to several senator's
Moreover. scrutiny does not cease with
&C nf1rmation, but even becomes sharper as
the lower house often yies with the upper
IN welding the weapon of congressional
inquiry. These Investigations are possible
at any moment, and can reach the min
utest official act. In actual practice they
Rave involved such Subjects as PAWN,
ana It's cost. per yard, tree planting, street
sweeping. removals from office and the
reasons therefor. the connection of The
Commission ers with railway, bank or gas
companies in the city. and the wisdom or.
legality of regulations. on a variety of
matters. ~
Better Than the Average Mayor.
On account of this irregular but many
eyed vigilance the Commissioners are, as
rule, men Of a higher type than the
average mayer in an American city The
political gamester who 30 often climbs by
trickery and intrigue to the mayors chair
IN our largest cities is an utter impossible
ity In Washington. or the twelve civilian
Commissioners, all have been of good
social standing. Nest Of them have been
college graduates, several having been
educated at the Columbian University.
Though but few Of them have been natives
of Washington. all had acquired large in
terests In the city before being chosen for
the pest. All of them- have been men Of
approved ability and undoubted success in
private life. Nearly al have been lawyers
or good practice. and acquainted with the
management Of large Affairs. One was the
.uthor of valuabls digest Of District
laws. Two had prior to appointment as
Commissioners. held high national posi-
uons-one as commissions of internal
revenue and the other az senator. At
least two were men q mssns- retired on
competency, but ualltnas to give their
energies to such bErdenson4e employment.
One was lumber dc a4er VINO was indorscd
by practically all TIL LEAKING merchants
and az ~