The leader., 1897-08-11

cal rulers until congress passed an act
approved May 3, 1902, authorizing the
president to appoint mayor for the
city.
The Historical society has published
the following letter, dated June 3, 1902,
to Robert Brent, Esq, of the city OF
Washington:
Dear Sir: The Act Of Congress incor'
porating the City of Washington has cons
fided to the President of the United States
the appointment of Mayor of the city AS
the agency of that officer will be immedi'
ately requisite, l am DESTROYS to avail tne
City of your services in 1t, II you will per.
nit me to send you the commission. VIII
ask the favor of your answer to this prop
osition.
will you do me the favor Of dining with
me the day after tomorrow Friday), al
half past three? Accept my friendly and
9TH. JEFFERSON"
To this official note Robert Brent re-
piled as follows:
Washington, June 8. 1so2.-Dear Sir: ]
have the honor of receiving your favor oil
this date, asking my acceptance OF the ap,
pointment of Mayor, under the late act oil
congress for the Incorporation of thsclty
Although l feel great diffidence in the
talents l possess for executing that duty IN
manner which may afford general saus-
faction. yet feeling 1t duty to contribute
my feeble aid for the public service. VIII
venture upon its duties.
II beg you, sir, to accept my thanks 1os
the honor which you are about to confer
on me, and for the obliging manner ~
which you have been pleased to commuhi'
cate 1t. al
II will, with pleasure accept your polite
invitation to dinner on Friday next WIN
sentiments of much esteem and respect
have the honor to be, sir, Your OPT. ser.
ROBERT BRENT"
There is the formal proffer and ac-
ceptance of the first mayoralty OF the
city of Washington. There is the 1or|
mality, the Difference, the respect1ui
consideration displayed by the press
dent to the private citizen; and thers
we also see the consideration and
esteem of the citizen for the president,
Il is matter of record in the Historical
society that the dinner lasted from
three o'clock until seven o'clock IN 'ne
evening. Thomas Jefferson was pres
ident of a republic of about 6,Ooo'oov
people. Robert Brent was appolnteo
mayor of a city of something like l'oou
people. There was as much courtesy
and consideration displayed as though
Brent were being made minister "
Great Britain.
BY the act of congress the appoanV1
ment of a mayor of Washington was
made annual, and the president con,
tinued reappointing Mr.. Brent unuI
1912, when he declined to serve longer
because of his incumbency OF other Po1
sitions. He was mayor of Washington
for ten years, judge of the orphans
court from 1906 to 1914 and paymas1
ter general of the army from 1905 70
1919.
Manifestly President Jefferson madc
no mistake in selecting the first mayor
OF Washington city. He was reapPoih'1
ed by. successive presidents until otne,
official duties of importance comPeLeu
him to withdraw from the Office NC
succeeded Gen. Dearborn as paymas'.i
general at a critical period and Iui1
filed the functions of that office 10 'n'
satisfaction of three presidents.
Mayor Brent maintained an eiegan1
private residence, and Sir Augustu-
Foster, the British minister, wrote -
bis country at that time: There si'
only three private residences man
tanned in this city; they. are by Msy"l
Brent, Mr.. Carroll and Mr.. Taylor.
The first mayor Of Washington SUI.
fered stroke of paralysis in 1872 "n T1.
be was in his sixty-sixth year. NJ
then resigned the position OF pay mas.s'
general of the army. Within is"
months thereafter he died at his nun nun
sion in Washington, September -, p ass
SMITH D ENh