The times., 1898-11-01
GEN. J. R. WEST dead
Once Commissioner for the
District of Columbia.
HIS POLITICAL CAREER
Represented LOuisinna In the United
States Sennte-A Veteran Of Sew
eral Wars - Identified With the
Municipal Progress of Washing
ton-LOng and Honored Life Ended

Gen. Joseph Rodman West. for er
United States Senator from Louisiana,
and once Commissioner Tor tae -I..-.i-t
of Columbia, died at the Garfield Mem
oriaI Hospital at 4 o'clock yesterday
morning. of paralysis after brief il
ness Arrangements for his funeral Will
be made today.
Gen. West had resided for number of
years with his sister at 2l13 o Street
northwest. He was seventy-six years
old and of late had been in feeble health
although he had not been regarded as
seriously Ill. A short time ago. howeN er,
he was stricken with paralysis. and it
became necessary to remove him to the
hospital where he died.
The deceased was a native Of New Or
leans. where he was born september IS.
Is22 He received his preliminary educa-
ton there afterwards entering the / nj
versity of Pennsylvania, where he re-
mained until the outbreak of the Mexican
war Although desirous of distinguish
ing himself in the college course, lie
promptly rendered his services to the
government, and entered the army as
captain of volunteers.
He took an active part in the war, and
in 1919 he went to California, being one
OF the original "Forty-niners. and re-
mained there until the outbreak Of the
Civil War. AT that time ne mad embark
ed in the newspaper business. and was
editor of the Prince Current" of San
Francisco.
His gympathies were strongly with the
Union cause. however, and he once more
entered the army. being given commits
sion as lieutenant colonel of the First
California Infantry. He served through
out the war and participated in some of
the hardest Indian campaigns in New
Mexico and afterwards in Arizona and
the Southwest. His distinguished services
won the recognition OF the War Depart
ment. and on January 4. 1866, just prior
to his being mustered out of the service,
he was commissioned by brevet brig
adler general OF volunteers.
He then went TO Texas, where he resid-
ed for a while afterwards returning to New
Orleans, where he was still well known,
and he Immediately became an important
factor in local politics, and was honored
with several important positions. He was
made chief deputy to the nited States
marshal. afterwards serving as auditor
of customs and administrator of improve
ments.
In 1870 he was elected to the United
States Senate from Louisiana as Repub-
lican for the term beginning March L.
1871. He was a useful and influential
senator, especially distinguishing himself
for his work as a member of the Com
mittees on Appropriations and Railroads
During his term a senator he became
very much attached to Washington as a
home city, and after his retirement from
national politics he took up his permanent
abode here.
Since then he has been most impor-
tant factor in all matters of local i'm
provement. He was at the head of every
movement looking toward the betterment
of the District, and his work in this direc-
tion won recognition in 1882, when. on
July II. he was appointed a District Com
missioner
Cen West made several radical
changes after he was appointed Com
missioner. Eeiag a man of practical bust
ness attachments. he saw the necessity of
a Encouragement of the District force,
but there was considerable opposition to
his projects. He persisted. however and
a reorganization of the Board of Com
missioners. according to his IDEAS and
transfer of the police, health and fire de-
partments to his supervision followed
The opposition to his project was so
strong that it resulted finally in a ma
terial change in the personnel of the
police force.
His active interest in local affairs did
not cease after his term as Commissioner
expired, and he has since been regarded
as one of Washington's foremost citi-
zens, ever ready with advice or active
cooperation to aid in any project which
would result in the city's good. In social
as we'll as political circles he had a host
of friends