The Hawaiian gazette., 1898-09-20
Government Of District d COIEn.
bia, .. s. A.
oWlulNc UP or SYSTEM
twashington STAR


the people OF the District are with
their municipal government, both as
TO its personnel and as 90 Its many and
various departments. So limited m
deed. Is this acquaintance that II would
appear that most persons do not even
know Just where the District building
the Official home OF their municipal
officer. Is situated. And, when they
have occasion to call there, II Is re-
markahle how utterly at sea they are
as to which official II Is necessary Tor
them 10 see in order TO accomplish the
purpose OF their calls. Most people,
Il would appear, have a vague idea that
the District is governed by three Com
missioners, and that Is about all. But
as TO the duties of the Commissioners,
how divided, how performed, no we'll
settled idea seems to be possessed by
a large number OF the residents of the
District.
The official home of the District gov
eminent is in the siX-story brick build
ing known as AGA Louisiana avenue,
and there the three men known as the
Commissioners of the District of Col
umbia officially have their home, TO-
gether with a majority of the subordin-
ate officials of the District. From lhoZ
until 1871 the government OF the DIS
trict was that of the ordinary munich
pal character, with it's mayor ana
board of aldermen and common coun-
ell. But in 1871 Congress, which mas
exclusive jurisdiction over the District,
established what is known as terrltor-
ial form of government, SO called be-
cause IL resembled in its general feat
ures that provided for the territories
of the United States, the charters OF
the cities OF Washington and George
town being abolished, together win
the levy court. This territorial form
of government was abolished by Con
gress through an act approved June
20. 1874, the President Of the United
States being authorized and directed,
with the advice and consent OF the
Senate, to appoint a commission COM
posed of three persons selected from
civil life. The President was also au-
thorized to detail an officer OF the en-
gineer corps of the United States army,
who, subject TO the general supervis-
ion and direction of the Commissioners,
was to perform the duties formerly
performed by the chief engineer of the
board Of public works, he TO appoint
three assistants from civil life.
This what was known as the tent
porary form of government OF the Dis
trict, and continued until Congress, by
the act OF June II, 1873, established
what is known as the permanent form
OF government, and that Is with some
changes, the government OF the Dis
trict as IL exists today, The board oil
Commissioners was continued by the
act of 1878 with this provision: TWO
OF the Commissioners to be appointed
by the President, by and with the adj
vice and consent of the Senate, from
civil life, the third Commissioner 10
be an officer detailed by the President
from among the captains or oiiicers oi
higher grade having served at least
fifteen years in the Corps OF Engineers
OF the United States army. The Pre-
sident was also authorized TO detail
three army engineer officers OF junior
rank to the Engineer Commissioner AZ
his assistants. In the appointment oi
the civil Commissioners the President
was and is yet required to select them
from those citizens of the United
States who at the time of their selec'
ton were actual residents of the Dis
trict for three years next before theii
appointment and having during thai
period claimed residence nowhere else
They are appointed for term OF three
years; but, contrary to an impression
which appears to widely prevail, thu
President is not required to select a!
civil Commissioners men OF different
political faith. Nevertheless, 1t has
come to be an unwritten rule that one
of the Commissioners appointed from
civil life shall be Of one OF the grea'
political parties and the other from the
other great party, the idea being tt
make the District government as free
from political bias as possible.
Under the latest assignment of this
business and offices of the District gov
ernment Commissioner Wight has Inn
mediate supervision of the following
departments: Inspection OF boilers
chimney sweeping, inspection of coal
ex-officio trustee of Columbia Hospita
for Women, coroner and assistant cor
OneT, DOdTu
gists to the poor, excise board, ire de
partment, inspection of flour, inspec
ton of food, collection and disposal Of
garbage, hack stands, harbor master
hay scales, health Office, Insurance.
companies, liquor licenses, inspection
of lumber, markets, including Hay
Market square; board of medical ex
aminers, care of municipal building
transportation Of paupers, physicians
TO the poor, commissioners OF pharma
ey, police. disposal of police rewards
poundmaster, board OF control OF Rocf
Creek Park, sealer OF weights an'
measures, board OF examiners OF steam
engineers, surgeons OF police and mr.
departments, veterinary surgeons, teie
graph and telephone service, inspec
ton and measuring of wood.
Commissioner Ross: Almshouse
Asylum Hospital, Washington; assess
ments Of general taxes and specia
assessments other than water assess
ments and rents; assessor; assistan
assessors, board Of; attorneys office