The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-04
THE NEW COMMISSIONER.
Mr. mcfarland to Assume the Duties
of His Omce Next Week

ohsSt -NeAt " eek.
IL mas been arranged that Henry B. F.
hacfariand, whose appointment as District
commissioner has been confirmed by the
senate. and who is to succeed John r
wight, Will assume the duties of his Office
curing the forenoon of Wednesday. Nav o
MT "lghts term expires on May s. as
does that OF John ". Ross, and the former
will cease his officia: connection with IN.
beard at O'Clock in the afternoon of that
day. The appointment of Mr.. Wight as
Commissioner was confirmed May 5. 1897
but he did not enter upon the duties OF the
position until May s. and his full term of
three years will expire on that date
1t is expected that John W. Ross, who is
his own successor on the Board of Com
missioners. will qualify for office on
Wednesday and be ready 10 take up the
duties of fourth term on the following
day. As soon as both Mr. Ross and Mr..
Macfarland have been installed in office
the board Will hold meeting and organ
iZe by electing president for che year
The board also will then make a division
of the departments over which each Com
missioner is to have personal supervision
The usual custom is. in connection with
the organization of the board, that the
president shall be of the same political
faith as the dominant party in power in
the National Government. Mr. Ross stated
to a Times reporter yesterday that in ac-
cordanee with that custom he should nomi-
nate Mr.. mcfarland for president. and he
expressed the hope that the newly ap-
pointed member would accept. Mr.. Ross
reminded the reporter that there was only
one departure on record from the rule above
referred to. and that was in the case Of
MIR Wight when he was appointed 10 Of
flee In 1897. On being nominated for the
office Of president of the board Mr.. Wight
requested that Mr.. Ross take the position
for year at least until he should become
better acquainted with the work of the
board. Mr.. Ross said that he consented to
that arrangement and served as president
during the first year of Mr.. Wight's in
cumbency. Should Mr. Mcfarland pursue
similar course, it is thought likely that
Mr.. Ross would be chosen president for
the first year of his new term.
Commissioner Ross said yesterday in an
swer TO an enquiry that no conference had
been held between himself and Mr.. Maefar-
land, and he could not say whether there
would be any change in the division of the
departments. 1t would be premature. he
said, to go into the matter now. The
board would consider the subject Mr. Ross
thought. soon after it was organized. He
had heard that Mr.. mcfarland had taken
great interest in charitable work in the
past and he admitted that he might be in
clined to request such a division of depart
ments as would bring that under his own
supervision. Mr.. Ross said however that
1t was premature to say anything about it
until the new board was in position to take
up the subject in the regular way
The departments now assigned to Com
missioner Wight, and over which Mr.. Mac
farland vi assume supervision, II no
changes are made, are as follows: Police.
fire. health, electrical. street lighting. tele-
graph and telephone. the excise board.
licenses: markets, poundmaster. office of
sealer OF weights and measures. collection
and disposal of garbage, harbor master,
board Of police and fire department sur
geons. physicians to the poor. commission
crs of pharmacy, coroner, inspection of
food and -four, board of medical examiners.
insurance companies, dental examiners.
the municipal buildings. and number of
other Offices. Commissioner Ross has i'm
mediate supervision of the public schools
charities and charitable and reformatory
collector of taxes, auditors
office street and alley cleaning, board of
assistant assessors. office of the assessor,
disbursing Office, Office of the attorney
Office of superintendent of
almshouse. assessments. commit
ment of the insane. licenses ~lher than
liquor. municipal lodging house, property
clerks office, public library, boys reform
school, Rock Greek Park board of control
and tax sales.