Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1900-06-20

not more than is to be seen in any 9th.
er city in the country, adds greatly to
its beauty. 20 t
While Washington has been growing |
In possibilities as a city Of residence
very rapidly of late years there have
been many and radical changes In the
residential portions OF the city. For
example, no further back than the
seventies Mcpherson square was the
northwestern boundary Of the city and
was also considered one Of the most
important residential sections because
of the people who lived there and the
fine residences of the nelghborhood.
Now hotels and business blocks have
almost monopoly of the section. This
Is but one Instance of the many
changes that have taken place In the
city. There are others innulnerable.
some of them greater than this one.
Important and striking as these
changes have been, they are not the
most interesting of Washington's ez-
periences in the line of evolution. This
honor belongs to the changes which
have taken place in the city's form OF
government, and as 1t is likely that
this subject is not well understood by
everybody | will briefly sketch 1t here.
For the greater part of my information
on this subject am indebted to Mr..
John B. Wight, until recently one of
the commissioners for the District OF
Columbia. To Mr.. Wight as to other
residents OF the city with whom l
have discussed the subject the govern
ment Of the city Of Washington Is the
ideal form for large cities. Up to 1871
the city had the municipal form of gov
| ernment, such as pertains in large
cities, but 1t became so bad that the
citizens organized q committee of 100
and demanded change of form. Act
ing upon this demand congress, passed
| q law giving the city territorial form
| Of government, with representative
In congress. This did not prove salts
factory. and in 1874 the government
by commissioners was tried, and this
form was made permanent in 1878, or
the three commissioners two are civil
| ians appointed by the president and
confirmed by the senate. and. although
there is no law upon the subject, 1t is
the custom to have each of the two
large political parties represented ON
the board. The third commissioner Is
an officer of the engineer corps not
below the rank of captain. He is des-
ignated by the president to act as
the engineer commissioner. The term
Is three years. While the three com
missioners act as board they assign
various municipal matters to one an
other, and over the details Of their as
slgnments each commissioner has alb
solute control The commissioners
however, act as q board In making ap
pointments and in important matters
This form of government is as near
ideal as can be C2vised notwithstand'
Ing the fact that it eliminates the fran
chise." said Mr.. Wight. "The large
taxpayers are well pleased with it. and
the only disgruntled ones are the few
who are seeking to hold some office
This form OF government eliminates oil
the evils incident to primary elections
does away with dishonesty in Office
and with the various troubles that af
flict other cities in connection with
gang rule and machine politics. AS Q
commissioner | came to realize the
beauties of Washington and her mag
niticent possibilities. The'developmen
J of our national capital IS only limited
by the appropriations which congress
will make. There Is no'reason why
Washington and her suburbs, with al
their wonderful and natural advan