Evening star., 1900-05-03
THE NEW COMMISSIONER
MIR. MACFARLAND'S TERN TO BEGIN
NEXT WEDNESDAY.
Mr.. Ross to BE Sworn in the Same Day
His Own Sue
cessOr.

Mr.. Henry B. F. Macfarland, whose nomi-
nation as the successor of District Com
missioner Wight was confirmed by the
Senate yesterday afternoon, will assume
the duties of the office next Wednesday
morning. Mr.. Wight's commission expires
the 5th instant, but he did not enter upon
the duties of the office until May 8, 1897,
and his term of three years will, therefore,
expire Tuesday next. Should Mr.. Macfar-
land. however, decide for any reason not to
assume the office Wednesday next, Mr..
Wight would continue in office, as the law
governing the appointment of the Commits
sioners of the District provides that while
the term of the civil Commissioners shall
that they shall continue in office until their
successors have been duly appointed and
have qualified. 1t is understood that Com
missioner Ross will Wednesday next also
be sworn in as his own successor. his ap-
pointment and confirmation having been
made on the same dates three years ago
as those of Mr. Wight.
After Mr. Ross and Mr.. Macfarland have
taken the oath of office next Wednesday, q
meeting of the board of Commissioners will
be at once held for the purpose of effect
ing a reorganization of the board. 1t is the
unwritten law in this connection that the
president of the board of Commissioners
shall be a member of the dominant political
party. and it is therefore expected that
known. the democratic civil Commissioner,
will at this meeting next Wednesday NOM
mate Mr.. Macfarland for election as presi-
dent of the board, and 1t is not doubted
that Mr. Macfarland will accept the posi-
ton. He may. however. do as Mr.. Wight
did when he became Commissioner, decline
the office in favor of Mr.. Ross, because, as
Mr.. Wight reasoned, it would be best for
a time at least to have the more ex-
perienced civil Commissioner hold the posi-
ton.
Assignment of Departments.
At this same meeting of reorganization 1t
is customary to assign to the three Com
missioners the various departments Of the
District government over which they are to
have immediate supervision. Under the
existing order of things. Mr.. Wight is the
president of the board. and he has imme-
diate supervision of the police. fire, health.
electrical. street lighting, telegraph and
telephone departments, the excise board,
liquor licenses, markets, poundmaSter, Of
flee of sealer of weights and measures, col
lection and disposal of garbage, harbor
master, board of police and fire department
surgeons physicians to the poor. commits
sioners of pharmacy, coroner. inspection of
food and flour. board of medical examiners,
insurance companies, dental examiners the
municipal building and number of other
offices Commissioner Ross has immediate
supervision of the public schools, charities
and charitable and reformatory institutions
COIlcClOT OI taxes duullOT OiIlCt, street
and alley cleaning. board of assistant asses
sOrs, office of the assessor, disbursing Of
flee, office of the attorney, workhouse. Of
flee of superintendent of charities, aims
house. assessments. commitment of the in
sane. licenses other than liquor, municipal
lodging house, property clerks office, pub
lie library, boys reform school. Rock
Greek Park board of control. tax sales etc
The Engineer Commissioner has immediate
supervision of the water department
streets, bridges buildings conduits sewers
pavements, wharves, river front, street ex-
aCter
While it is not, of course. to be expected
that any of the departments or offices now
under the immediate supervision of the En-
gineer Commissioner will pass under the
reassigument, next Wednesday, from him
to either of the civil Commissioners, It is
believed that several changes will occur
among those now assigned to Commission
ers Wight and Ross. One of the expected
changes is the transfer of the police depart
ment to Mr.. Ross, and another is the trans
fer from him to Mr. Macfarland of the
public schools and the supervision of the
charitable institutions. 1t is also expected
that to Mr.. Ross will be assigned the ex-
else board and licensing of dealers in Ii
QuorS.
OF course, the making of these changes in
the present assignment is mere surrnise
as 1t is understood that Mr.. Macfarland has
not yet expressed any choice in the matter
Nevertheless. ii Is believed those mentioned
will be among the changes which will fol-
low upon the reorganization Of the board
next Wednesday