The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-26
NOT like Other CITIES
Peculiarities of Washington's Mu-
nicipal Government.
Changes I'm It's Form Since 1SO2-The
First Mayor Appointed by the
President - Members of Council
Elected by the Professionalism
Charter Revoked in February, 1871

The approach of the National Capita
Centennial invites attention to the char
aoter of the municipal government Of
Washington. 1t differs in several partic-
ulars from that of any other city in the
United States and its exact similitude does
not exist anywhere in the world
The present government of Washington
dates from the act of Congress approved
February 81, 1871, and is termed munich
pal corporation. It includes the territory
of the District of Columbia, about seven
ty-two square miles, and the corporation
has the rights and the responsibilities in
law which pertain to similar organizations
elsewhere. The city was first incorporated
by an act Of Congress passed May g. 1902,
with city council elected by the people
and mayor appointed by the President
OF the United States. In accordance with
an act approved by Congress May 4, 1912,
the duty of electing mayor devolved
upon the city council. Pursuant to an
act of Congress of May 10, 1890, the mayor
was elected by the people for terms of
two years. Finally the charter OF the
corporation was revoked by Congress in
the act of February 81, 1871, and the pres
ent municipal corporation was formed.
Under the law the executive work of the
District government is vested in three
Commissioners, appointed by the Presi-
dent and confirmed by the Senate of the
United States. Their term of service is
three years, or until their successors are
installed in Office. Two of the Commits
sioners are appointed from private life
ard the third is an engineer officer of the
United States Army, with rank not lower
than that of captain, and specially de-
tailed for the service. The Commissioners
each receive an annual salary of s., 600 and
give bond for the faithful performance of
duty in the sum Of $4,000. At present the
board is composed OF Henry B. F. Macfar-
land, its president, formerly a newspaper
correspondent; John W. Ross, lawyer by
profession and now serving his fourth
| term as Commissioner, and Capt Lansing
). Beach, U. S. A., the Engineer Commits
sioner.
| Powers of the Commandment
To the Commissioners is entrusted the
supervision of the entire municipality
| They are the heads of executive authori-
! ty, their action is final regarding all ques-
| lions affecting municipal affairs. and
| practically all the work of the District
Government, except the merest routine,
| passes through their hands. They make
| appointments in the various departments
and have authority to remove any official
| in any of them. They order promotions
and receive designations. while COM
plants from indignant citizens regarding
the nuisance of n fertilizer factory or the
unsanftary condition of a dirty alley must
| be considered and acted upon by the Com
| misSioners
The heads of departments. such as the
Auditor, the Assessor. the Health Officer.
and the Superintendent of Street and Al
ley Cleaning though exercising a meas
ure OF authority, are still more largely
than in other American cities head clerks
| to carry out the orders of the Commits
sioncrs. Matters which in other cities
woula be referred to subordinate official
| and disposed OF by him in Washington are
taken to the Commissioners and their
routine work is almost endless One of
the Commissioners told the writer that
after working all day at the District
Building he often was compelled to take
to. his home at night matters of impor
lance which it was necessary to study
and consider before the next day Some
OF the complaints and applications SUBJ
United to them are sent to the heads of
departments for consideration and report
but the final act of deciding upon ali
questions is left to the Commissioners
How the Lnws Are Made.
The District of Columbia, while it is
thus governed by appointed Commission
ers, has no legislative body, and not one |
of its citizens has any voice directly in |
making the laws under which he lives |
Citizens Of the District do, as private in |
diyiduals and in collective capacitv in |
their citizens associations, influence leg
islation. This is done through the Com
missioners, who pass upon all legislation
Tor the District, or by appearing before
one or both OF the committees in Com
gress on the District of Columbia In
this way bad legislation is often defeated
and good legislation secured by the ac-
tivity of the citizens of the District. But
the residents OF Washington do not enjoy
the elective franchise, except as thew re-
tam citizenship IN one of the States The
citizens of the District of Columbia in
TACT. are disfranchsed people. having
no more political right or privilege than |
the alien who lands from a foreign shore
The United States Senate is the common
council of the District of Columbia There
most measures affecting the welfare Of
the municipality originate though thew
may hrst De introduced in the House of
Representatives. But il is in the Senate
Committee especially that the District
bills are studied and amended. The usual
procedure In District legislation is The
introduction of the bill in the Senate tic
reference to the Committees on the Dis
trict of Columbia, it's reference to the
Commissioners, it's reference to one ~
the heads of departments, or occasionally
TO some outside organization, such as
the Board OF Trade or the Medical Society.
Each OF these references brings ba.k
report or an official endorsement and by
the time the bill reaches the Senate Com.
mittee again it is pretty well digested.
Not infrequently proposed legislation is
submitted by the Commissioners to tho
Attorney for the District who passes
upon its legal form and gives an opinion
upon its relation to other laws.
The bill then goes before the Senate for
and, il passed. is sent to
the House, where the same process Ia
gone through with again. The opportuni-
ties, therefore, for amending legislation
and for improving it during its passage
are ample.
Appropriations for the District.
In case of District Appropriations the
bill originates in the House and is sent to
The Senate. AS a consequence the prunt
Of the work of preparing the final bill |
tails on the Senate Committee on Appro-
priations This committee is often en- {
gagged for weeks in a careful study of the
dill. having frequent conferences with the
and sometimes with the 4
Assessor or the Auditor or the Health
officer, and not infrequently the commit
zee admits private citizens to its delber-
atoms and hears views and suggestions
rom them.
Washington Is city of extensive
streets and avenues, the paving and care
If which require the outlay of large sums
If money. The theory in this. as in all 4
is for One-half of the ex-