The times., 1901-06-10

of public education has been the means
OF adding work to the executive office.
This is one of the largest divisions of the
public service, and while Commissioner
Macfarland has had immediate supervis-
ion, including the selection and purchase
of sites for new buildings, still the other
members of the hoard have each had a
share of the duties to perform.
This is especially true of the Engineer
Commissioner. in whose department the
details of building operations are worked
oUt The question of locating two colored
schools-one on = Street and one In
Brookland-were under consideration for
more than three months. Nearly twenty
delegations called upon the Commission
ers before the BrOokland school site was
settled.
Another task OF large proportions was
the appointment of the Board Of Charl-
ties, and the concentration OF charitable
effort into a municipal department. This
required careful consideration at the be
ginning and has received from Commls-
sioncr Macfarland and his associates
constant attention during the entire fiscal
wear Hundreds Of letters have been
written, hours have been spent In con-
SultatiOn, and orders making changes IN
some of the modes Of conducting the
charities have required long discussion
and consideration.
Another cause for the increase of bust
ness was the large appropriations granted
by Congress at the last session. me DIS
trict was literally treated in the way or
money for street improvement, sewer eA-
tension. enlargement Of the water De
partment and for new buildings, lnclud5
ing school houses, engine houses, ana
sites for other structures. These appro-
uriations have increased the work Of the
Engineer Department. and Commissioner
Beach has been, for months past, an eX-
ceediI-lN busy man.
The work Of laying new pavements and
surfacing the macadam roads has been
vigorously prosecuted. The bulding OF
bridges across Rock Creek and elsewhere
mas been advanced. Miles of sidewalks
and new curbing have been put down. me
sewer work has been pushed forward as
the weather would permit, and the work
on the reservoirs and pumping stations
Of the Water Department has progressed
steadily All this has necessitated
large volume Of correspondence ana much
official labor Interviews ara hearings
have been many, as Wei as en-
uuirieS and cOmplainings. The Engineer
Department indeed has added large
quota TO the official business
The recent appointment of new head
to the Fire Department, and the inau-
guratiOn Of one new truck company, two
chemical engine companies, aud the wa
ter tower, have also been the means OF
increasing the work Of the Cor Hissloncrs-
The detail of correspondence, etc, IN
the secrctary's Office, while large part
Of the public business, is not all Every
important official paper, including orders,
many letters, etc, require the considera-
tiOn. endorsement, and signature of each
Of the three Commissioners Accordingly,
while Secretary Tindail signs 800 papers
a day, il is a safe estimate to say that
each Commissioner, either writes or
stamps his signature on $50 papers or let
ters every day. When 1t IS considered
that In every instance attention. and often
long and close attention, must be given
to these papers, some idea is obtained Of
the drudgery Of the Commissioners
daily grind"
with the accumulation Of the business
indicated by the foregoing facts has
come the reference of large number of
matters TO the Attorney for the District
His opinions have been frequently sought
OF late, II being no uncommon occurrence
10 publish two of them in The Times i'm
a single day. The reference OF papers to
the Attorneys Office Involves some delay
in the settlement of pc uding matters but.
in order to be legally right, It Is necessary
TO do this in an increasing number of
cases.
A great many instances might be cited
to illustrate the methods pursued by the
Commissioners IN the transaction of busi-
ness. Two will be briefly mentioned as
showing the care exercised in questions
which affect the comfort or convenience
OF the people of the District.
Last year an application Was made by
certain parties for permission to locate
a market house on Fourteenth Street
northwest near the intersection with
Street The application. owing to the Op-
ty, was refused. Considerable time was
spent in listening to delegations, to pri-
vate parties, and to the consideration Of
letters and petitions at that time.
Two months ago the same parties flied
a modified application for permit to es-
tablish this market building. With this
application was filed the consent of a
majority of the property holders on the
square where II was proposed to build
the market and the squares adjacent