Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-02

bridge in Connecticut avenue Not more
than IS, ASS, 1867 in the estimates is properly
to current expenditures. AS the
total amount of money which ought to be
available for District appropriations In the
next fiscal year will be s1O.S0O, 900 1t will
be seen that after meeting all current needs
there would remain an ample fund for the
requirement Of the Districts obligations to
the United States treasury, even If all that
the Commissioners ask should be granted.
The Commissioners believe that the time
has come when the state Of the Districts
finances and the demands upon them under
the legislation of Congress must be con-
sidered with a view to a settlement that
will cover at least a decade to come, and
they earnestly hope that Congress Will
make such a settlement on the lines 1ndi-
Gated before 1t adiourns on the 4th OF
March next.
The Commissioners have always opposed
departures in District appropriations from
the "half-and-half principle of the or
ganic act of 1878, and are gratified to be-
lieVe that Congress proposes to adhere TO
that principle in future appropriations. Inc
Commissioners have repeatedly stated TO
Congress that it would be better to wait
for any Improvement in the District of Co
lumbia than to have the cost of 1t paid ex-
from the District revenues. They
desire to reiterate that statement.
Obituary.
The District of Columbia has been Sc
verely bereaved during the year. It's gov
ernmental flags were continuously at half
mast for ninety days because Of the death
successfully of Commissioner John w.
Ross, Senator James Mcmillan Of Michigan
and Alexander r. Shepherd. formerly gov
ernor Of the District of Columbia.
Commissioner Ross, after twelve years OF
service-a longer period than that of any
other Commissioner-died on the 18th OF
July, after an illness which had confined
him to his room for several weeks. There
was general manifestation Of sorrow by
the people of the District Of Columbia,
large attendance at the funeral, held at the
Church Of the Covenant. The Ross Me-
mortal Association has been organized by
officials and other employees Of the District
Of Columbia to provide suitable memorial.
The death Of Senator Mcmillan, chairman
of the Senate committee on the District OF
occurred on August 10, at his
summer home at Manchester-by-t he-Sea,
Mass. The news was received in the Dis
trict Of Columbia with surprise, because 1t
was not known that he was i'll, and with
the deepest regret. The Commissioners OF
the District Of Columbia attended the fu-
neral of Senator Mcmillan in Detroit, to
the sorrow and sympathy of the
and the people Of the District
of Columbia. Whatever is done as a con-
sequence Of the recommendations of the
Senate park commission will be the me-
mortal Of Senator Mcmillan, but it is pro-
posed to have some simple and appropriate
personal memorial erected in connection
with the park system of the District of Co
lumbia.
Mr. Shepherd died at his residence in
Chihuahua-on the 12th
day of September. His fellow citizens of
the District of Columbia received the news
Of his death not only with mourning, but
with a new appreciation Of his services to
the District of Columbia. In response to
requests from citizens. the Commissioners
appointed a committee, with Crosby s.
Moves as chairman. to direct the popular
to provide a suitable and ade-
Quate memorial Of Mr.. Shepherd in recog-
milton of his great work as vice president
Of the board of public works and as gov
ernor Of the District of Columbia. 1t is pro-
posed. when the remains Of Gov. Shepherd
shall have been brought from Mexico, to
mark their interment here with every evil
dence of respect and regard.
On the occasion of the death of each Of
these eminent public servants the Commits
sioners ordered the District building closed
and District flags suspended at half-mast
for thirty DAYS.
Commissioner Appointed.
Henry Litchfield West was appointed the
successor Of Commissioner Ross on the 18th
day Of October, and qualified and took the
bath Of office on the 10th day Of October.
Alternate Civil Commissioner
During the last Illness Of Commissioner
Ross and during the period after his death
before his successor was appointed, the ne
cessity for providing substitute to act for
either of the civil Commissioners in the
case OF disability or death was made promi-
nent. The bill recommended by the Com
missioners at the last session of Congress
creating the office of secretary of the Dis
trict Of Columbia and empowering its in
cumbent to act as Commissioner in the
case Of the disability or absence of
a civil Commissioner ought to be enact
ed at the earliest possible moment.
The law authorizes the detail Of three as
sistants to the Engineer Commissioner, two
being now detailed. any one of whom may
act as Commissioner in the absence of the
Engineer Commissioner; but. there is no
provision to supply the place of a civil
Commissioner. If during the illness of
Ross or during the period of
civil Commissioner had been incapacitated
by any cause. the government of the Dis
trict Of Columbia would have come to
standstill. AS 1t was, important contracts,
involving all the construction work Of the
District Of Columbia. could not be eXecut-
ed, and a delay of three months occurred
in consequence. The Commissioners be-
lfeve that Congress ought to provide that
In any event the signatures Of majority
Of the Board of Commissioners, which Con-
gress has already declared shall be a
quorum for the transaction of all other
business. shall be sufficient to bind the
District of Columbia in all contracts A
quorum Of the board can now execute any
contracts except for construction work
There seems to be no reason for making
exception of this class Of contracts.
National Encampment of the Grand
Army of the Republic.
The most important of the many gather
ings in Washington during the year was
the national encampment Of the Grand
Army of the Republic, which lasted from
October until October 8. The week was
given over to the entertainment
Of the visitors. who came in large num-
bers and departed pleased with their visit
The weather conditions were very favora-
BILE, and the arrangements made by the
committee Of citizens, Of which Mr.. B. H.
Warner was chairman, were satisfa ctorily
carried out. The Commissioners Of the Dis
trict Of Columbia officially welcomed the
veterans and did all in their power to pro-
mote the success Of the encampment enter
Memorial Bridge.
The Commissioners repeat their state
ment that they believe that the national
government should construct a memorial
bridge across the Potomac river to the Ar
Iington reservation in accordance with the
heretofore made by the
President Of the United States During the
meeting Of the national encampment Of the