The Washington times., 1902-08-11
Historical Data Concern
ing Organization of
District Board.
THE THREE COMMISSIONERS
Speculation as to Mr.. Ross Successor
Invites Attention to the Manner in
Which the Original Grant for Federal
Capital Is Governed.


of the local government The District
government is municipal corporation
created by an act of Congress approved
June IL, 1873. The territory of the mu-
nicipality is that part of the original
grant for the Federal Capital on the
Maryland side of the Potomac River, and
contains about seventy square miles.
Prior TO 1873 there was a municipal
government, lasting from 1902 to 1871,
including city of Washington. The
city of Georgetown had separate form
of government during that time. and the
outlying portions of the District We're
governed by the Levy Court. From 1871
to 1874 the District was a territorial
government. presided over first by Mr..
Henry D. Cooke and later by Mr..
Alexander Shepherd. From 1874 to 1873
there was a temporary government by
three Commissioners. who were vested
with the general powers formerly exer-
cised by the Governor and Board of Pub
lie Works.
Under the law of 1878 the local gov
ernment is administered by three COM
missioners, two of whom are appointed
by the President of the United States
from civil life and confirmed by the
Senate. and the third is an officer de-
tailed from the Corps OF Engineers. L..
S. A., with rank not less than captain.
Appointees for the civil commissioner
ship must have been bona flde citizens
~ ha nrinr
to appointment, and during that period
they must have claimed residence no
where else. The Commissioners hold
office three years from the date of
qualifying as members of the board o.
until their successors are qualified.
Full Three Years Service.
According 10 a ruling by Attorney
General Devlns. rendered July {. 1880.
the term of the office of any commits
sioner, whose predecessor shall not have
served a full term OF three years, is for
three years. and not for the unexpired
term of the successor. The salary OF
each commissioner is 5000 per annum.
The Board OF Commissioners has ju-
corporation. Congress is, of course,
vested with exclusive authority, but it
has by statute vested in the Commits
soners tie power to promulgate regula-
tions and ordinances to govern the op-
erations of the police, the building and
the plumbing departments. and general
regulations for the conduct of the muni-
cipal business. The Commissioners have
supervision over the assessment and COL
lection of taxes. real and personal, under
the laws of Congress. They have con-
troll over the several departments. and
they appoint the municipal officials with
the exception OF the Board OF Charities.
The Commissioners do not have juris-
diction over the courts.
First Board of Commissioners.
The first Board of District Commits
sioners under the law of 1873 was com
posed of Messrs. Josiah Dent, Seth L.
Phelps and Major W J. Twining. Mr.
Dent served until 1882 Mr.. Phelps IN
til 1879. and Major Twining until his
death. May 5, 1882. The other Commits
sioners, with the date OF appointment,
were Thomas p. Morgan. November %,
1879; Major Garrett J. Lydecker, May
IL, 1882; John Rodman West. July Il.
1882; James B. Edmonds. March 3 1883;
W. B. Webb. July 20. 1885; Samuel F..
Wheatley, March 6, 1886; Col William
Ludlow. April /, 1886; Major Charles w.
Raymond. January 16. 1883; John W.
Douglass. May q. 1889; Lemon G. Hine.
May q. 1889; Lieut.. Col. Henry NJ Rob
ert, February Il. 1890; John w. Ross.
October /, 1890: Capt William T. Ros-
sell, October Is. 1891; Myron NJ. Parker.
February 20, 1893; Major Charles +.
Powell. May s. 1893; George Truesdell.
March 10. 1894; Capt. William NJ. Black.
March 2. 1897; John B. Wight, May s,
1897; Henry b. F. Macfarland, May 8,
1900; Capt. Lansing II. Beach, June /.
1898. and Col. John Biddle. November
!, 1901.
Organizes Every Year.
The Board of Commissioners organizes
regularly every year. az directed by law,
or as often as a vacancy occurs in the
Board. Its first duty upon the qualifica-
tion Of the new member will be to or
ganize by electing a President. Just as
the President is guided by unwritten law
In choosing the Civil Commissioners. one
from one political party and one from
tine other, so the Commissioners them
selves are guided by the principle that
the President of the Board shall be OF
the same political faith as the President
OF the United States. II may be stated.
therefore. that. according 10 precedent,
Commissioner Macfarland will be again
chosen President OF the Board upon the
accession OF the new member.
II is expected that there viii also be
more or less OF a readjustment Of the
departments upon the reorganization of
the Board. The new member will nat
urally have some choice in the matter of
the divisions OF the government over
which he shall exercise supervision. This
generally results In several changes.
Mr. Ross Duties.
Commissioner Ross had charge of the
entire tax department. including the
Offices Of the Assessor. the Collector and
the boards of assessment. He had jurs-
diction over the Street Cleaning Depart
ment, and the Police Department. The
Offices of the Corporation Counsel. the
Auditor. Disbursing officer, gauger and